MICRO TRANSIT VEHICLES (MTV)

Columbus City Codes tit. 5, ch. 586

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 586.01 Definitions.

586.01 - Definitions. Unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context in which the word is used, when used in this Chapter: (A) "Director" means the Director of Building and Zoning Services and/or authorized designee. (B) "License Section or Section" means the Section of Licenses in the Department of Building and Zoning Services. (C) "Micro transit vehicle" or "MTV" means a three- or four-wheeled vehicle, including a vehicle commonly known as a golf cart, with an attainable speed on a paved level surface of not more than twenty miles per hour and with a gross vehicle weight rating less than three thousand pounds. (Ord. No. 3156-2017, § 1, 12-11-2017; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 586.02 Reserved.

Columbus City Codes § 586.03 Allowing operation of an unlicensed micro transit vehicle.

586.03 - Allowing operation of an unlicensed micro transit vehicle. No person shall solicit, drive, operate, or otherwise be in physical control of any micro transit vehicle for the purpose of carrying the public generally as passengers for hire, gift, donation, or other direct or indirect compensation or consideration unless: (A) The owner of such micro transit vehicle has obtained a city of Columbus Vehicle for Hire Owner's License issued pursuant to Chapter 587 prior to operation and such license is not under suspension or revocation; (B) Each driver of the licensed micro transit vehicle has obtained a city of Columbus Vehicle for Hire Driver's License issued pursuant to Chapter 589 prior to operation and such license is not under suspension or revocation; (C) The driver identification card is displayed in the front of the vehicle and shall be rear-facing so it is visible to passengers while the driver is operating, driving or otherwise in physical control of a licensed micro transit vehicle, as required by Section 589.02(a)(3) of the Columbus City Code; and (D) The current decals issued by the License Section are clearly displayed on the front windshield and rear windshield or comparable position, as required by Section 587.02(a)(3) of the Columbus City Code. (Ord. No. 3156-2017, § 1, 12-11-2017; Ord. No. 0604-2020, § 1, 5-4-2020)

Columbus City Codes § 586.04 Identification of micro transit vehicles.

586.04 - Identification of micro transit vehicles. Every person owning or operating a licensed micro transit vehicle may adopt any business name, design, color scheme or method of painting or lettering that is approved by the Director. Every micro transit vehicle shall comply with the following requirements: (A) All MTV must be registered with the State of Ohio and display a valid Ohio license plate. (B) The identification number assigned by the Director to each micro transit vehicle shall be painted on the rear of the vehicle in letters that are not less than two (2) inches and not more than six (6) inches in height, with each line a minimum of one-half (½) inch wide; (C) The name of the owner, or the business name under which the owner conducts business, shall be painted on the rear of the vehicle. The letters shall not be less than two (2) inches and not more than six (6) inches in height, with each line a minimum of one-half (½) inch wide; and (D) All mandatory lettering, identification numbers and wording shall contrast distinctly with the color of the body of the vehicle, be reflective, and applied with non-water soluble paint, decals or adhesive-backed lettering. (Ord. No. 3156-2017, § 1, 12-11-2017; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 586.05 Fare rates, posting and changes.

586.05 - Fare rates, posting and changes. Every MTV owner shall maintain on file with the Director its complete schedule of rates. Whenever a new schedule of rates becomes effective for a MTV, the owner shall file an amended schedule with the Director within three (3) days of the change. No more than one amended schedule shall be filed by any owner within any period of seven (7) days. The rate schedule for each MTV shall be posted where it is clearly visible to all passengers while seated in the MTV. (Ord. No. 3156-2017, § 1, 12-11-2017)

Columbus City Codes § 586.06 MTV standards and safety equipment.

