Key:orv
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 orv
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It is generally characterized by having large tires with deep, open treads, a flexible suspension, or even caterpillar tracks. 
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| Group: restrictions |
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| See also |
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| Status: in use |
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ORV is the abbreviation for Off-road vehicle, a legally-recognized term by many State governments within the United States for high-ground clearance usually designed for low-speed operation over a wide variety of terrain including unimproved road and trail surfaces where on-highway passenger cars would not be advisable to operate.
History
The United States Forest Service set a precedent in 2005 with issuance of the new regulation, the "Travel Management Rule", now part of the Code of Federal Regulations, directing National Forests to restrict off-roading to only designated travel routes such as existing roads or trails. This new rule was issued in part to address and limit the potential risk for soil erosion from motor vehicle use causing siltation of streams and other aquatic ecosystems. Many Forest track roads within State forest or National Forest areas are unsurfaced, either dirt road or gravel road and lacking a hard road surface. The uncovered native soil or lightly gravelled surface of the travel way can function as a erosion surface with sheet erosion, rill or gully erosion as sediment transport carrying away large amounts of soil without erosion control, a significant risk for roads located on highly erodible land. Previous to the designation requirement, some National Forests allowed overland travel of motor vehicles off established roads and trails. This overlanding often created dense networks of interlacing desire paths, perpetuated continued use and degradation of historic logging, mining, or livestock trails often substandard from current road design best practices, and contributed to continuously lengthening and broadening of the Forest Transportation System from user-created routes despite best efforts of government agency personnel to limit travel by road obliteration and blocking. Continual surveys were required to identify and mitigate resource damage from public use of substandard travel routes. Restriction of off-highway vehicles to designated routes allowed more effective implementation of erosion control features such as waterbars, while also encouraging the development of trail clubs consisting of motor vehicle users to adopt and steward designated trail systems. The United States Forest Service continues to assess the Forest Transportation System through the Travel management process established by the Travel Management Rule and periodically issues new versions of the Motor Vehicle Use Map for individual National Forests. Many other Federal and State agencies subsequently followed the United States Forest Service in a similar pattern by designation and regulation of off-highway vehicle use.
ORV Regulation by State Agencies
State agencies such as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources regulate off-road vehicle use on roads and trails open to the public. Often times, Motor vehicle registration is required, vehicle licence fees collected, and license stickers or vehicle registration plates are issued for affixing to the licensed vehicle. Park Rangers or other Law enforcement officers such as Conservation officers will often request a license inspection to ensure compliance with laws permitting licensed off-road vehicles on public lands.
"ORV" or "OHV"?
In the United States, government agencies charged with administering public land such as the United States Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management substitute the term "Off-Highway Vehicle", abbreviated as "OHV." This abbreviation is in use within OpenStreetMap as ohv=*. This key may be more desirable than orv=* when mapping federally-managed motorized trail systems and roads that allow use of motorized vehicles other than highway motor vehicle.
Below is a table of US States and the recognized terms in use
| State | Term | Abbreviation | Notes | Sign |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle | ROHV | ATVs and UTVs as subclasses, ATVs defined as three wheels or more (not motorcycles) and less than 60" in width and less than 1500 lbs; ROHV as 80" or less in width and less than 2500 lbs [1] | |
| Alaska | Off-Highway Vehicle | OHV | Mentions ATVs and All-Purpose Vehicles (APVs) as types of OHV [2] | |
| Arizona | Off-Highway Vehicles | OHV | No differentiation of subclasess [3] | |
| Arkansas | All-Terrain Vehicle | ATV | No differentiation of subclasses [4] | |
| California | Off-Highway Vehicles | OHV | defines any motor vehicle operated off-highway [5] |  
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| Colorado | Off-Highway Vehicle | OHV | includes motorcycles, dirt bikes, three-wheelers, ATVs, and dune buggies | |
| Connecticut | All-Terrain Vehicle | ATV | no provisions for registering vehicles over 50" wide, more than 600 lbs | |
| Delaware | Off-Highway Vehicle | OHV | Off-Highway Vehicle is used as a broad term to include ATVs | |
