Skip to main content

Davis Journal

Watch for golf carts on Centerville streets

Oct 04, 2021 03:58PM ● By Linda Petersen

CENTERVILLE—Golf carts are now allowed in city limits. On Sept. 7, the Centerville City Council voted to approve the use of four-wheeled golf carts of less than 800 pounds on certain streets within the city.

This change comes in response to a new state law allowing such vehicles on surface streets. Centerville is the first city in the state to pass such an ordinance, according to City Attorney Lisa Gardiner. Ten Utah cities have golf courses, she said. (Centerville is not one of them).

Golf carts are limited to streets with a speed limit of 25 mph or less and a grade of 8 percent or less. They are not allowed on state, county or federal streets or sidewalks.

At that meeting the city council had a lively discussion on the appropriate age restrictions for golf carts in the city before settling on the age of 14 as a minimum. Golf carts are only authorized during daytime hours. No more than six people including the driver, or only the number of passengers specified by the cart manufacturer, is allowed.

Carts must have basic safety equipment, including a vehicle identification or serial number, rear view mirror, and plainly visible rear reflectors. The operator assumes all liability for the vehicle and its passengers. Golf carts are considered in the same category as bicycles in regard to traffic rules.

City staff will research which streets will allow golf carts and will develop a map which will be posted on the city’s website, City Manager Brant Hanson said.

At the same meeting, the city council gave homeowners on corner lots some leeway when it comes to fencing with a new ordinance text change.

Previously, for safety reasons and to ensure line of sight for traffic, the city did not allow fencing or walls on those lots. With the change, fencing 6 feet high or less will be allowed in side yards on corner lots. When a driveway on an adjacent lot is located within 12 feet of the corner lot line, the fence must be no more than 4 feet high for at least 12 feet.

“This changes it so the side facing lot can bring it [the fence] out towards the sidewalk, run it parallel with the sidewalk too and up to the front setback on the other side,” Community Development Director Cory Snyder said. “It will expand the side yard area of most of the homes.”