State Law vs. Federal Law

Registration and Titling Requirements:

Registration

All vessels operating with mechanical propulsion devices (such as gas or electric outboards) are required to be registered. Vessels used solely as a ship's lifeboat and vessels owned by the United States Government are not required to be registered. You must have a Florida Certificate of Registration and validation decal to legally operate a vessel on public waters in Florida. The only exceptions are non-motorized vessels and vessels used exclusively on private lakes and ponds.

Vessels must be registered and numbered within thirty (30) days of purchase. The Certificate of Registration and validation decal are issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

The registration and decal are obtained by submitting the proper application and fee to your county tax collector's office. Additional information is available and application forms may be downloaded on the Internet at: www.hsmv.state.fl.us/html/forms.html Fees for registration are based on a vessel's length.

The vessel registration decal must be renewed annually and is to be displayed within six (6) inches of, either before or after, the registration numbers on the port (left) side and must be displayed as follows:

• Number must be painted, applied as a decal or otherwise affixed to both sides of the bow and maintained in a legible condition.
• Number shall read from left to right on both sides of the vessel.
• Number must be in at least three-inch-high bold BLOCK letters.
• Number’s color must contrast with its background and be clearly observed.
• Letters must be separated from the numbers by a hyphen or space equal to letter width; for example: “FL 3717 ZW” or “FL–3717–ZW”.
• Registration numbers must be displayed on the forward half of the vessel on both sides above the waterline.

Decal must be affixed to the port (left) side of the vessel within six inches of the registration number. The decal may precede or follow the number.

Documented vessels without a state registration in full force and effect, must also obtain a Florida registration and display the validation decal on the port side of the vessel when using Florida waters.

If your vessel requires registration, it is illegal to operate or give permission for the operation of such vessel unless it is registered and numbered as described above.

Titling

A Certificate of Title proves ownership. All vessels are required to have a Certificate of Title. The only exceptions are:

• A non-motorized vessel less than 16 feet in length
• A vessel used exclusively on private lakes and ponds
• Vessels documented with the U. S. Coast Guard.

A Certificate of Registration is valid for one year and will expire on the last day of the month prior to the owner's birth month.

The owner of a registered vessel must notify the county tax collector within 30 days if he or she changes address.

The owner of a registered vessel must notify the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles within 30 days if the vessel is sold, stolen, destroyed, abandoned or lost.

Vessels must be registered and numbered within 30 days of purchase.

Owners of vessels registered in another state have 90 days to transfer the registration to Florida when Florida becomes the state of principal use.

Larger recreational vessels, owned by U. S. citizens, may (at the option of the owner) be documented by the U. S. Coast Guard. Documented vessels must also obtain a Florida registration and display the validation decal when operating on Florida waters for more than 90 days.

Laws for Required Wearing of PFDs :

In addition to the federal PFD carriage requirements, Florida has the following requirements for wearing a PFD:

A child under the age of six (6) must wear a U.S.C.G. approved Type I, II, or III personal flotation device while onboard a vessel under 26 feet in length while the vessel is underway. "Underway" is defined as anytime except when the vessel is anchored, moored, made fast to the shore, or aground.

Children under 6 must wear a PFD while underway in boats under 26ft!

Additional Equipment Requirements:

The owner and/or operator of a vessel is responsible to carry, store, maintain, and use the safety equipment required by the U.S.C.G. safety equipment requirements.

The use of sirens or flashing, occulting, or revolving lights is prohibited except where expressly allowed by law.

Please see the following charts for specific equipment requirements for the state of Florida. It is further suggested that you equip your vessel with an anchor and a sufficient amount of anchor line; a de-watering device, such as a bilge pump in the event of flooding and a bucket for bailing should the bilge pump fail. Additionally, an oar, paddle or other alternative means of propulsion in case your engine fails.

