Off-Road Vehicle Regulations
Does Marion County regulate use of off-road vehicles?Yes. Effective 11/12/08, the Marion County Board of Commissioners signed Off-Road Vehicle Ordinance #1272, covering recreationally operated use of off-road vehicles.
Ordinance #1272 defines “Recreationally operate" as driving, operating, or riding an off-road vehicle for recreational purposes. Recreational operation includes the use of an off-road vehicle "...on a track, loop, trail, course, raceway, strip, hill, area with jumps, mounds or banked turns, or other similar terrain.”
Ordinance #1272 defines “Off-road vehicle" as "...any self-propelled motor vehicle that is designed or capable of traversing natural terrain, including but not limited to motorcycles, dirt bikes, four-wheel drive vehicles, all terrain vehicles, jeeps and halftracks.”
What are the specific regulations for off-road vehicles?
1. No person shall operate or allow anyone else to operate an off-road vehicle on any non-road area within the urban grown boundary of any city.2. No person shall operate or allow anyone else to operate an off-road vehicle on any non-road area between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.3. No person shall operate or allow anyone else to operate an off-road vehicle on any non-road area for more than 3 hours between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.4. No person shall recreationally operate any off-road vehicle on any non-road area that is within 100 feet of the property line of that property.Are there any exceptions?Yes, there are two general exceptions to the regulations listed above: 1) vehicles used for farming, timber, military, fire prevention, emergency services, or law enforcement; and 2) vehicles used exclusively for the purpose of property maintenance.Need more information?If you have specific questions or need additional information, please contact Code Enforcement staff at (503) 373-4333 or email at enforcement@co.marion.or.us. You can also print out the "Off-Road Vehicles" brochure that has the information outlined above in greater detail, as well as other resources.