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The Lincolnton City Council revised the Golf Cart Registration process at its August 2024 meeting. The updated registration packets are now available at the Customer Service Center in City Hall -OR- by downloading the Golf Cart Registration Packet LINK.  To improve customer service, residents may now complete registration in one step at the Customer Service Center at City Hall. 

The Lincolnton Police Department will continue to enforce golf cart operating violations, but will no longer conduct cart safety inspections or process cart registration paperwork. Residents will now acknowledge and certify that they meet all safety requirements as part of the registration process and payment at City Hall.

Registration must be done in person and residents must bring the following: 

• Completed Registration Application with signatures

• Signed Golf Cart Rules and Safety Acknowledgement

• Valid Driver’s License

• Proof of Insurance

For questions about registration, please call the City of Lincolnton (704) 736-8980

Here are some important City of Lincolnton Golf Cart Rules:

• Carts must have liability insurance coverage.
• Cart operators must be at least 16 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license.
• Carts shall only be driven on roads posted 35 miles per hour or less. This does not prohibit a cart from crossing a road or street at an intersection where the road or street being crossed has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour.
• Carts are prohibited on:
  • Any part of Main Street (Hwy27) from Flint Street East to the city limits (Four Lane)
  • Any portion of US 321
  • Any portion of Generals Blvd
• No one is allowed to stand on a golf cart while it is in operation and may only have the appropriate amount of people that the golf cart is designed to carry.
• Carts without lights may be operated only during daylight hours.
• Hand signals are required if mechanical turn signal indicators are not installed.
• Carts must display a slow-moving vehicle emblem on the back of the cart.
• Drivers of carts shall stay to the far right of the traveled portion of the road and yield the right-of-way to overtaking motor vehicles.
• Any person who operates a golf cart on public streets and roads must adhere to all applicable state and local laws, regulations and ordinances, including but not limited to those banning the possession and use of alcoholic beverages, and all other illegal drugs. In addition, no golf cart containing any open container of alcohol shall be operated on public roads.
• Cart operators shall comply with all traffic rules and regulations adopted by the State of North Carolina and the City of Lincolnton which governs the operation of motor vehicles
• Carts must be equipped and safely operated with:
  • All factory-installed safety equipment.
  • All mechanical systems must be in good working order, including no leaks on gas powered carts.
  • Unobstructed rear-view mirror and left side mirror, or a wide-angle cross bar rear-view mirror.
  • Headlights and taillights if the cart is to be operated after dark.
  • Rubber or equivalent tires
  • Adequate steering system and braking system including an emergency or park brake.
  • Speed limited to 25MPH.
  • Cart height of 22 inches or less when measured from ground to the floorboard of the cart.
  • Either a left-side and right-side mirror, or a wide-angle cross bar rear-view mirror.