What is the speed limit on a residential or business street without a posted speed limit?

The speed limit on a residential or business street without a posted speed limit is generally 25 mph. This standard is often applied in many jurisdictions to maintain safety in areas where pedestrians, cyclists, and children are likely to be present.

In residential areas, streets are typically narrower and traffic is more likely to encounter unexpected stops, such as parked cars and people entering or exiting homes. For this reason, a speed limit of 25 mph is established to help reduce the potential for accidents and to create a safer environment for all road users.

While some might think that it is lower than this, the law often recognizes that a certain level of caution is sufficient, and thus sets the limit at this point rather than adopting speeds that might be impractical for safe traffic flow and local conditions.