Let's kick this off by saying that finding out what's legal in every state is about as tough as figuring which one of those whiny, rodent-knawing survivors would pocket a million bucks. You want to do right by The Man, but it ain't all that easy to track down the info. Start with the highway patrol and they'll send you to the DMV, who will refer you to the offices of public saftey, who will recommend that you talk with AAA, who will return you to the highway patrol.
If you have further questions regarding the laws in your state, the best bet is indeed the highway patrol - but get the answers before you hit the road, not after you've been pulled over.
One thing you should be aware of: All states that base their laws on headlights and taillights take their measurements from the center of the lamp to the terra firma.
NOTE: The following is subject to change naturally and it is YOUR responsibility to keep informed as to what is legal in your area and the states. If you are unsure, ask someone of authority.
This has been posted on GMFullsize and FullSizeChevy.
ALABAMA
There aren't codes dealing specifically with the suspension components; rather, you'll have to base your mods on the reflectors. They can't be more than 60 inches above the ground.
ALASKA
Alaska is another state that bases it's laws on the lights, and in this case it's the distance from the headlights and taillights to the ground, which is 54 inches max and 24 minimum front and rear. One note: This state requires mudflaps. More info.
ARIZONA
It's all about mudflaps. Mudflap laws apply to trucks, but not SUVs. The rear fender's spashguards can't be more than 8 inches from the ground and must be wide enough, of course, to actually cover the full tread of the tires. However, 3/4-ton or lighter pickups are exempt, unless you've increased the OE bumper height. So, in other words, lift it, and you're stuck following the mudflap rules. Leave your pickup stock, and you can skip the flaps. Also keep in mind that empty or loaded, your truck can't be taller than 13 feet 6 inches. More info.
ARKANSAS
There's no law governing suspension upgrades, but there is a statute that restricts the height of headlights. They can't be lower than 24 inches or higher than 54 inches from the ground. However, overall height restriction is 13 feet 6 inches without permit, thereby limiting all those dreams you just had.
CALIFORNIA
What you can do is dependent on the GVWR. If your truck's is 4,500 pounds, the maximum frame height is 27 inches. If the GVWR is 4,501 to 7,500 pounds, it's 30 inches, and for 7,501- to 10,000 pounders, it's 31 inches. Also keep in mind that the lowest portion of the body floor can't be more than 5 inches above the top of the frame. More info. max headlight hieght is 54", max tail light hieght is 72", and the reflectors on your headlights can't be higher than 60". Max width of tires on the roads is 102", and if your GVWR is over 10,000 pounds there is no frame height rule.
COLORADO
No altering from the OE design is allowed. Psych! It's not allowed unless you follow the rules: Headlights can't be more than 44 inches high, while taillights reach their limit at 72 inches. More info.
CONNECTICUT
Modifying the factory bumper height is OK, as long as you keep it at 30 inches from the ground, or lift the vehicle no more than 4 inches.
DELAWARE
Short and sweet, without legal-eagle mumbo-jumbo: Don't let more than 30 inches get between the ground and the bottom of the bumper.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The headlamps on every motor vehicle (and that means your motorcycle too if you've got on) must stay below 54 inches, and each taillamp must not be higher than 72 inches. The low for the front is 24, and for the rear 15 - but we would hope you'd be altering your truck in the other direction.
FLORIDA
If your truck's net weight is less than 2,000 pounds, the max bumper height is 24 inches front and 26 inches rear. If it's more than 2,000 but less than 3,000, it's 27 front and 29 rear. And if it hits the scales between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds, it's 28 and 30 inches. More info.
GEORGIA
If you modify the OE bumper more than 2 inches above (or below, for that matter) the manufacturer's spec, don't be surprised if you're cited.
HAWAII
Hawaii also determines what's OK based on the GVWR. If your truck is 4,500 pounds or less, the from and rear bumpers' maximum height is 29 inches. If you're looking at 4,501 to 7,500 pounds, it's 33 inches for both. And 7,501 to 10,000 pounds? Don't make them higher than 35 inches at either end. Also be aware that the allowable distance between the body and the framerail tops off at 3 inches.
IDAHO
Lift laws here depend on GVWR - 4,500 pounds or less, the front bumper cab be up to 24 inches and the rear 26 inches. For 4,501 to 7,500 pounds, it's 27 inches in front and 29 out back, and for 7,501 to 10,000 pounds, it's 28 and 30 inches. Interestingly enough, 4x4's and dual-wheel trucks with 10,000-pound or lighter GVWR can have 30-inch-tall bumpers up front and 31 in back.
ILLINOIS
You can't lift the body from the chassis more than 3 inches. In terms of bumper height, a 4,500 pound GVWR or less and your front bumper can't go higher than 24 inches, and the rear must be no more than 26 inches. GVWRs between 4,501 and 7,500 mean 27 inches at the front and 29 at the rear. Finally. if your truck is between 7,501 and 9,000, the allowable altering is 28 and 30 inches.
INDIANA
Simply put, that bumper needs to stay within 3 inches of the factory height. Keep those headlights at 54 inches while your at it.
