Westlake, FL Golf Cart & LSV Rules (2026)

Short answer: In Westlake, Florida, a registered golf cart may be driven by a licensed driver on designated City streets and on paths at least eight feet wide, but not on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, 60th Street and several other listed roads. The City requires registration ($40 initial, $30 renewal every three years), a decal, liability insurance and seat belts, and its golf cart ordinance does not authorize LSVs or speed-modified carts.

Last verified against City of Westlake Ordinance 2023-06 and the City's golf cart registration packet: . Reviewed by Mike Burdman and Joe Magaro, Low Speed Living / Cart Life TV (20 years combined golf cart experience). General information, not legal advice. Road names below come from a scanned copy of the ordinance; confirm against the City's posted signs.

Where can golf carts drive in Westlake?

On City streets and roads designated for golf carts, which under Ordinance 2023-06 means all City streets except the prohibited ones, with arterial and collector roads excluded unless an ordinance says otherwise. Carts may also use sidewalks, Rural Parkway Easements, shared-use paths and multimodal paths that are at least eight feet wide, at no more than 15 mph.

  • Not allowed: Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, 60th Street, portions of Town Center Parkway East, Persimmon Boulevard east of Ilex Way, and Sycamore Drive West.
  • A county road may be crossed only where the county has approved the crossing.
  • The City posts signs identifying designated routes.
  • On paths, golf carts yield to pedestrians and other path users.
  • Passengers may not exceed the number the cart is designed to carry.

Do you need to register a golf cart in Westlake?

Yes. Owners must register the cart with the City, sign an affidavit of compliance and show proof of insurance. The initial fee is $40 and the renewal fee is $30, with renewal due before January 1 every three years.

Westlake golf cart registration at a glance
Item Requirement
Initial registration fee $40
Renewal fee $30
Renewal cycle Before January 1 every three years; a lapsed registration means registering again at $40
Paperwork Permit application, signed affidavit, copy of driver's license, proof of insurance
Decal placement Left front quarter panel or left side of the front windshield
Owner age 18 or older

Registration is handled by the City Clerk. The packet describes a self-certified safety checklist and affidavit; a City inspection is not specified in the ordinance.

Who can drive a golf cart in Westlake?

The operator must hold a valid state-issued driver's license. The registered owner must be at least 18.

  • A licensed 16-year-old driving between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. must have a licensed driver aged 21 or older on board, unless driving directly to or from work.
  • A licensed 17-year-old has the same requirement between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.

Are LSVs allowed under Westlake's golf cart ordinance?

No. The ordinance authorizes only electric or gas golf carts on the designated roads and paths; low-speed vehicles, neighborhood electric vehicles, speed-modified golf carts and hybrid golf carts are not authorized under it. A street-legal LSV is governed by Florida law rather than by this ordinance.

What equipment and insurance are required?

  • Always: working brakes, two brake lights, reliable steering, safe tires, a rearview mirror, lap seat belts for the driver and every passenger, and red reflectorized warning devices front and rear.
  • In rain, fog or smoke, or near dawn and dusk (earlier than 30 minutes after sunrise or later than 30 minutes before sunset): two headlights, a horn, left and right turn signals, an approved windshield, and reflective devices or tape on both sides.
  • Insurance: liability coverage that includes golf cart operation, at no less than the limits in s. 324.021(7), Florida Statutes.

What are the hours, speed limits and penalties?

  • Hours: sunrise to sunset, unless the City Engineer designates nighttime operation; night use requires headlights, brake lights, turn signals and a windshield.
  • Speed: a golf cart tops out at 20 mph on streets, and the limit is 15 mph on Rural Parkway Easements, shared-use paths and multimodal paths.
  • Penalties: violations are non-criminal traffic infractions, and the City may also use code compliance citations and revoke a golf cart registration. Fine amounts are not specified in the ordinance.
  • Parking: not specified in the ordinance.
  • Homeowner associations enforce their own community rules.

What is the Florida statewide baseline?

Florida does not require a title, registration or insurance for a standard golf cart (20 mph maximum), but carts may only use public roads that a city or county has designated for them. A low-speed vehicle (over 20 mph, up to 25 mph) must be titled, registered and insured, needs a licensed driver, and may use streets posted 35 mph or less. See Florida golf cart and LSV laws for the full statewide rules.

Sources

← Florida golf cart and LSV laws