Dear Trooper Kathy: Where is it legal to operate an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) in Minnesota? Where is it illegal to operate an ATV in Minnesota? Trooper Kathy says: In general, unless a person with a valid driver’s license operates the ATV for agricultural purposes, it is restricted from operating on a public road. A person with a valid driver’s license may however operate an ATV on the extreme right-hand side of a township road if not prohibited by local ordinance. Outside of the seven county metro area, an ATV may be operated: on your own land; on private land with the landowner’s permission; on frozen waters where you have legal access (if not restricted by laws or local ordinances); on public lands that are open to recreational motor vehicles (Land uses vary, be sure to check federal, state, and local ordinances for details); on the outside slope of a state or county highway with the exception of the designated agricultural zone between April 1-Aug. 1. (The agricultural zone means the areas lying south and west of a line along the following highway right-of-ways: starting at the North Dakota border, the line goes east along State Highway 10 to State Highway 23, then follows Highway 23 east to State Highway 95 to the Wisconsin border.) This restriction does not apply to ATVs licensed and used for agricultural purposes. Inside the seven county metro area, an ATV may be operated: on your own land; on land other than your own with written or spoken permission of the landowner, occupant or lessee; on land posted with signs specifically permitting the use of recreational motor vehicles. An ATV may not be legally operated: on the median of a four-lane highway; within the right-of-way of any interstate highway; on the right-of-way between opposing lanes of traffic; at airports; in most state parks, state recreation areas, state historic sites, wildlife management areas or state scientific and natural areas with the exception of posted trails and areas; on any frozen waters located in a restricted area, or frozen waters where you don’t have legal access; in any area restricted by local ordinances or municipalities; in a tree nursery or planting area; along or on the roadway, shoulder, inside bank or slope of a public right-of-way; on agricultural land, including Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land or RIM Reserve Program Land without permission; on State Forest lands that are posted or designated closed to motorized uses. Inside the seven county metro area, an ATV may not be operated: on land you do not own, unless given written or verbal permission to ride on that land by the owner, occupant or lessee. Outside the seven county metro area, an ATV may not be operated: on land that you have been told verbally, in writing or by posted signs not to ride on; age restrictions also apply to the operation of an ATV. Persons under age 12: may only operate an ATV on private property with the permission of the owner.
Ask a Trooper: ATV rules of the road
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