IOWA
We've been told that Iowa has repealed requirements concerning lifted 4x4s. For now, that means that general height, weight, and width requirements that apply to all other vehicles in the state apply to your four-by. Translation: The height cannot exceed 13 feet 6 inches, and the width can't go beyond 8 feet.
If you have further questions regarding the laws in your state, the best bet is indeed the highway patrol - but get the answers before you hit the road, not after you've been pulled over.
One thing you should be aware of: All states that base their laws on headlights and taillights take their measurements from the center of the lamp to the terra firma.
NOTE: The following is subject to change naturally and it is YOUR responsibility to keep informed as to what is legal in your area and the states. If you are unsure, ask someone of authority.
This has been posted on GMFullsize and FullSizeChevy.
ALABAMA
There aren't codes dealing specifically with the suspension components; rather, you'll have to base your mods on the reflectors. They can't be more than 60 inches above the ground.
ALASKA
Alaska is another state that bases it's laws on the lights, and in this case it's the distance from the headlights and taillights to the ground, which is 54 inches max and 24 minimum front and rear. One note: This state requires mudflaps. More info.
ARIZONA
It's all about mudflaps. Mudflap laws apply to trucks, but not SUVs. The rear fender's spashguards can't be more than 8 inches from the ground and must be wide enough, of course, to actually cover the full tread of the tires. However, 3/4-ton or lighter pickups are exempt, unless you've increased the OE bumper height. So, in other words, lift it, and you're stuck following the mudflap rules. Leave your pickup stock, and you can skip the flaps. Also keep in mind that empty or loaded, your truck can't be taller than 13 feet 6 inches. More info.
ARKANSAS
There's no law governing suspension upgrades, but there is a statute that restricts the height of headlights. They can't be lower than 24 inches or higher than 54 inches from the ground. However, overall height restriction is 13 feet 6 inches without permit, thereby limiting all those dreams you just had.
CALIFORNIA
What you can do is dependent on the GVWR. If your truck's is 4,500 pounds, the maximum frame height is 27 inches. If the GVWR is 4,501 to 7,500 pounds, it's 30 inches, and for 7,501- to 10,000 pounders, it's 31 inches. Also keep in mind that the lowest portion of the body floor can't be more than 5 inches above the top of the frame. More info. max headlight hieght is 54", max tail light hieght is 72", and the reflectors on your headlights can't be higher than 60". Max width of tires on the roads is 102", and if your GVWR is over 10,000 pounds there is no frame height rule.
COLORADO
No altering from the OE design is allowed. Psych! It's not allowed unless you follow the rules: Headlights can't be more than 44 inches high, while taillights reach their limit at 72 inches. More info.
CONNECTICUT
Modifying the factory bumper height is OK, as long as you keep it at 30 inches from the ground, or lift the vehicle no more than 4 inches.
DELAWARE
Short and sweet, without legal-eagle mumbo-jumbo: Don't let more than 30 inches get between the ground and the bottom of the bumper.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The headlamps on every motor vehicle (and that means your motorcycle too if you've got on) must stay below 54 inches, and each taillamp must not be higher than 72 inches. The low for the front is 24, and for the rear 15 - but we would hope you'd be altering your truck in the other direction.
FLORIDA
If your truck's net weight is less than 2,000 pounds, the max bumper height is 24 inches front and 26 inches rear. If it's more than 2,000 but less than 3,000, it's 27 front and 29 rear. And if it hits the scales between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds, it's 28 and 30 inches. More info.
GEORGIA
If you modify the OE bumper more than 2 inches above (or below, for that matter) the manufacturer's spec, don't be surprised if you're cited.
HAWAII
Hawaii also determines what's OK based on the GVWR. If your truck is 4,500 pounds or less, the from and rear bumpers' maximum height is 29 inches. If you're looking at 4,501 to 7,500 pounds, it's 33 inches for both. And 7,501 to 10,000 pounds? Don't make them higher than 35 inches at either end. Also be aware that the allowable distance between the body and the framerail tops off at 3 inches.
IDAHO
Lift laws here depend on GVWR - 4,500 pounds or less, the front bumper cab be up to 24 inches and the rear 26 inches. For 4,501 to 7,500 pounds, it's 27 inches in front and 29 out back, and for 7,501 to 10,000 pounds, it's 28 and 30 inches. Interestingly enough, 4x4's and dual-wheel trucks with 10,000-pound or lighter GVWR can have 30-inch-tall bumpers up front and 31 in back.
ILLINOIS
You can't lift the body from the chassis more than 3 inches. In terms of bumper height, a 4,500 pound GVWR or less and your front bumper can't go higher than 24 inches, and the rear must be no more than 26 inches. GVWRs between 4,501 and 7,500 mean 27 inches at the front and 29 at the rear. Finally. if your truck is between 7,501 and 9,000, the allowable altering is 28 and 30 inches.
INDIANA
Simply put, that bumper needs to stay within 3 inches of the factory height. Keep those headlights at 54 inches while your at it.
IOWA
We've been told that Iowa has repealed requirements concerning lifted 4x4s. For now, that means that general height, weight, and width requirements that apply to all other vehicles in the state apply to your four-by. Translation: The height cannot exceed 13 feet 6 inches, and the width can't go beyond 8 feet.
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