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Home My WebLink About2026-02-8866ORDINANCE NO. 2026-02-8866 AN ORDINANCE CREATING A NEW ARTICLE OF CHAPTER 110, TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PADUCAH, KENTUCKY, RELATED TO GOLF CARTS WHEREAS, the Kentucky Revised Statutes authorizes cities to permit the operation of golf carts on City streets by the adoption of an appropriate ordinance; and, WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the City to adopt the authorized ordinance. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF PADUCAH AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Recitals and Authorizations. That a new Article of Chapter 110, Golf Carts, of the Code of Ordinances, of the City of Paducah, Kentucky, hereby be enacted as follows: ARTICLE VII. OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS ON CITY STREETS. SEC. 110-345. Definitions. As used in this Article: "Golf Cart" shall mean any self-propelled vehicle that is designed for the transportation of players or maintaining equipment on a golf course, while engaged in the playing of golf, supervising the play of golf, or maintaining the condition of the grounds on a golf course, and as further defined in the Kentucky Revised Statutes, including, but not limited to, KRS 189.286. SEC. 110-346. Authorized Public Streets. All public streets under the jurisdiction of the City of Paducah with a speed limit of twenty-five (25) miles per hour or less may be used for the operation of golf carts. SEC. 110-347. Operation of Golf Carts. a) Any golf cart operating on streets under the jurisdiction of the City of Paducah shall be inspected by a certified inspector designated by the McCracken County Sheriff and certified through the Department of Vehicle Regulation to ensure it complies with the requirements of this Article and KRS 189.286 and issued a permit by the City of Paducah Police Department. The proof of inspection issued by the County Sheriff and the city permit shall be kept in the golf cart at all times of operation on a public roadway. This permit shall only be valid as long as the original permittee owns the golf cart. b) Any permitted golf cart shall be insured in compliance with KRS 304.39-080. c) The operator of the golf cart shall not cross a roadway at an intersection where the roadway being crossed has a posted speed limit of more than thirty-five (35) miles per hour. d) The operator shall have a valid operator's license in his possession. e) The golf cart shall only be operated on public streets between sunrise and sunset. f) The permitted golf cart shall display a slow-moving vehicle emblem in compliance with KRS 189.820. g) Any person operating a golf carton a public roadway shall be subject to the traffic regulations of KRS Chapter 189. h) The operator shall comply with all applicable codes and regulations of the City of Paducah, including but not limited to regulations governing parking and nuisance activities. i) The provisions of this Article shall not apply to a golf cart that is not used on a public roadway except to cross a roadway while following a golf cart path on a golf course. j) Nothing in this Article shall be interpreted to allow golf carts to be operated in bike lanes, on sidewalks, or on multi -use paths, including but not limited to the Greenway Trail. Nothing in this Article shall be construed to authorize the operation of golf carts along or upon state -maintained roadways within the City of Paducah. However, golf carts may cross a state -maintained roadway within the jurisdictional boundaries of the City only at locations where the posted speed limit is thirty-five (35) miles per hour or less. SEC. 110-348. Golf Cart Permitting. a) Permit Required. No person shall operate a golf cart on public streets under the jurisdiction of the City of Paducah without first obtaining a valid permit issued by the Paducah Police Department pursuant to this section. b) Application Process. Each applicant shall submit a completed application form to the Paducah Police Department. The application shall include: 1. Proof of a completed inspection by the McCracken County Sheriff's Office, as required by KRS 189.286; 2. Proof of insurance in compliance with KRS 304.39-080; 3. A valid driver's license of the applicant; and 4. Payment of a nonrefundable permit fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). c) Issuance and Validity. Upon approval, the Police Department shall issue a permit decal that must be affixed in a clearly visible location on the rear exterior of the golf cart. The permit shall remain valid until the golf cart is sold or transferred to another owner, at which time the new owner must apply for a new permit. d) Revocation, Suspension and Denial of Permit. 1. The City may revoke or suspend any permit for violation of this Article, reckless operation, or other public safety concerns. 2. The Paducah Police Department may deny a permit if the applicant fails to meet the requirements of this section or if the proposed golf cart is deemed unsafe for operation on public roads. 3. Any person whose golf cart permit application has been denied or whose issued permit has been suspended or revoked by the Paducah Police Department may submit a written appeal to the City Manager within ten (10) business days of receiving notice of the denial, suspension, or revocation. 4. The City Manager or their designee shall review the appeal and issue a written decision within fifteen (15) business days. 5. The decision of the City Manager shall be final and binding. SEC. 110-349. Exemptions from Certain Regulations. A golf cart permitted by this Article is not considered to be a motor vehicle and is exempt from title requirements of KRS 186.020, vehicle registration requirements of KRS 186.050, and emissions compliance certificates pursuant to KRS 224.20-720. SEC. 110-350 Exceptions for Special Events & Tourism. a) The provisions of this Article shall not apply to golf carts operated solely within the confines of a permitted special event under Article VI of Chapter 98, provided that: 1. The golf cart is used exclusively by authorized event organizers, staff, or vendors; 2. The golf cart is not operated on public roadways outside the designated special event area; 3. The event organizer has obtained written approval from the City as part of the special event permit, which includes provisions for golf cart use. b) The provisions of this Article shall not apply to golf carts operated by the Paducah Convention and Visitors Bureau, River Cruise lines, or their designees docked at the Paducah Riverfront, which are used only to assist with accessibility for passengers at the Foot of Broadway. SEC. 110-351. Exemption for City -Owned Golf Carts. Golf carts owned and operated by the City of Paducah, or its designated departments or agencies, shall be exempt from the permitting and inspection requirements of this Article, provided that: a) The golf cart is operated solely for official municipal business; b) The vehicle is maintained in safe working condition and includes, at a minimum, operational headlights and taillights if operated at night; and c) The golf cart is not used for personal or recreational purposes by City personnel. SEC. 110-352. Penalty. Any person who violates any provision of this Article, for which no specific penalty is otherwise provided, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be subject to a fine of not less than twenty dollars ($20.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), or imprisonment for a period not exceeding thirty (3 0) days, or both such fine and imprisonment. SECTION 2. Severability. The provisions of this ordinance are severable. If any provision, section, paragraph, sentence, or part thereof shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect or impair the remainder of this ordinance, it being the legislative intent to ordain and enact each provision, section, paragraph, sentence, and part thereof separately and independently of each other. SECTION 3. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be read on two separate days and will become effective upon summary publication pursuant to KRS Chapter 424. However, applications will not be accepted by the Police Department until George Bray, ATTEST: -L�dsay Parish, 1, y Clerk Introduced by the Board of Commissioners November 25, 2025 Adopted by the Board of Commissioners, February 10, 2026 Recorded by Lindsay Parish, City Clerk, February 10, 2026 Published by The Paducah Sun, February 13, 2026 ORD\ Golf Carts Final