State Law vs. Federal Law

Registration and Titling Requirements:

Recreational vessels used predominantly in the District's waters must be titled and registered for principal use in Washington D.C. Unless your boat is federally documented or is properly registered in another state, you will need to register your boat by paying a fee directly to the Metropolitan Police Harbor Master in order to receive a Certificate of Number and registration decals.

The boat's registration and decals expire on December 31st of each year and must be renewed annually. To operate a boat in Washington D.C. you must carry aboard your Certificate of Number and it must be available for inspection by law enforcement personnel whenever the boat is in operation. The boat's registration numbers and decals must be properly affixed to the forward half of each side of the bow of the boat. All boats also have a hull identification number (HIN) which is permanently imbedded into the hull of the boat, usually on the transom. This unique number can be helpful in identifying your boat in the case of theft.

Registration decals expire on December 31st of each year!

Laws for Required Wearing of PFDs :

In addition to the federal PFD carriage requirements, the District of Columbia has the following requirements for wearing a PFD:

Federal laws requires one properly fitting U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket or personal floatation device (PFD) for each person aboard or being towed, and should be readily available and in good working condition. In Washington D.C., children under the age of 13 are required to wear a PFD while boating unless they are below deck or in an enclosed cabin. Most boating related fatalities are caused by drowning - nearly 80% were not wearing a PFD. Therefore you should always wear your PFD while on the water as well as on and around the docks.

Special PFD Laws for the District of Columbia:

• Children under the age of 13 are required to wear a PFD
• Personal watercraft (PWC) operators and riders must wear a PFD
• All water skiers and anyone towed behind a boat must wear a PFD

Children under 13 must wear a PFD while boating!

Mufflers and Noise Levels:

An effective muffling system is required for the exhaust of each engine. Any boat operated on the waters of the District of Columbia must be muffled with a permanently installed muffler or similar device to effectively reduce noise. It is unlawful to operate a boat or modify your craft so that it emits more than 86 decibels when measured at a distance of 50 feet away.

In general, do not modify your factory exhaust if the result makes it louder!

Loud boat noise not only bothers other operators and users of the waterways, it can also disrupt peace ashore because of sound's ability to travel great distances over water. Excessive noise can also prevent a boat operator from hearing other boats' sound signals and warnings and can prevent you from hearing approaching law or rescue personnel.

Requirements for Waste, Oil and Garbage Disposal:

Just as you wouldn't leave trash at a campground, you shouldn't leave trash in the water. There are strict laws governing the pollution of our waterways. Keep it clean - after all, who would want to fish, swim, water ski or boat in polluted waters.

• Any oil or fuel discharge that causes a sheen is illegal
• The discharge of garbage overboard is strictly prohibited
• Thoroughly rinse boat, trailer and fish wells to prevent the unintentional transportation of aquatic nuisance species when trailering to new bodies of water

Mandatory Education and Age Requirements:

In the District of Columbia, no one under the age of 18 may operate a vessel 16 feet in length or more unless they:

• Have completed an approved boating safety course, or
• Are under the supervision of someone 18 years of age or older that has completed a boating safety course




The District of Columbia recognizes the BoatU.S. Online Boating Safety Course for the purpose of required boating education and personal enrichment. To take a classroom course to continue your boating education, call the Boating Safety Hotline at 1-800-368-5647. After successful completion of an approved D.C. Harbor Patrol Boating Safety Course, you will be awarded a boating safety certificate which can be presented to officers as proof of course completion.

Reckless & Negligent Operation:

Operating your vessel in a dangerous or reckless manner can land you a fine by the U.S. Coast Guard or D.C. Harbor Patrol. Negligent operation is the failure to exercise the degree of care necessary to prevent the endangering of life, limb, or property of any person. When no speed limit is posted, operate your boat so that it will not endanger others. Always keep a proper lookout and never load a boat with passengers or cargo beyond its safe carrying capacity.

Some activities considered Negligent Operation in D.C:

• Speeding in confined, congested or restricted areas (no-wake zones)
• Speeding near swimming areas, docks and in mooring areas
• Speeding in fog, stormy conditions or other times of reduced visibility
• Operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Buzzing or wetting down other boaters or reckless operation of a ski boat
• Allowing a passenger to ride on the gunwale, bow, transom or in any other position obviously dangerous
• Jumping the wake of another vessel within 100 yards of the vessel
• Operating in the vicinity of dams when such areas are known to be hazardous
• Cutting through a regatta or marine parade in progress

Personal watercraft (PWCs) 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. In addition to following federal and state motorboat laws, PWCs often are required to comply with additional, more strict, regulations.

