Are there any PWC-specific laws and rules in my state, such as a minimum age or mandatory education requirement?
For more detailed information on state PWC laws, pleas visit: NASBLA state boating law reference guide
| 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: Alabama boating laws & regulations | |
| Alaska | |
| Age to Ride: No age restriction. | Boater Education Req'd: No |
| Restrictions on Access: Restrictions on some state park waters. | |
| Links: Alaska boating laws & regulations | |
| Arizona | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req'd: |
| Restrictions on Access: | |
| Links: Arizona boating laws & regulations | |
| 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: Arkansas boating laws & regulations | |
| 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: California boating laws & regulations | |
| 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: Colorado boating laws & regulations | |
| Connecticut | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes, required for all boaters. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Connecticut boating laws & regulations | |
| Delaware | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for persons born after 1/1/78. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Delaware boating laws & regulations | |
| 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: District of Columbia boating laws & regulations | |
| Florida | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for persons under 21 years old. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Florida boating laws & regulations | |
| Georgia | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req'd: No, only required for 12-15 year olds. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Georgia boating laws & regulations | |
| 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: Hawaii boating laws & regulations | |
| Idaho | |
| Age to Ride: No age restriction | Boater Education Req'd: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: Some county ordinances affect PWC access. | |
| Links: Idaho boating laws & regulations | |
| Illinois | |
| Age to Ride: 18, but 12 years old with boater education. | Boater Education Req'd: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Illinois boating laws & regulations | |
| Indiana | |
| Age to Ride: 15 | Boater Education Req'd: Only required for persons under 16 years old. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Indiana boating laws & regulations | |
| Iowa | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req'd: No |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Iowa boating laws & regulations | |
| 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: Kansas boating laws & regulations | |
| Kentucky | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req'd: Only required for persons under 17 years old. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Kentucky boating laws & regulations | |
| Louisiana | |
| Age to Ride: 13 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all boaters born after 1/1/88. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Louisiana boating laws & regulations | |
| 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: Maine boating laws & regulations | |
| 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: Maryland boating laws & regulations | |
| Massachusetts | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req'd: Only required for PWC operators under 17 years old. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Massachusetts boating laws & regulations | |
| Michigan | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for persons born after 12/31/78. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Michigan boating laws & regulations | |
| Minnesota | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req'd: Only required for boaters under 17 years old. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Minnesota boating laws & regulations | |
| Mississippi | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Mississippi boating laws & regulations | |
| Missouri | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all boaters born after 1/1/84 |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Missouri boating laws & regulations | |
| Montana | |
| Age to Ride: 13 | Boater Education Req'd: Only required for persons 13-14 years old. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Montana boating laws & regulations | |
| Nebraska | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Nebraska boating laws & regulations | |
| Nevada | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all persons born after 1/1/83. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Nevada boating laws & regulations | |
| 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: New Hampshire boating laws & regulations | |
| New Jersey | |
| Age to Ride: 13 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: Restricted access on Point Pleasant and Cape May canals. | |
| Links: New Jersey boating laws & regulations | |
| New Mexico | |
| Age to Ride: 13 | Boater Education Req'd: No |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: New Mexico boating laws & regulations | |
| 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: New York boating laws & regulations | |
| North Carolina | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req'd: No |
| Restrictions on Access: State regulations allow localities to further regulate PWCs. | |
| Links: North Carolina boating laws & regulations | |
| North Dakota | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: Only if restrictions apply to all boats. | |
| Links: North Dakota boating laws & regulations | |
| Ohio | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for persons born after 1/1/82. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Ohio boating laws & regulations | |
| Oklahoma | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Oklahoma boating laws & regulations | |
| Oregon | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: PWC use restricted or prohibited on rivers. | |
| Links: Oregon boating laws & regulations | |
| Pennsylvania | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: | |
| Links: Pennsylvania boating laws & regulations | |
| 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: Rhode Island boating laws & regulations | |
| 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: South Carolina boating laws & regulations | |
| South Dakota | |
| Age to Ride: 14 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: South Dakota boating laws & regulations | |
| Tennessee | |
| Age to Ride: 12 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for persons born after 1/1/89. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Tennessee boating laws & regulations | |
| Texas | |
| Age to Ride: 13 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for persons born after 8/31/84. |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Texas boating laws & regulations | |
| 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: Utah boating laws & regulations | |
| Vermont | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: Restrictions on most waters under 300 acres. | |
| Links: Vermont boating laws & regulations | |
| 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: Virginia boating laws & regulations | |
| 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: Washington boating laws & regulations | |
| West Virginia | |
| Age to Ride: 15 | Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for persons born after 12/31/86 |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: West Virginia boating laws & regulations | |
| Wisconsin | |
| Age to Ride: 16, but younger with boater education. | Boater Education Req'd: Yes |
| Restrictions on Access: N/A | |
| Links: Wisconsin boating laws & regulations | |
| Wyoming | |
| Age to Ride: 16 | Boater Education Req'd: No |
| Restrictions on Access: PWCs banned on some lakes. | |
| Links: Wyoming boating laws & regulations | |
For more detailed information on state PWC laws, pleas visit:
NASBLA state boating law reference guide