Short answer: On Captiva Island, golf carts may be driven only on the county roads that the Lee County Department of Transportation has designated and signed, under Lee County Ordinance No. 09-22 as amended by Ordinance No. 23-07. The operator must hold a valid driver's license, the cart is limited to 20 mph, and driving is sunrise to sunset unless the County designates night use for carts with headlights, brake lights, turn signals and a windshield. Captiva is unincorporated, so these are county rules; the ordinances do not address low-speed vehicles (LSVs) separately.
Last verified against Lee County Ordinance Nos. 09-22 and 23-07: . Reviewed by Mike Burdman and Joe Magaro, Low Speed Living / Cart Life TV (20 years combined golf cart experience). General information, not legal advice.
Where can golf carts drive on Captiva?
Only on the county roads, or portions of them, that the Lee County Department of Transportation has designated and signed. The 2023 ordinance records the Department's finding that carts can travel safely on county roads between South Seas Island Resort and 'Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa.
- Neither ordinance lists road names; the designation is made by the Department under s. 316.212, Florida Statutes, and Lee County Administrative Code 11-3.
- The required rental cart sticker treats beach driving, driving on road shoulders and driving outside the permitted golf cart zones as prohibited.
Do you need a driver's license to drive a golf cart on Captiva?
Yes. Lee County requires a valid driver's license issued by the operator's home state or country, which is stricter than Florida's statewide golf cart rule.
- A license holder under 17 driving between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. must be accompanied by a licensed driver aged 21 or older, unless driving directly to or from work.
- A 17-year-old license holder has the same condition between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
- The ordinances set no separate minimum age.
Can you drive a golf cart at night on Captiva?
By default carts may run only between sunrise and sunset. Night use is allowed only where the Department of Transportation designates it, and only for carts with headlights, brake lights, turn signals and a windshield.
What are the rules for rental golf carts on Captiva?
Rental and leased carts must show a company or property identification and number on both sides and carry a permanent dashboard or windshield sticker warning against unlicensed drivers, open alcohol containers, beach driving, road shoulder driving and leaving the permitted zones. Rental companies must hand customers a County-approved written notice of the rules.
What does the Captiva golf cart ordinance require?
| Topic | What the ordinances say |
|---|---|
| Allowed roads | County roads designated and signed by Lee County DOT |
| Driver | Valid driver's license from home state or country |
| Hours | Sunrise to sunset unless DOT designates night operation |
| Equipment at all times | Efficient brakes, reliable steering, safe tires, rearview mirror, red reflectorized warning devices front and rear |
| Night equipment | Headlights, brake lights, turn signals, windshield |
| Speed | Maximum attainable speed of 20 mph |
| Registration, permit or decal | Not specified in the ordinance |
| Insurance | Not specified in the ordinance |
| Parking | Not specified in the ordinance |
| Penalty | Non-criminal infraction enforced under s. 316.212 and chapter 318, Florida Statutes; no fine amount stated |
| LSVs | Not addressed |
What is the Florida statewide baseline?
Florida does not require registration, a title or insurance for a standard golf cart, and a driver under 18 needs a learner's permit or driver license to take one on a public road. An LSV must be titled, registered with a license plate, insured with at least $10,000 PIP and $10,000 property damage liability, and driven by a licensed driver on streets posted 35 mph or less. See Florida golf cart and LSV laws for the statewide rules.