Short answer: On Pine Island (including Bokeelia and St. James City), Lee County Ordinance No. 13-08 allows golf carts on a listed set of county-maintained roads, in daylight only, driven by a licensed driver. Carts are kept off Pine Island Road east of Stringfellow Road, off Stringfellow Road between the Jug Creek Bridge and St. Jude Boulevard, and off bike paths, shared-use paths and sidewalks. The ordinance does not address low-speed vehicles (LSVs) separately.
Last verified against Lee County Ordinance No. 13-08: . Reviewed by Mike Burdman and Joe Magaro, Low Speed Living / Cart Life TV (20 years combined golf cart experience). General information, not legal advice. The ordinance was adopted April 23, 2013; confirm with Lee County whether the road list has since been amended or a road temporarily restricted.
Where can golf carts drive on Pine Island?
On the county-maintained roads listed in Attachment A of Lee County Ordinance No. 13-08, which covers Pine Island west of the St. James Creek Bridge. Operation on any other road is prohibited.
- Attachment A runs to four pages and gives each street with its start and end points.
- Lee County DOT posts warning signs on designated roads and, where appropriate, marks golf cart crossings of Stringfellow Road and Pine Island Road.
- The Director of Transportation may temporarily restrict or end cart use on a road that presents a significant safety threat.
Where are golf carts prohibited on Pine Island?
Pine Island Road east of Stringfellow Road, and Stringfellow Road between the Jug Creek Bridge in Bokeelia and St. Jude Boulevard in St. James City, are excluded. Carts are also barred from bicycle paths, shared-use paths and sidewalks, and from the drainage or landscape areas beside designated roads.
Can you drive a golf cart at night on Pine Island?
No. Ordinance No. 13-08 prohibits golf cart operation on the designated roads between sunset and sunrise.
Do you need a driver's license to drive a golf cart on Pine Island?
Yes. The operator must hold a valid driver's license from their home state or country. The ordinance sets no separate minimum age.
What does the Pine Island golf cart ordinance require?
| Topic | What the ordinance says |
|---|---|
| Allowed roads | County-maintained roads listed in Attachment A |
| Driver | Valid driver's license from home state or country |
| Hours | Sunrise to sunset only |
| Equipment | Efficient brakes, reliable steering, safe tires, rearview mirror, red reflectorized warning devices front and rear |
| Passengers | No more than the number of seats; no standing while moving |
| Traffic | Follow traffic laws as any other motor vehicle; do not obstruct normal traffic |
| Speed | No specific limit; a golf cart is defined as not capable of exceeding 20 mph |
| Registration, permit or decal | Not specified in the ordinance |
| Insurance | Not specified in the ordinance |
| Parking | Not on drainage or landscape areas beside designated roads; otherwise 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.