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Spark arrestor laws by state

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

Open the Spark arrestor difference map

How states differ

USFS-approved spark arrestor on public land — state OHV code vs federal forest only.

  • State OHV code requires a USFS-approved spark arrestor on public land
  • No extra state spark statute — USFS/BLM still require one on national forest and many BLM units

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:

  • Spark arrestor by state
  • Spark arrestor laws by state
  • Spark arrestor map
  • Spark arrestor traveling across state lines
  • does spark arrestor change by state
  • spark arrestor required by state
  • USFS spark arrestor dirt bike
  • do I need a spark arrestor on public land
  • Spark arrestor in California / Texas / Florida / New York
  • is spark arrestor 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 extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Alaska (AK)
Alaska: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Arizona (AZ)
Arizona: USDA-approved spark arrestor, constant operation (closed-course exception).
Arkansas (AR)
Arkansas: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
California (CA)
California: USFS-qualified spark arrestor or 0.0232-in particle trap on forest, brush, or grass land.
Colorado (CO)
Colorado: Muffler and spark arrester to CPW standards on public land.
Connecticut (CT)
Connecticut: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Delaware (DE)
Delaware: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Florida (FL)
Florida: USDA-FS approved spark arrester on public lands.
Georgia (GA)
Georgia: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Hawaii (HI)
Hawaii: USFS-approved spark arrestor on designated non-licensed trails.
Idaho (ID)
Idaho: USFS-qualified spark arrester.
Illinois (IL)
Illinois: Functioning spark arrestors on DNR OHV sites (site rule).
Indiana (IN)
Indiana: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Iowa (IA)
Iowa: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Kansas (KS)
Kansas: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Kentucky (KY)
Kentucky: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Louisiana (LA)
Louisiana: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Maine (ME)
Maine: Working spark arrester (ATV chapter — dirt bikes on the ATV system).
Maryland (MD)
Maryland: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Massachusetts (MA)
Massachusetts: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Michigan (MI)
Michigan: USFS-approved spark-arrester muffler.
Minnesota (MN)
Minnesota: Muffler with a USFS-approved spark arrestor.
Mississippi (MS)
Mississippi: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Missouri (MO)
Missouri: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Montana (MT)
Montana: Adequate spark arrester off-highway on public land.
Nebraska (NE)
Nebraska: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Nevada (NV)
Nevada: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
New Hampshire (NH)
New Hampshire: OHRV / trail bike in woodlands with exhaust within 4 ft of the ground must have a spark arrestor.
New Jersey (NJ)
New Jersey: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
New Mexico (NM)
New Mexico: USFS-approved spark arrester (snowmobile exempt).
New York (NY)
New York: USFS-approved spark arrester on ATVs (NY ATV definition includes 2-wheel off-road machines).
North Carolina (NC)
North Carolina: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
North Dakota (ND)
North Dakota: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Ohio (OH)
Ohio: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Oklahoma (OK)
Oklahoma: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Oregon (OR)
Oregon: USFS-approved spark arrestor in most riding areas. Closed-course competition bikes without one fail the rule.
Pennsylvania (PA)
Pennsylvania: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Rhode Island (RI)
Rhode Island: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
South Carolina (SC)
South Carolina: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
South Dakota (SD)
South Dakota: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Tennessee (TN)
Tennessee: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Texas (TX)
Texas: USFS-qualified spark arrester on public OHV land, beach, or highway.
Utah (UT)
Utah: Noise-control device and spark arrestor (snowmobile exempt).
Vermont (VT)
Vermont: USFS-qualified spark arrester in Vermont ATV equipment rules.
Virginia (VA)
Virginia: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Washington (WA)
Washington: Spark arrester approved by DNR (USFS-stamped mufflers are the field test).
West Virginia (WV)
West Virginia: no extra state spark-arrestor statute found. USFS 36 CFR 261.52 still requires an approved spark arrestor on National Forest land.
Wisconsin (WI)
Wisconsin: ATV/UTV: spark arrester year-round. OHM spark in § 23.335 was not confirmed as the same sentence — do not assume the ATV line copies onto an OHM.
Wyoming (WY)
Wyoming: Muffler with an approved spark arrester on trails and roads.

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