The Diamondhead golf cart registration fee is now $25 for initial registration, followed by $25 each year for a new decal. The City Council approved the amended ordinance on February 18, and it took effect August 1, 2026.
Golf Cart Search found that the city's public registration page still directs residents to a 2019 packet listing a $5 decal that remains valid as long as it is legible. That packet no longer matches the fee, renewal schedule, transfer deadline, or decal penalties in the adopted ordinance.
How much does Diamondhead golf cart registration cost?
The adopted ordinance sets the following registration terms:
| Requirement | Adopted rule |
|---|---|
| Initial registration | $25, consisting of a $24 decal and $1 filing fee |
| Annual decal renewal | $25 |
| Renewal deadline | September 30 |
| Registration year | October 1 through September 30 |
| Midyear registration | No prorated fee |
| Cart purchased after August 1 | May be registered through September 30 of the following year |
| Ownership transfer | New owner must register within 15 days |
The annual charge applies to golf carts and low-speed vehicles operated on Diamondhead public roads.
Why Diamondhead's online instructions show $5
As of August 17, Diamondhead's Golf Cart Rules and Registration for Street Use page links residents to an older registration packet rather than the form adopted in February.
The linked 2019 packet says the decal costs $5 and remains valid for as long as it is legible. The new ordinance instead creates an annual decal cycle ending September 30 and charges $25 each year.
The $5 price dates to Diamondhead's original registration rollout. WLOX reported in December 2012 that city officials were issuing $5 stickers and had registered nearly 300 carts during a two-day event.
The webpage itself does not list a registration price. Someone following its registration-packet link could therefore see the old $5 amount without encountering the new fee or renewal deadline.
Golf Cart Search confirmed the change from the ordinance attachment, the council's recorded vote, and the city's code publisher. We have not independently observed the city's payment or decal-issuance process, so this report does not claim when City Hall began collecting the new amount.
The council cut a proposed $50 fee to $25
The price changed during the council process. A February 3 draft proposed a $50 initial registration fee and a $50 annual renewal fee. That proposal was tabled.
The amendment returned on February 18 with both amounts reduced to $25. The official meeting minutes record a 5-0 vote to remove the item from the table, followed by a second 5-0 vote approving it. Ward 2 Councilmember Ricky Sheppard was absent.
Search results can still surface the earlier $50 document. It is a draft, not the amount adopted by the council.
What do owners need for Diamondhead registration?
Diamondhead's adopted form lists four items for a golf cart or LSV that will use public streets:
- Complete the registration form and sign the ordinance acknowledgment.
- Present a valid driver's license or temporary driver's permit.
- Present proof of financial responsibility and keep that proof in the vehicle.
- Pay the $25 registration or annual decal fee.
The city-issued decal must remain visible on the driver's-side rear fender. The adopted documents do not describe an online payment option or state when City Hall began collecting the new fee. Because the older $5 packet remains online, owners should confirm which form the city is accepting before paying.
What are the penalties for an expired decal?
The amended ordinance assigns a $100 fine for the first occurrence of operating without a decal, with an expired decal, or with a decal assigned to another owner or vehicle. Each later occurrence within the same calendar year carries a $200 fine.
It also sets a $100-per-occurrence fine for operating an LSV on a public street without the equipment required by 49 CFR 571.500. The city may deny or revoke a permit for up to one year when the registered vehicle or its owner is involved in at least three ordinance violations within one year.
The decal is nontransferable. A buyer has 15 days after an ownership transfer to register the vehicle and obtain a new decal.
What Mississippi law requires
Mississippi Senate Bill 2605 allows municipalities to authorize golf carts and LSVs on designated city streets. It requires local registration, a valid driver's license or temporary driver's permit, and proof of financial responsibility for public-road operation.
Diamondhead's route restrictions remain important. The city's public guidance says golf carts and LSVs may operate in most residential areas but may not use or cross Interstate 10 at the Exit 16 overpass. Owners can check the broader Mississippi golf cart laws, Mississippi insurance requirements, and Diamondhead's official access map before using a cart on public roads.
This article summarizes public records and is not legal advice. Drivers should check the latest city documents before operating on public streets.
Primary reporting source
City of Diamondhead: adopted 2026 golf cart ordinance
