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OHV Rules and Permits

Part of ATV and Overland Trails, our guide to ATV, OHV and overland riding in San Diego County.

Any OHV ridden on public land in California must be street licensed or carry a DMV green sticker. A spark arrester is required on forest and brush land, and 1986-and-newer vehicles are limited to 96 dBA. Out-of-state OHVs need a $30 nonresident permit. Agencies disagree on two points below.Checked October 23, 2026.

Greensticker from DMV
96 dBAnoise limit, 1986 and newer
$30nonresident OHV permit, 2026
Year-roundspark arrester at Corral Canyon
Who sets these rulesCalifornia State Parks OHMVR Division (state law) and the Cleveland National Forest (forest rules)
Green sticker feeTwo figures: $54 for two years (OHV FAQ) and $52 for two years (state parks fee page). Not confirmed; ask the DMV.
Spark arresterRequired on forest, brush or grass land (CVC 38366); the Forest Service requires a USFS-approved one year-round at Corral Canyon
Noise96 dBA at 20 inches for vehicles made January 1, 1986 or later; 101 dBA for earlier ones
Nonresident permit$30 per vehicle, plus a $1.95 online service fee; 2026 permits run January 1 to December 31, 2026
Read on2026-10-23. Official pages: OHV FAQ, nonresident permit

Green Stickers

The state OHV page says all vehicles operated off-highway on public lands in California must be street licensed or registered as an OHV. A green sticker is the OHV identification from the DMV.

Fee: the OHV FAQ says a green sticker costs $54 for each OHV and is valid for two years. The state parks fee page says $52 for two years and cites a 2009 bulletin. We show both because we could not confirm which is current; the DMV sets the price. The DMV OHV page was not found, so we could not check it.

Red Stickers and Riding Seasons

A red sticker is for ATVs and motorcycles of model years 2003 to 2021 that do not meet California exhaust standards. From model year 2022 the DMV no longer issues red stickers; those vehicles are Competition and may be used only on private land or at sanctioned events.

The agencies do not agree on the season, so here is each one:

  • State OHV FAQ: “In 2025, model years 2003 – 2021 ATVs and motorcycles that had been designated as red sticker will no longer be restricted to a riding season.”
  • Ocotillo Wells page footer: red sticker season open October 1 to May 31, closed June 1 to September 30.
  • Cleveland National Forest: green sticker riding is year-round; red sticker riding season is October 1 to April 30 (also for out-of-state OHVs).

Use the rule of the land you will ride on, and check with that agency first. See the Corral Canyon and Ocotillo Wells pages.

Equipment and Speed

The OHV FAQ lists a white headlamp and red taillamp from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, working brakes, a muffler or spark arrester, and 15 mph within 50 feet of campsites, animals or groups of people. It says ATVs generally may not carry passengers.

Spark Arrester Law

CVC 38366 bars operating an off-highway vehicle on forest-, brush- or grass-covered land without a spark arrester in effective working order. The Forest Service says an OHV must have a USDA Forest Service approved spark arrester to ride on the national forest, and requires it year-round at Corral Canyon.

Sound Limits

Other off-highway vehicles may not exceed 96 dBA if made on or after January 1, 1986, or 101 dBA if made before, measured at 20 inches (SAE J-1287). Competitive vehicles: 96 dBA for 1998 and later, 101 dBA before 1998. The Ocotillo Wells sound check page said “No tests are scheduled at this time” on 2026-10-23.

Out-of-State Riders

Visitors whose OHV lacks current home-state registration must buy a California Nonresident OHV Use Permit: $30 per vehicle, plus a $1.95 online fee. A title is not registration. Nonresidents must follow red sticker seasons. The 2027 permit price is not confirmed; permits for the next year go on sale in October.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Green sticker fee: $54 (OHV FAQ) versus $52 (state parks fee page). Not confirmed. The DMV can confirm the current price.
  • Red sticker season: three agency statements differ (no season per the OHV FAQ; October 1 to May 31 per the Ocotillo Wells page; October 1 to April 30 per the Cleveland National Forest). Not confirmed which applies today; ask the land manager.
  • The DMV OHV page could not be found, so DMV fees and steps were not checked.
  • 2027 nonresident permit price is not confirmed.

More in ATV and Overland Trails

FAQ

Do I need a green sticker?

Yes for an OHV on public land unless it is street licensed. Fee figures differ between two state pages ($54 and $52 for two years); see above.

What is the red sticker season?

It depends on who you ask: no season (state OHV FAQ), October 1 to May 31 (Ocotillo Wells page) or October 1 to April 30 (Cleveland National Forest).

Do out-of-state riders need a permit?

Yes, a $30 California Nonresident OHV Use Permit if the OHV lacks current home-state registration.

Sources

  1. State OHV FAQ
  2. Spark arrester law
  3. OHV sound limits
  4. Nonresident OHV permit
  5. SVRA passes and fees
  6. Cleveland NF: OHV

Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.