Additional laws that apply to personal watercraft (PWC in the District of Columbia):

• Personal watercraft (PWC) operators and riders must wear a PFD
• Attaching the automatic engine shut-off lanyard to the craft and the rider is required for legal operation
• You may not jump the wake of another vessel within 100 yards of that vessel
• When two or more personal watercraft are operated at a speed of 10 mph or greater, a separation of at least 25 yards between the PWCs must be maintained
• Since PWCs do not have lights, they cannot be operated at night

Special Activities Restrictions and Considerations:

Many states regulate certain activities that take place aboard such as waterskiing and diving. For your safety, and for those who may be in the water, you should abide by these special laws.

Special Activities, Restrictions & Requirements:

• When towing a person on water skis or similar device, the participant must wear a properly fitting vest-style PFD. Inflatable life jackets and ski belts are not approved
• When towing a person on water skis or similar device, the observer must be at least 12 years old and able to observe the skier and relay signals to the operator
• You may not water ski at night
• Some waterways limit boat size, use and top speed - check local regulations before departing
• Maintain a distance of 100 feet from a red and white "diver down" flag when boating on inland waters and 300 feet when boating on bays and open waters
• Conventional dams and especially low head dams often present unseen dangers for boaters, especially paddlers. Operating in the vicinity of dams when such areas are known to be hazardous may be considered reckless or negligent operation in the eyes of the law.

Operating Under the Influence

Almost half of all boating accidents involve alcohol. Alcohol and boating, especially when combined with the affects of exposure to sun, can be especially dangerous as your body tends to process alcohol more rapidly. Alcohol affects your balance, judgment, and vision, especially the ability to distinguish red from green, making navigation and nighttime boating an even greater hazard.

Operating a boat while intoxicated is a federal offense, subject to a $1,000 fine. Criminal penalties are as high as $5,000. State Boating Under the Influence (BUI) laws are becoming more stringent. As on the roadways, on-water enforcement officers may administer sobriety tests and conduct a blood alcohol content (BAC) examination.

In the District of Columbia:

• Operating any type of watercraft with a BAC of 0.08% or greater is illegal
• It is illegal to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Any person operating a boat shall be deemed to have given consent for chemical testing
• No one under 21 years of age may operate any vessel with any measurable amount of alcohol

Officer Authority, Compliance & Assistance

In the District of Columbia, state and municipal regulations that govern the rivers, inlets, and waterways are policed by the D.C. Harbor Patrol, a division of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. The officers of the D.C. Harbor Patrol have the authority to stop and/or inspect vessels to enforce these local boating laws.

The D.C. Harbor Patrol has the authority to stop and/or inspect vessels!

According to the D.C. Harbor Patrol, the most common reason for providing assistance is when canoes or boats capsize or when people fall overboard. In a boating emergency, hail for assistance on VHF channel 16 and standby for direction.
Be prepared to give:

• Your location
• The nature of distress
• The number of persons on board
• A description of the boat

Cell phones are a good back-up, but should never be relied upon solely for calling for assistance. Use approved visual distress signals to aid in rapid response. If you do not have a VHF or cell phone, use the international distress signal of raising and lowering your hands above your head to alert a passing boater and ask them to hail for assistance.

Accident Reporting Requirements

Anyone involved in a boating accident that results in serious injury, drowning or disappearance must notify authorities as soon as possible. All passing boaters should stop and offer assistance, as long as it does not endanger themselves, their passengers or their craft. An accident report must be filed with the Harbor Patrol if a person dies or is injured and requires treatment beyond first aid. If property damage exceeds $250 or there is complete loss of a vessel, an accident report must also be filed.

Accident reports must be filed:

Other State Boating Laws

Often times counties, cities and districts within a state will have different, more restrictive laws. Boating laws are subject to change and it is your responsibility to be informed of the law as it applies to you and your on-water activities. To be absolutely certain about specific boating laws in your state it is wise to contact your state boating agency.

It is Your Responsibility – Be Informed!

We provide this information as a service and strive to keep this website up to date. Please let us know of any inconsistencies by bringing them to our attention at once at onlinecourse@boatus.com. Resources for these pages include state statutes, state web pages and state approved boating guides. BoatU.S. is not responsible for any misinterpretation of the law or any change in the law that is not adequately reflected in these pages. Damages as a result of failing to abide by stated law shall not be the responsibility of BoatU.S., BoatU.S. Foundation or its employees.

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