See Equipment Requirements for :

Class A vessels
Class 1 vessels
Class 2 vessels
Class 3 vessels

Minimum Required Safety Equipment for Class A Recreational Vessels (less than 16 ft / less than 4.9m) or Canoes and Kayaks
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)	One approved Type I, II, or III for each person on board or being towed on waterskis etc. Must be USCG approved. Must be in serviceable condition. Must be properly stored.
	NOTE:A Type V hybrid may substituted for any Type I, II, or III device, but must be worn whenever the vessel is underway and the person is not in the cabin or other enclosed area. Class A:Every person on board under the age of six (6) must wear an approved Type I, II, or III while the vessel is underway. Personal Watercraft (PWC):Everyone on or operating a PWC must wear an approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD. Inflatable PFDs are prohibited. Water Skier:Every person skiing or aquaplaning must wear an approved Type I, II, or III PFD. Inflatable PFDs are prohibited.
Fire Extinguisher Must be USCG approved   Must be in serviceable condition	At least one B-I type approved hand-held portable fire extinguisher (not required on outboard motorboats less than 26 feet in length and not carrying passengers for hire, if the construction of the vessel will not permit entrapment of explosives or flammable gasses or vapors and if the fuel tank is not permanently installed.
	NOTE: When an approved fixed fire extinguishing system is installed in the machinery space(s), it may be counted in the place of one B-I type hand-held portable fire extinguisher. Some fire extinguishers require specific mounting brackets for approval. Read the label on your fire extinguisher for this information.
Visual Distress Signal   Required on the high sea and coastal waters only	Must carry visual distress signals for nighttime use.
	NOTE: Coastal waters means the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and all bays, sounds, harbors, rivers, inlets, etc. where any entrance is over two (2) miles wide to the first point where the distance between shorelines narrows to 2 miles.
Sound Producing Device (bell, horn, whistle etc.)	Every vessel less than 12 meters (39.4 ft) in length must carry an efficient sound producing device. The sound producing device need not meet any particular specifications, as long as the vessel can produce signals required by the navigational rules.
Backfire Flame Control	An effective means of controlling backfire flame of all gasoline engines installed after April 25, 1940, except outboard motors   Backfire flame arrestors must be USCG approved.
Ventilation (Boats built prior to August 1, 1980)	At least two ventilator ducts fitted with cowls or their equivalent, for the purpose of properly and efficiently ventilating the bilges of every closed engine and fuel-tank compartment on boats constructed or decked over after April 25, 1940, using gasoline as fuel or other fuels having a flash point of 110 degrees or less.
Ventilation (Boats built after August 1, 1980)	At least two ventilator ducts for the purpose of efficiently ventilating every closed compartment that contains a gasoline engine and every closed compartment containing a gasoline tank, except for those having permanently installed tanks which vent outside the boat and contain no unprotected electrical devices. Also, engine compartments containing a gasoline engine having a cranking motor must contain power operated exhaust blowers which can be controlled from the instrument panel.




Minimum Required Safety Equipment for Class 1 Recreational Vessels (16 ft to less than 26ft./ 4.9m to less than 7.9m)
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)	One approved Type I, II, or III for each person on board or being towed on waterskis etc., in addition, one throwable Type IV device Must be USCG approved. Must be in serviceable condition. Must be properly stored.
	NOTE:A Type V hybrid may substituted for any Type I, II, or III device, but it must actually be worn whenever the vessel is underway and the person is not in the cabin or other enclosed area. Class 1:Every person on board under the age of six (6) must wear an approved Type I, II, or III while the vessel is underway. Water Skier:Every person skiing or aquaplaning must wear an approved Type I, II, or III PFD. Inflatable PFDs are prohibited.
Fire Extinguisher Must be USCG approved   Must be in serviceable condition	At least one B-I type approved hand-held portable fire extinguisher (not required on outboard motorboats less than 26 feet in length and not carrying passengers for hire, if the construction of the vessel will not permit entrapment of explosives or flammable gasses or vapors and if the fuel tank is not permanently installed.
	NOTE: When an approved fixed fire extinguishing system is installed in the machinery space(s), it may be counted in the place of one B-I type hand-held portable fire extinguisher. Some fire extinguishers require specific mounting brackets for approval. Read the label on your fire extinguisher for this information.
Visual Distress Signal   Required on the high sea and coastal waters only	Must carry visual distress signals for nighttime use.
	NOTE: Coastal waters means the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and all bays, sounds, harbors, rivers, inlets, etc. where any entrance is over two (2) miles wide to the first point where the distance between shorelines narrows to 2 miles.
Sound Producing Device (bell, horn, whistle etc.)	Every vessel less than 12 meters (39.4 ft) in length must carry an efficient sound producing device. The sound producing device need not meet any particular specifications, as long as the vessel can produce signals required by the navigational rules.
Backfire Flame Control	An effective means of controlling backfire flame of all gasoline engines installed after April 25, 1940, except outboard motors   Backfire flame arrestors must be USCG approved.
Ventilation (Boats built prior to August 1, 1980)	At least two ventilator ducts fitted with cowls or their equivalent, for the purpose of properly and efficiently ventilating the bilges of every closed engine and fuel-tank compartment on boats constructed or decked over after April 25, 1940, using gasoline as fuel or other fuels having a flash point of 110 degrees or less.
Ventilation (Boats built after August 1, 1980)	At least two ventilator ducts for the purpose of efficiently ventilating every closed compartment that contains a gasoline engine and every closed compartment containing a gasoline tank, except for those having permanently installed tanks which vent outside the boat and contain no unprotected electrical devices. Also, engine compartments containing a gasoline engine having a cranking motor must contain power operated exhaust blowers which can be controlled from the instrument panel.




