New City Ordinance Regarding ATVs and UTVs in the City of Wisconsin Rapids

Monday, September 28th, 2026 -- 8:01 AM

A new City ordinance regulating the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) will take effect on October 1, 2026.

Under the revised ordinance, all City of Wisconsin Rapids streets will be open to ATV and UTV traffic, except for numbered state trunk highways (Highways 13, 34, 54, and 73). Additionally, ATVs and UTVs will only be allowed in those areas of City parks and other public properties where motorized vehicles are legally permitted to park and drive.

All ATV and UTV operators must have a valid driver’s license. City staff will remove existing ATV/UTV signage and install roadway signage at the corporate limits to notify users of the driver's license requirement, the insurance requirement, and that state trunk highways are not open ATV/UTV traffic.

On September 15, the Common Council approved an amendment to the existing ATV/UTV ordinance by a vote of 5–3, making all City streets ATV/UTV routes, adding to what previously was a handful of street routes that bordered the City.

The Public Works Committee and Common Council will review the ATV/UTV routes annually to consider the continued value, efficacy, and need for the ATV/UTV routes; whether certain streets should be included or excluded from ATV/UTV access; and effects of routes on safety and operation of city streets.

The Common Council may also consider an upcoming referral to change this annual review to a quarterly review. You can find the City’s complete UTV/ATV ordinance, effective October 1, 2026, here: www.wirapids.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3063/WR-ATV-UTV-Ordinance-2026-10-01-PDF

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.