Can you drive a golf cart in Port St. Joe?

Yes

the city has its own ordinance — read it first

Port St. Joe has legislated on golf carts five times since 2006, most recently Ordinance 550 in 2019. The city publishes all of them as scanned images, so we are not going to guess at a street list. Call City Hall before you set off.

City ordinance

Ord. 550

US 98

State road

On the sand

Never

The rule

A city street is legal only if the city has designated it.

A golf cart may be operated only upon a county road that has been designated by a county, a municipal street that has been designated by a municipality … for use by golf carts.

§ 316.212(1), Florida Statutes

Inside the city limits it is the city that designates, and Port St. Joe has done so — Ordinances 348, 361, 420, 507 and 550 all deal with golf carts. Every one of them is published on the city website as a scanned image with no readable text, so the designated street list, the driver age rule and any registration scheme cannot be reproduced here. Outside the city, Gulf County § 40-2 allows carts on county roads posted at 35 mph or less that are not truck routes, where the county has put up signs.

Get it from the source: Port St. Joe City Hall is (850) 229-8261, Code Enforcement option 4. Ask for Ordinance 550 and the current designated street list before you rely on anything else.

Who can drive

State law sets a floor the city cannot go under.

These apply whatever a local ordinance or a rental company says. The age rule changed in 2023.

Under 18 — must hold a valid learner’s driver licence or a valid driver licence

18 and over — must carry a valid form of government-issued photographic identification

Sunrise to sunset only, unless the responsible government has authorised night use and the cart has headlights, brake lights, turn signals and a windscreen

US 98 and SR 71 are state roads. A cart may cross the State Highway System only at a crossing FDOT has reviewed and approved

Golf cart, or low-speed vehicle?

Two different vehicles in law. Ask before you rent.

Top speed is what separates them, and it changes almost everything else.

Golf cart — not capable of exceeding 20 mph. No title, tag or insurance, but designated streets only

Low-speed vehicle — over 20 and up to 25 mph. Needs a title, registration, insurance and a VIN, and may use any street posted 35 mph or less

An LSV driver must have a full driver licence in their possession. A learner’s permit is not enough

Never on the sand and never over a dune walkover. Driving on a dune is a second-degree misdemeanour under § 161.58

More Port St. Joe rules

The other three, in the same shape.

Staying in Port St. Joe?

Rentals booked direct with the owner. No service fee.

Browse rentals

Official

City of Port St. Joe — ordinances § 316.212, Florida Statutes — golf carts

Rules and regulations change. This page is intended as a general overview to help you plan your trip and is not a substitute for reading the current official rules yourself. Laws, permit requirements, and enforcement can change at any time, and this content may not reflect the most current version. It is your responsibility to verify current rules directly with the relevant city, county, or State of Florida agency. Book Direct Forgotten Coast is not responsible for citations, fines, accidents, or other consequences resulting from reliance on this page.