Minimum Required Safety Equipment for Class 2 Recreational Vessels (26ft to less than 40ft / 7.9m to less than 12.2m)
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)	One approved Type I, II, or III for each person on board or being towed on waterskis etc., in addition, one throwable Type IV device. Must be USCG approved. Must be in serviceable condition. Must be properly stored.
	NOTE: A Type V hybrid may substituted for any Type I, II, or III device, but it must actually be worn whenever the vessel is underway and the person is not in the cabin or other enclosed area. Water Skier:Every person skiing or aquaplaning must wear an approved Type I, II, or III PFD. Inflatable PFDs are prohibited.
Fire Extinguisher Must be USCG approved   Must be in serviceable condition	At least two (2) B-I type approved hand-held portable fire extinguishers or at least one (1) B-II type approved hand-held portable fire extinguisher.
	NOTE: When an approved fixed fire extinguishing system is installed in the machinery space(s), it may be counted in the place of one B-I type hand-held portable fire extinguisher. Some fire extinguishers require specific mounting brackets for approval. Read the label on your fire extinguisher for this information.
Visual Distress Signal   Required on the high sea and coastal waters only	Must carry visual distress signals for both day and nighttime use.
	NOTE: Coastal waters means the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and all bays, sounds, harbors, rivers, inlets, etc. where any entrance is over two (2) miles wide to the first point where the distance between shorelines narrows to 2 miles.
Sound Producing Device (bell, horn, whistle etc.)	Every vessel less than 12 meters (39.4 ft) in length must carry an efficient sound producing device. The sound producing device need not meet any particular specifications, as long as the vessel can produce signals required by the navigational rules.
Backfire Flame Control	An effective means of controlling backfire flame of all gasoline engines installed after April 25, 1940, except outboard motors   Backfire flame arrestors must be USCG approved.
Ventilation (Boats built prior to August 1, 1980)	At least two ventilator ducts fitted with cowls or their equivalent, for the purpose of properly and efficiently ventilating the bilges of every closed engine and fuel-tank compartment on boats constructed or decked over after April 25, 1940, using gasoline as fuel or other fuels having a flash point of 110 degrees or less.
Ventilation (Boats built after August 1, 1980)	At least two ventilator ducts for the purpose of efficiently ventilating every closed compartment that contains a gasoline engine and every closed compartment containing a gasoline tank, except for those having permanently installed tanks which vent outside the boat and contain no unprotected electrical devices. Also, engine compartments containing a gasoline engine having a cranking motor must contain power operated exhaust blowers which can be controlled from the instrument panel.




