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OHV / dirt-bike helmet laws by state

People search “OHV / dirt-bike helmet by state”, “OHV / dirt-bike helmet laws by state”, and “OHV helmet map” when a road trip, boat, bike, or load is about to cross a line. This page is the 50-state index for ohv / dirt-bike helmet. Colors and quotes are written for someone in that state today, not for what that state demands of its own registered vehicles.

Open the OHV helmet difference map

How states differ

Helmet on a dirt bike or dualsport on public OHV land — not the street motorcycle helmet law.

  • Helmet required for every OHV / dirt-bike rider on the named public land
  • Helmet required under 18 (or another published age) on OHV land
  • ATV/ROV helmet yes; off-highway motorcycle has no statewide helmet, or ATV-only statute
  • No statewide dirt-bike / OHV-trail helmet statute found

Searches this page is meant to answer

If you typed any of these — or a close variant with a state name — this is the Crosstatelaws topic that should show up:

  • OHV / dirt-bike helmet by state
  • OHV / dirt-bike helmet laws by state
  • OHV helmet laws by state
  • OHV / dirt-bike helmet map
  • OHV / dirt-bike helmet traveling across state lines
  • does ohv / dirt-bike helmet change by state
  • dirt bike helmet laws by state
  • OHV helmet required
  • do I need a helmet on a dualsport off road
  • OHV / dirt-bike helmet in California / Texas / Florida / New York
  • is ohv / dirt-bike helmet legal while traveling

All 50 states

One-line traveler summary for each state. Open the map for the quoted rule and footnotes.

