Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 4519
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 4519.02 (2026)

Registration required - exceptions - operation of watercraft

✓ laws through the 2026 session (checked Sept. 2026)
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Effective:
June 30, 2017
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 26 - 132nd General Assembly
PDF:
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(A)(1) Except as provided in divisions (B), (C), and (D) of this section, no person shall operate any snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle within this state unless the snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle is registered and numbered in accordance with sections 4519.03 and 4519.04 of the Revised Code.

(2) Except as provided in section 4511.215 of the Revised Code, no registration is required for a mini-truck that is operated within this state. A mini-truck may be operated only in accordance with that section and section 4519.401 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) No registration is required for a snowmobile or off-highway motorcycle that is operated exclusively upon lands owned by the owner of the snowmobile or off-highway motorcycle, or on lands to which the owner of the snowmobile or off-highway motorcycle has a contractual right.

(2) No registration is required for an all-purpose vehicle that is used primarily for agricultural purposes when the owner qualifies for the current agricultural use valuation tax credit, unless it is to be used on any public land, trail, or right-of-way.

(3) Any all-purpose vehicle exempted from registration under division (B)(2) of this section and operated for agricultural purposes may use public roads and rights-of-way when traveling from one farm field to another, when such use does not violate section 4519.41 of the Revised Code.

(4) No registration is required for a snowmobile or all-purpose vehicle that is operated on a state highway as authorized by division (F) of section 4519.41 of the Revised Code.

(C) No registration is required for a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle owned and used in this state by a resident of another state whenever that state has in effect a registration law similar to this chapter and the snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle is properly registered under that state's law. Any snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle owned and used in this state by a resident of a state not having a registration law similar to this chapter shall comply with section 4519.09 of the Revised Code.

(D) No registration is required for a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle owned and used in this state by the United States, another state, or a political subdivision thereof, but the snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle shall display the name of the owner thereon.

(E) The owner or operator of any all-purpose vehicle operated or used upon the waters in this state shall comply with Chapters 1547. and 1548. of the Revised Code relative to the operation of watercraft.

(F) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates division (A) of this section shall be fined not less than fifty dollars but not more than one hundred dollars.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2025–2026 · leading case: Howell, No. 2:24-cv-04227 (S.D. Ohio Mar. 16, 2026).
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Howell, No. 2:24-cv-04227 (S.D. Ohio Mar. 16, 2026). · cites it 4× “activities”) and Ohio Rev. Code § 4519.02(B)(2) (excluding registration for all- purpose vehicles used primarily for agriculture purposes when the owner qualified for the current agricultural use valuation tax credit unless it is to be used on any public land, trail, or right of…”
Everett Cash Ins. Co. v. Howell, No. 2:24-cv-04227 (S.D. Ohio June 25, 2025). “§ 4519.02. For these reasons, Everett Insurance argues it has no liability for the crash.”
Turner v. Pontones, 2025-Ohio-253, 262 N.E.3d 537. “23 CA 0972, 23 CA 0973 – 36 – vehicle under R.C. 4519.02. At no time do they argue that it could have been registered as an automobile or passenger vehicle.”
State v. Rice, 2025-Ohio-1531. “44; Registration required for snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, and all-purpose vehicles, an unclassified offense in violation of R.C. 4519.02; Display of license, an unclassified misdemeanor in violation of R.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 4519.02(B)(2): 1 case
Howell, No. 2:24-cv-04227 (S.D. Ohio Mar. 16, 2026). “activities”) and Ohio Rev. Code § 4519.02(B)(2) (excluding registration for all- purpose vehicles used primarily for agriculture purposes when the owner qualified for the current agricultural use valuation tax credit unless it is to be used on any public land, trail, or right of…”
Ohio Rev. Code § 4519.02(a)(1): 1 case
Howell, No. 2:24-cv-04227 (S.D. Ohio Mar. 16, 2026). “activities”) and Ohio Rev. Code § 4519.02(B)(2) (excluding registration for all- purpose vehicles used primarily for agriculture purposes when the owner qualified for the current agricultural use valuation tax credit unless it is to be used on any public land, trail, or right of…”
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