Minimum Required Safety Equipment for Class 3 Recreational Vessels (40ft to less than 65ft / 12.2m to less than 19.8m)
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)	One approved Type I, II, or III for each person on board or being towed on waterskis etc., in addition, one throwable Type IV device. Must be USCG approved. Must be in serviceable condition. Must be properly stored.
	NOTE: A Type V hybrid may substituted for any Type I, II, or III device, but it must actually be worn whenever the vessel is underway and the person is not in the cabin or other enclosed area. Water Skier:Every person skiing or aquaplaning must wear an approved Type I, II, or III PFD. Inflatable PFDs are prohibited.
Fire Extinguisher Must be USCG approved   Must be in serviceable condition	At least three (3) B-I type approved hand-held portable fire extinguisher at least one (1) B-I plus one (1) B-II type approved hand-held portable fire extinguisher.
	NOTE: When an approved fixed fire extinguishing system is installed in the machinery space(s), it may be counted in the place of one B-I type hand-held portable fire extinguisher. Some fire extinguishers require specific mounting brackets for approval. Read the label on your fire extinguisher for this information.
Visual Distress Signal   Required on the high sea and coastal waters only	Must carry visual distress signals for both day and nighttime use.
	NOTE: Coastal waters means the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and all bays, sounds, harbors, rivers, inlets, etc. where any entrance is over two (2) miles wide to the first point where the distance between shorelines narrows to 2 miles.
Sound Producing Device (bell, horn, whistle etc.)	Every vessel 12 meters (39.4) but less than 20 meters( 65.6 ft) must carry a whistle and a bell. The whistle must be audible for ½ nautical mile. The mouth of the bell must be at least 200mm (7.78 in) in diameter.
Backfire Flame Control	An effective means of controlling backfire flame of all gasoline engines installed after April 25, 1940, except outboard motors   Backfire flame arrestors must be USCG approved.
Ventilation (Boats built prior to August 1, 1980)	At least two ventilator ducts fitted with cowls or their equivalent, for the purpose of properly and efficiently ventilating the bilges of every closed engine and fuel-tank compartment on boats constructed or decked over after April 25, 1940, using gasoline as fuel or other fuels having a flash point of 110 degrees or less.
Ventilation (Boats built after August 1, 1980)	At least two ventilator ducts for the purpose of efficiently ventilating every closed compartment that contains a gasoline engine and every closed compartment containing a gasoline tank, except for those having permanently installed tanks which vent outside the boat and contain no unprotected electrical devices. Also, engine compartments containing a gasoline engine having a cranking motor must contain power operated exhaust blowers which can be controlled from the instrument panel.

We further suggest that you equip your vessel with an anchor and a sufficient amount of anchor line; a de-watering device, such as a bilge pump in the event of flooding; and an oar, paddle or other alternative means of propulsion in case your engine fails. If the above equipment requirements and suggestions are met, you may be eligible to display a FWC or Coast Guard Auxiliary safety decal. For more information, please contact your local FWC office.

Mufflers and Noise Levels:

All vessels must be equipped with an effective muffling device.

The use of cutouts is prohibited, except for vessels competing in a regatta or official boat race and such vessels while on trial runs.

The FWC enforcement protocol requires that all airboats operated in Florida utilize automotive-style mufflers to reduce engine exhaust sound levels. The following definition will be utilized:

"Muffler" means an automotive-style sound suppression device or system designed and installed to abate the sound of exhaust gasses emitted from an internal combustion engine and which prevents excessive or unusual noise.

The FWC does not intend to specify which mufflers are to be used on airboats. All airboat owners are encouraged to seek the quietest and most effective muffling device(s) for their particular vessel and engine combination.

Flexible metal pipe, known as “flex-pipe”, has been widely accepted for many years by Florida’s law enforcement agencies as an appropriate exhaust system for airboats throughout much of the state. As of 2006, the use of flex-pipe alone does not meet the intent of the vessel engine muffling requirements established in Chapter 327.65, Florida Statutes.

Requirements for Waste, Oil and Garbage Disposal:

• In Florida it is unlawful to dump untreated raw sewage from any boat on public or private lands, or in waters of the state. In areas designated as No Discharge Zones, you are prohibited from discharging even treated sewage, such as with a Type 1 or 2 MSD.
• The primary environmental concern with your sewage is not the urine (which is basically sterile), but the feces. Human feces contains bacteria, pathogens, and nutrients. The idea behind federal regulations concerning sewage on boats is to keep untreated sewage out of our inland and coastal waters, so we don't have to swim in it or drink it.
• In most inland and coastal waters, boats with installed toilets are required to have a sanitation system on board in order to control pollution. Standards have been set by the Environmental Protection Agency, and regulations have been Issued by the Coast Guard, covering the certification and use of Marine Sanitation Devices. Sanitation systems consist of an installed head (toilet), a waste-treating device (MSD), and/or a holding tank.