586.06 - MTV standards and safety equipment. (A) All licensed MTV shall be reasonably clean and in safe condition so as to not cause personal injury or damage the clothing or possessions of the passenger(s). The MTV exterior shall be clean and essentially free from cracks, breaks and major dents. (B) In order to operate MTV on public streets, it must include the following equipment: (1) Adequate brakes and braking system. (2) Properly working brake lights, head lights, tail lights and warning devices, also known as turn signals. (3) Properly working steering mechanism. (4) Windshields and windshield wipers to prohibit injury from any debris from the roadway. (5) Rear view mirror to reflect the operator a view of the public street to the rear. (6) Appropriate street legal tires that are free of major bumps, bulges, breaks or any other condition that would be cause for unsafe conditions. (Ord. No. 3156-2017, § 1, 12-11-2017)

Columbus City Codes § 586.07 MTV Inspections.

586.07 - MTV Inspections. Inspections on all licensed MTV must be completed on a yearly schedule by the vehicle's manufacturer's service department or a qualified service technician trained in, but not limited to cart batteries, engine maintenance, and tire pressure, electrical and general preventative maintenance. At any time a License Officer or Police Officer may request a mechanical inspection or general inspection by the License Section. (A) Inspections will be done on a yearly basis by License Section staff pursuant to Chapter 587 and rules and regulations promulgated by the Director pursuant to Chapter 501. (B) All MTV licenses will expire on June 30 of each year. (C) Applications for MTV license renewal will begin on May 1 of each year. MTV owners will be notified via email of times and dates of inspections and will be completed no later than June 30 of each inspection year. (Ord. No. 3156-2017, § 1, 12-11-2017; Ord. No. 0604-2020, § 1, 5-4-2020)

Columbus City Codes § 586.08 MTV operating regulations.

586.08 - MTV operating regulations. (A) MTV use of side streets, alleys or secondary streets at all times is preferred. MTVs must use side streets, alleys or secondary streets between the hours of 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. week days and 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. weekdays and weekends and during city approved special events. (B) The Director's approval shall be required for routes that are outside the business boundaries. (C) Every person owning, operating or in physical control of a MTV shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations of Chapter 2173 of the Columbus City Code pertaining to bicycles and motorcycles, Chapters 587, 589 and 592 of the Columbus City Code pertaining to vehicles for hire and the City of Columbus and the State of Ohio traffic laws. All persons owning, operating or in physical control of a MTV shall not: (1) Impede or block the normal or reasonable movement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic in compliance with law; (2) Wear earphones or headsets over the ears; (3) Use an electronic device while transporting passengers except while actively utilizing it for routing; (4) Fail to clearly display a personal driver identification card; (5) Peddle or allow peddling from the vehicle; (6) Allow more passengers than it has working, factory installed seat belts; (7) Consume or use any type of alcoholic beverage or drug of abuse or allow any passenger to do so while being transported. (Ord. No. 3156-2017, § 1, 12-11-2017; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 586.09 Advertisement.

586.09 - Advertisement. Advertisement cannot interfere with any safety features. All advertisements shall comply with the following requirements: (A) All advertisement/wrap must be pre-approved by the Director. (B) Advertisement/wrap must be maintained and in good condition. It cannot be torn, wrinkled, faded, or with any missing pieces or lettering, stripes or decals. (C) Advertisement cannot cover, obscure, obstruct or in any way interfere with a city issued decal. (Ord. No. 3156-2017, § 1, 12-11-2017)

Columbus City Codes § 586.10 Loading required.

586.10 - Loading required. Any person owning, operating, or in physical control of a MTV must load and unload passengers from the curb side of the street. (Ord. No. 3156-2017, § 1, 12-11-2017)

Columbus City Codes § 586.11 Severability clause.

586.11 - Severability clause. If any portion of this chapter, or any section or part of a section is declared to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such declaration of invalidity shall be limited to that portion, section, or part of a section declared invalid. Any such declaration or invalidity shall not affect or impair the remainder of the chapter, and to this end the objectionable provisions are severable. (Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 586.99 Penalties.

586.99 - Penalties. A violation of any section of Chapter 586 shall be grounds for the suspension, revocation or permanent revocation of the MTV owner or driver license or in the case of a new application shall be grounds to refuse to issue such license for a determinate period of time up to ninety (90) days or permanently. (Ord. No. 3156-2017, § 1, 12-11-2017; Ord. No. 0604-2020, § 1, 5-4-2020)

Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT5BURELICO_CH586MITRVEMTFetched: 10/27/2026