Are there any PWC-specific laws and rules in my state, such as a minimum age or mandatory education requirement?
For a downloadable version of the map, click here.
For more detailed information on state PWC laws, pleas visit: http://www.nasbla.org/refguide.php
| Alabama | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes, required for all boaters born after 4/28/54. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/alabama/ | |
| Alaska | |
| Age to Ride: No age restriction. | Boater Education Req’d: No |
| Restrictions on Access: Restrictions on some state park waters. | |
| Links: http://www.alaskaboatingsafety.org/ | |
| Arizona | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req’d: |
| Restrictions on Access: | |
| Links: http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/boating_rules.shtml | |
| Arkansas | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes, required for all boaters born after 7/1/86. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/arkansas/ | |
| California | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req’d: No |
| Restrictions on Access: Strict regulations for marine emissions in place. Carbon Monoxide warning label required. | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/california/ | |
| Colorado | |
| Age to Ride: 16, but younger with boater education. | Boater Education Req’d: No, only required for 14-15 year olds. |
| Restrictions on Access: Dependent on lake management plans. | |
| Links: http://parks.state.co.us/ | |
| Connecticut | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes, required for all boaters. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: http://www.dep.state.ct.us/rec/boating/index.htm | |
| Delaware | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes, for persons born after 1/1/78. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/delaware/ | |
| District of Columbia | |
| Age to Ride: 13 | Education Req’d: No, for vessels under less than 16 feet. PWC are considered Class A (less than 16’) inboard boats by the U.S. Coast Guard. Because of this, all PWCs are subject to the same laws and requirements as other conventional boats in this class, including numbering and registering. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/districtofcolumbia/ | |
| Florida | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes, for persons under 21 years old. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: http://myfwc.com/boating/safety/PWC_laws.htm | |
| Georgia | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req’d: No, only required for 12-15 year olds. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/georgia/ | |
| Hawaii | |
| Age to Ride: No | Boater Education Req’d: |
| Restrictions on Access: PWC restrictions and bans in place in state conservation districts and other state managed areas. | |
| Links: http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dbor/bor_pwc.htm | |
| Idaho | |
| Age to Ride: No age restriction | Boater Education Req’d: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: Some county ordinances affect PWC access. | |
| Links: http://www.idahoparks.org/recreation/boating/regulations.aspx | |
| Illinois | |
| Age to Ride: 18, but 12 years old with boater education. | Boater Education Req’d: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/illinois/ | |
| Indiana | |
| Age to Ride: 15 | Boater Education Req’d: Only required for persons under 16 years old. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/indiana/ | |
| Iowa | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req’d: No |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/iowa/ | |
| Kansas | |
| Age to Ride: 16, but younger with boater education. | Boater Education Req’d: Only required for riders under 16 years old. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/kansas/ | |
| Kentucky | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req’d: Only required for persons under 17 years old. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/kentucky/ | |
| Louisiana | |
| Age to Ride: 13 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes, for all boaters born after 1/1/88. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/louisiana/ | |
| Maine | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req’d: No |
| Restrictions on Access: PWCs banned on many lakes under Great Ponds Act. Municipalities can petition state for bans. | |
| Links: http://www.state.me.us/ifw/index.html | |
| Maryland | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes, for all boaters born after 7/1/72. |
| Restrictions on Access: Restrictions on Deep Creek Lake. | |
| Links: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/ | |
| Massachusetts | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req’d: Only required for PWC operators under 17 years old. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/pwcsafety.htm | |
| Michigan | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes, for persons born after 12/31/78. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/michigan/ | |
| Minnesota | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req’d: Only required for boaters under 17 years old. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/minnesota/ | |
| Mississippi | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/mississippi/ | |
| Missouri | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes, for all boaters born after 1/1/84 |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/missouri/ | |
| Montana | |
| Age to Ride: 13 | Boater Education Req’d: Only required for persons 13-14 years old. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: http://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/regulations/boatrestrictions.html | |
| Nebraska | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/boating/guides/boating/BGeducate.asp | |
| Nevada | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes, for all persons born after 1/1/83. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/nevada/ | |
| New Hampshire | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: PWCS banned on lakes and ponds of less than 75 acres. 15 other named lakes and ponds prohibit PWCs. | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/newhampshire/ | |
| New Jersey | |
| Age to Ride: 13 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: Restricted access on Point Pleasant and Cape May canals. | |
| Links: http://www.state.nj.us/njsp/maritime/faq.html | |
| New Mexico | |
| Age to Ride: 13 | Boater Education Req’d: No |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/emnrd/parks/BOATINGWeb/boatingmainpage.htm | |
| New York | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: Legislation passed in 2000 allows local regulation and bans of PWCs. | |
| Links: http://www.nysparks.com/boats | |
| North Carolina | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req’d: No |
| Restrictions on Access: State regulations allow localities to further regulate PWCs. | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/northcarolina/ | |
| North Dakota | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: Only if restrictions apply to all boats. | |
| Links: http://gf.nd.gov/licenses/boat-and-water.html | |
| Ohio | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes, for persons born after 1/1/82. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/ohio/ | |
| Oklahoma | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/oklahoma/ | |
| Oregon | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: PWC use restricted or prohibited on rivers. | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/oregon/ | |
| Pennsylvania | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/pennsylvannia/ | |
| Rhode Island | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: Cities and towns are authorized to regulate or ban PWCs. | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/rhodeisland/ | |
| South Carolina | |
| Age to Ride: 16, but younger with boater education. | Boater Education Req’d: Only required for persons under 16. |
| Restrictions on Access: | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/southcarolina/ | |
| South Dakota | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/southdakota/ | |
| Tennessee | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes, for persons born after 1/1/89. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/tennessee/ | |
| Texas | |
| Age to Ride: 13 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes, for persons born after 8/31/84. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/texas/ | |
| Utah | |
| Age to Ride: 18, but 16 years old with boater education. | Boater Education Req’d: Only required for PWC operators age 12-17. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/utah/ | |
| Vermont | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: Restrictions on most waters under 300 acres. | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/vermont/ | |
| Virginia | |
| Age to Ride: 16, but younger with boater education. | Boater Education Req’d: No, only required for PWC operators under 16 years old. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/virginia/ | |
| Washington | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: PWC use restricted on the Spokane River. Some restrictions in place at county level. | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/westvirginia/ | |
| West Virginia | |
| Age to Ride: 15 | Boater Education Req’d: Yes, for persons born after 12/31/86 |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/westvirginia/ | |
| Wisconsin | |
| Age to Ride: 16, but younger with boater education. | Boater Education Req’d: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: https://www.boat-ed.com/wisconsin/ | |
| Wyoming | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req’d: No |
| Restrictions on Access: PWCs banned on some lakes. | |
| Links: http://gf.state.wy.us/admin/regulations/chapter22/ch22wtr_new.htm | |
For more detailed information on state PWC laws, pleas visit:
http://www.nasbla.org/refguide.php
