In November 2022, the Brentwood Board of Aldermen passed Ordinance 5059, regulating the operation of low-speed vehicles on the streets of the City of Brentwood.
The Ordinance amended Chapter 340 of the Brentwood Municipal Code by adding six new sections to the code, 340.260 through 340.285.
Definition of Low-Speed Vehicles
Low-speed vehicles are gas-powered or electric-powered vehicles with required safety equipment to make the vehicles street legal. Required safety equipment includes headlights, tail lamps, turn signals, side and rearview mirrors, stop lamps, seat belts, and reflectors. These vehicles require a licensed, insured driver at least age 16.
Golf carts are primarily designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course. Golf carts are usually not street legal unless they have been modified to include the required safety equipment.
Operation of low-speed vehicles is permitted on certain streets in Brentwood.
The regulations outlined in the Brentwood Municipal Code include:
- No person may operate or ride a golf cart on any roadway, street, whether publicly or privately owned, right-of-way, vehicular easement, including any associated berm or shoulder, sidewalk, trail, walkway, or park property within the City of Brentwood.
- The operation of golf carts for special events exclusively on private property owned by the vehicle owner, and the use of golf carts on pedestrian ways and streets substantially closed to vehicular access by governmental agencies for emergency, public safety, administrative, maintenance, construction, and similar public purposes, are specifically exempted from the prohibitions.
- A low-speed vehicle shall not be operated on a street or highway with a posted speed limit greater than 30 miles per hour. State, County, and local roads within the City of Brentwood where the operation of low-speed vehicles is prohibited include: Brentwood Boulevard, Hanley Road, Manchester Road, and all roads with a speed limit greater than 30 miles per hour.
- A low-speed vehicle shall not be operated on any pathway, sidewalk, multi-use trail, path, pedestrian underpass, or walkway designed for use by pedestrians or operators of non-motorized vehicles. Low-speed vehicles are permitted to travel on the following Brentwood pathways: (1) from the northern point of Swim Club Lane to Hanley Industrial Court; (2) from the northern end of Louis Avenue east to Rosalie Avenue/Litzsinger Road; (3) from the northern end of Salem Road east to Rosalie/Litzsinger Road; and (4) from White Avenue east of Swim Club Lane to Swim Club Lane. While on these limited sections of the Brentwood pathways, low-speed vehicle operators will take extra care to avoid pedestrians using the pathway.
- No low-speed vehicle shall be parked or stopped in any manner so as to block a driveway, pathway, sidewalk, multi-use trail, path, pedestrian underpass, or walkway as well as any trails or paths in a City park.
- The maximum number of passengers in a low-speed vehicle operated on a street or highway within the City of Brentwood shall not exceed the number of seats designed by the manufacturer for occupancy.
For complete requirements and regulations for operation of low-speed vehicles in the City of Brentwood, please consult the Municipal Code.