| Florida | Off-Highway Vehicle | OHV | ATVs, Off-Highway Motorcycles (OHM), Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (ROV) subclasses defined [6] | |
| Georgia | All-Terrain Vehicle | ATV | Three classes defined: class I- 50" or less width, 1200 lbs or less; class II - 65" or less width, less than 2000 lbs; class III- no max. width specified but less than 8000 lbs [7] | |
| Hawaii | Off-Highway Vehicle | OHV | OHV with subclasses ATV and UTV (Utility Terrain Vehcile) defined [8] | |
| Idaho | Off-Highway Vehicle | OHV | subclasses of motorbikes, ATV, UTV, specialty OHV mentioned [9] | |
| Illinois | Off-highway vehicle | OHV | Non-highway vehicles include ATVs, off-highway motorcycles, and recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs), among other things. | R5-I107 W11-I103 |
| Indiana | Off-Road Vehicle | ORV | used as broad term encompassing ATVs, recreational off-highway vehicles [10] | |
| Iowa | Off-Highway Vehicle | OHV | includes ATVs and off-highway motorcycles (OHM)[11] | |
| Kentucky | ||||
| Louisiana | Off-Road Vehicle | ORV | also defines Utility terrain vehicle as 50" to 74" wide, 700 lbs to 2000 lbs | |
| Maine | All-Terrain Vehicle | ATV | must be less than 65" wide, 2000 lbs in weight or be considered "oversized" | |
| Maryland | Off-Road Vehicle | ORV | defined as a motorized vehicle designed for or capable of cross-country travel | |
| Massachusetts | Off-Highway Vehicle | OHV | uses ORV in general terms but OHV in regulations | |
| Michigan | Off-Road Vehicle | ORV | ||
| Minnesota | Off-Highway Vehicle | OHV | broad term to encompass 3 vehicle subclasses- ATVs OHM (off-road motorcycles), and ORVs | |
| Mississippi | Off-Road Vehicle | ORV | "Any motorized vehicle which travels off-road for recreational purposes. ORVs include: motorbikes such as minibikes, dirt bikes, endures and motor cross bikes and all-terrain vehicles" | |
| Montana | ||||
| Nebraska | ||||
| Nevada | ||||
| New Hampshire | ||||
| New Mexico | ||||
| New York | All-terrain vehicle | NYR-5-27 | ||
| North Carolina | ||||
| North Dakota | ||||
| Ohio | All-Purpose Vehicle | APV | registers Off-highway motorcycle (OHM) and all-purpose vehicle (essentially ATV's) | |
| Oklahoma | Off-Road Vehicle | ORV | registers all-terrain vehicles (ATV), utility vehicles, and off-road motorcycles (ORM) | |
| Oregon | All-Terrain Vehicle | ATV | Four classes of ATVs, 1-4; 1-quads and trikes, 2- 4x4s and sandrails 3-motorcycles, 4-side-by-sides | |
| Pennsylvania | ||||
| Rhode Island | ||||
| South Carolina | ||||
| South Dakota | ||||
| Texas | ||||
| Tennessee | ||||
| Utah | ||||
| Vermont | ||||
| Virginia | ||||
| Washington | ||||
| West Virginia | ||||
| Wisconsin | ||||
| Wyoming |
Classification and Width Restrictions
Rather than regulate off-road vehicles by class, width=* is often selected by various regulation schemes as the factor for limiting access to certain trails or roads.
Motorcycles and E-Bikes <24" (0.9144m) Wide
Two-wheeled motor vehicles, including motorcycles or electric bicycles are usually suitable for use on travelways 24" (0.9144 m) or less. This width value may be specified by regulatory agencies rather than the specific type of vehicle permitted. Motorcyles for use off-road are known as Off-road motorcycles, and in OpenStreetMap the page Dirt bike has more details on tagging for these vehicles. The term "Dirt Bike" in OSM encompasses "Dual Sport" motorcycles which are motorcycles equipped with head lights, brake lights, turn signals, and other requirements for use on higher-speed public motorways. as well that suitable for off-road use. (dual sport) and specified using the motorcycle:type=offroad. When such a low width restriction is specified, these routes are best classified using the highway=path rather than highway=track as often width-restrictors and trail maintenance only extends to this narrow width to permit only these types of vehicles and promote a high quality of user-experience, usually those with a thrill-seeking attitude.
ATVs and other vehicles <50" (1.27m) Wide
Three- and four-wheel personal motor vehicles that are narrower than a typical passenger car typically only seat one user or potentially more behind the operator. Some off-road vehicle trails specified for vehicles meeting this width requirement and general description are best tagged with the atv=*, referring to All-terrain vehicle, also known as a quad bike, trike (in three-wheeled form, Motorized tricycle). Trails limited to a motor vehicle width that permits these types of vehicles are generally best identified by highway=track given their greater width and use for motor vehicles.
Off-road vehicles <62" to <72" (1.8288m) Wide
Many recreational off-highway vehicles are now available that meet the classification of Side-by-side (vehicle) referring to a wider configuration that allows seating of the passenger alongside the driver. Trails specified for this width may also permit the ever popular and classic Jeep CJ, in standard form only 59" (1.499m) wide. There is no standard width for these trails across all National Forests. Depending on the specific National Forest, trails with this designation can be limited to <62", <65", or <72". The Bureau of Land Management may use a different width. It's recommended that routes be specified by highway=track.
See also
- atv=*