COBB ISLAND, Md. — The Charles County Commissioners held a public hearing on Jan. 14, 2025, to discuss Proposed Bill 2024-17, which regulates the operation of golf carts on Cobb Island. Following public comments and deliberations, the commissioners voted to adopt the bill, which will officially take effect on Feb. 28, 2025.

The bill amends Chapter 276 of the Charles County Code to allow the use of golf carts between dawn and dusk on county roads located on Cobb Island when operated by a licensed driver. The commissioners were granted the power to create the golf cart regulation via the passage of House Bill 43 during the 2024 Maryland General Assembly session.

Danielle Mitchell, an attorney with Charles County government, said the bill states, “A golf cart may be operated on a county highway, street, road or public right-of-way located south of the Maryland Route 254 Bridge over Neale Sound, in that area of Cobb Island surrounded by the Wicomico River, Potomac River and Neale Sound waterways, if such highway, street, road or public right-of-way has a maximum posted speed limit that does not exceed 30 miles per hour.”

Individuals will still need a driver’s license to operate a golf cart, and the vehicles can only be operated between dawn and dusk, Mitchell said. Commissioner Amanda Stewart asked if the golf carts have to be registered, to which Mitchell replied, “No.”

The current bill states: “Authorizing counties and municipalities to designate certain highways in their respective jurisdictions on which a person may operate a golf cart; authorizing a person with a valid driver’s license to operate a golf cart only on a highway with a maximum posted speed limit of not more than 30 miles per hour or 35 miles per hour in Golden Beach Patuxent Knolls, St. Mary’s County, between dawn and dusk, and if the golf cart is equipped with certain lighting devices; etc.”

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