Alabama (AL)
Alabama: No statewide dirt-bike / OHV-trail helmet statute found.
Alaska (AK)
Alaska: No statewide OHV-trail helmet statute found.
Arizona (AZ)
Arizona: Under 18 on an OHV (A.R.S. § 28-1179(B)); also § 28-964 under 18 on a motorcycle/ATV.
Arkansas (AR)
Arkansas: No statewide dirt-bike / OHV-trail helmet statute found.
California (CA)
California: ATV: all riders (CVC 38505). ROV: all (CVC 38601). Off-highway motorcycle: Parks FAQ — no helmet statute.
Colorado (CO)
Colorado: No statewide trail helmet. Locals may require under-18 helmets on streets opened to OHVs (C.R.S. § 33-14.5-110).
Connecticut (CT)
Connecticut: No statewide OHV-trail helmet statute found. Dirt-bike use on public property is largely municipal (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-390m).
Delaware (DE)
Delaware: No statewide dirt-bike / OHV-trail helmet statute found.
Florida (FL)
Florida: Under 16 on public lands: DOT or Snell helmet + eye protection + over-ankle boots (Fla. Stat. § 261.20(5)(c)).
Georgia (GA)
Georgia: No helmet in O.C.G.A. § 40-7-4 (brakes/muffler for off-road vehicles).
Hawaii (HI)
Hawaii: DLNR recommends DOT/SNELL; not written as a mandate on the OHV page.
Idaho (ID)
Idaho: Under 18 (Idaho Code § 49-666).
Illinois (IL)
Illinois: All operators and passengers in designated DNR riding areas — DOT or ANSI Z90.1 (17 Ill. Adm. Code 135.80). Cab / ROPS+belts exception.
Indiana (IN)
Indiana: Under 18 on an ORV (IC 14-16-1-33).
Iowa (IA)
Iowa: All riders on designated riding areas (571 IAC 46.25(5)).
Kansas (KS)
Kansas: No statewide dirt-bike / OHV-trail helmet statute found.
Kentucky (KY)
Kentucky: KRS 189.515 is ATV-defined: under 16 always; 16+ on public property (work/farm/crossing exceptions). Dirt-bike coverage is not in that section.
Louisiana (LA)
Louisiana: No statewide dirt-bike / OHV-trail helmet statute found.
Maine (ME)
Maine: Under 18 ATV headgear (12 M.R.S. § 13157-A(13)). IFW treats dirt bikes on the ATV system as in-scope.
Maryland (MD)
Maryland: All ORV riders on DNR lands — protective headgear meeting COMAR 11.13.05.02 (COMAR 08.01.03.05(B)).
Massachusetts (MA)
Massachusetts: Operators, riders, and persons towed on a recreation vehicle — includes dirt bikes (M.G.L. c. 90B).
Michigan (MI)
Michigan: Crash helmet + eyewear (MCL 324.81133(2)). Exceptions: roof meeting DOT helmet standard + belted; some 16–17 with parental consent — read 81133(2).
Minnesota (MN)
Minnesota: Under 18 on an OHM (Minn. Stat. § 84.793) and on an ATV (§ 84.9256).
Mississippi (MS)
Mississippi: No statewide dirt-bike / OHV-trail helmet statute found.
Missouri (MO)
Missouri: No statewide dirt-bike helmet statute. St. Joe State Park requires DOT/ANSI helmets for all moto/ATV/UTV — park rule.
Montana (MT)
Montana: No statewide trail helmet. MCA 61-9-417 helmet under 18 is streets/highways. FWP recommends helmets on trails.
Nebraska (NE)
Nebraska: No statewide dirt-bike / OHV-trail helmet statute found.
Nevada (NV)
Nevada: No trail-helmet mandate found. NRS 490.130(3) requires a helmet while operating an OHV on a highway under 490.090–490.130.
New Hampshire (NH)
New Hampshire: Under 18 — FMVSS 218 (RSA 215-A:13-a).
New Jersey (NJ)
New Jersey: No statewide dirt-bike / OHV-trail helmet statute found.
New Mexico (NM)
New Mexico: Under 18: eye protection, fastened helmet, OHV safety permit (NMSA 66-3-1010.3).
New York (NY)
New York: USDOT helmet for every ATV operator and passenger (NY ATV law / DMV). NY’s ATV definition includes 2-wheel off-road machines.
North Carolina (NC)
North Carolina: G.S. 20-171.19 is ATV-defined: all ATV riders on a public street/PVA; under 18 off-highway. Dirt-bike/OHM is not in that Part.
North Dakota (ND)
North Dakota: Under 18 (N.D.C.C. § 39-29-09).
Ohio (OH)
Ohio: No helmet confirmed in ORC 4519.20 (APV equipment).
Oklahoma (OK)
Oklahoma: 47 O.S. § 11-1117 helmet under 18 on public land is ATV-framed. Dirt-bike coverage is not in that section.
Oregon (OR)
Oregon: Under 18 — DOT helmet, chin strap, operators and passengers, all ATV classes. Class III = motorcycle (ORS 821.202).
Pennsylvania (PA)
Pennsylvania: Every ATV/snowmobile operator and passenger — fastened DOT motorcycle helmet (17 Pa. Code § 51.93).
Rhode Island (RI)
Rhode Island: No statewide dirt-bike / OHV-trail helmet statute found.
South Carolina (SC)
South Carolina: No statewide dirt-bike / OHV-trail helmet statute found.
South Dakota (SD)
South Dakota: No OHV-trail helmet statute found. SDCL 32-20-4 is street motorcycle under 18.
Tennessee (TN)
Tennessee: Tenn. Code § 55-8-185 helmet for ATV operator/passengers on a street/road/highway. Trail/OHM mandate not in that section.
Texas (TX)
Texas: DOT helmet + eye protection on public property (Tex. Parks & Wild. Code § 29.011). The 4-wheel street-registered exception does not cover a motorcycle.
Utah (UT)
Utah: Under 18 on a Type I ATV, OHM, or snowmobile on public land — DOT helmet, fitted and fastened (Utah Code § 41-22-29).
Vermont (VT)
Vermont: Helmet required on an ATV (23 V.S.A. ch. 31 / FPR ATV rules). Dirt bikes used on the ATV system are in that chapter.
Virginia (VA)
Virginia: Va. Code § 46.2-915.1 helmet for ATV operators/riders. Dirt-bike/OHM coverage is not in that section.
Washington (WA)
Washington: ORV on a nonhighway road: motorcycle helmet fastened while in motion (RCW 46.09.470(3)). Exception: ORV with seat belts and roll bars or an enclosed cabin.
West Virginia (WV)
West Virginia: No statewide dirt-bike helmet statute found. Hatfield-McCoy: all riders DOT helmet — trail-system rule.
Wisconsin (WI)
Wisconsin: Operator and passenger on an OHM corridor (Wis. Stat. § 23.335(8)(a)) unless a listed exception applies. On-highway OHM route: under 18. ATV/UTV § 23.33 is under 18 (separate class).
Wyoming (WY)
Wyoming: Under 18 (Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-124(a)(i)(B)) — State Parks applies it on enrolled trails as well as roads.

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Not legal advice. Confirm statutes before you travel. Disclaimer.