MARINE SANITATION DEVICES

If you have a recreational vessel with installed toilet facilities, it must have an operable marine sanitation device (MSD) onboard.

• The types of MSDs are:

• Type III MSD, the simplest and most common, consists of holding tanks or portable toilets. It requires only a small storage space and is simple to operate. Type III MSDs have the least effect on the environment since the waste is to be discharged on shore into a local sewage treatment facility.
• Type II MSDs are required for vessels 65 feet and longer and use a combination of maceration, septic treatment and chemical treatment to kill bacteria just prior to discharge. There may be a “Y” valve that directs untreated waste material for discharge or directs waste material for treatment prior to discharge. The “Y” valve must be secured to direct waste to the MSD.
• Type I MSDs are for vessels over 26 feet and under 65 feet and use a combination of maceration and chemical treatment to kill bacteria just prior to discharge. There may be a “Y” valve that directs untreated waste material for discharge or directs waste material for treatment prior to discharge. The “Y” valve must be secured to direct waste to the MSD.
• All installed devices must be U. S. Coast Guard-certified.
• All vessels 26 feet or more in length which have an enclosed cabin with sleeping facilities, must be equipped with a toilet if on Florida state waters. On a vessel other than a houseboat, the toilet may be portable or a permanently installed toilet properly attached to a MSD.
• Every houseboat must be equipped with at least one permanently installed toilet properly attached to a Type III MSD.

WASTE DISCHARGE AND LITTER

Garbage in the water is not only ugly, but it can also create entanglement, ingestion, and aesthetic problems for animals and boaters. Plastics in particular last for decades in the environment. Under federal law, it is illegal to toss ANY garbage from a boat while you are anywhere in lakes, rivers, bays, sounds, and offshore in the ocean less than 3 miles. Violations may result in civil penalties up to $25,000, a fine of up to $50,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to 5 years! Florida law prohibits littering in any freshwater lake, river, canal, or stream or tidal or coastal water of the state, including canals. The further offshore you go in the ocean, the more things you can legally dispose of from your boat. But you must always keep plastic items onboard for later disposal ashore. Remember, t is illegal to dump garbage or plastics into state waters.

Remember that while on inland and coastal waters where most of us do our boating, no garbage should go overboard. The only exception to this rule is fish waste, which under federal law, you can still put back into the water.

Lakes, Rivers, Bays, Sounds, and 0-3 miles from shore.	ILLEGAL TO DUMP	Plastic, rags, glass, food, metal, crockery, dunnage, lining & packaging, materials that float.
3-12 Miles	ILLEGAL TO DUMP	Plastic, rags*, glass,* food*, metal*, crockery*, dunnage, lining & packaging, materials that float.
12-25 Miles	ILLEGAL TO DUMP	Plastic, dunnage, lining & packing, materials that float.
25 miles or more	ILLEGAL TO DUMP	Plastic.
Dunnage-- This refers to packing materials normally associated with commercial shipping such as packing foam or pallets.
Plastics--This includes such things as chip or garbage bags, plastic bottles, fishing line, and cigarette butts.
* Unless ground smaller than one inch.

Specific Requirements: There are additional requirements based on how long your boat is. If you have a boat 26’ or longer, you must have a written garbage placard and an oil discharge placard “prominently posted” to remind you and your crew what can be thrown overboard and what can’t.  The placards must be permanently attached, be made of durable material, and must be at least 4X9 inches in size. Great Lakes boaters must display a garbage placard specifically designed for the Great lakes. Shown below, these stickers are available from most boating supply stores.

If your boat is 40' or longer, you must also have a written waste management plan, stating how you deal with the collected waste onboard, who handles it, and where it is disposed. This can be as short as one paragraph. We recommend that you keep your plan in your onboard ships papers. Click here: cleanwater@boatus.com if you would like to receive some sample waste management plans.

Mandatory Education and Age Requirements:

• Anyone 21 years of age and under who operates a vessel powered by 10 horsepower or more must pass an approved boater safety course and have in his/her possession photographic identification and a boater safety identification card issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. A person is exempt from this requirement if there is a person on board who is not affected by this law or is at least 18 years of age and holds a boater education I.D. card. This person must be attendant to and take responsibility for the safe operation of the vessel.

• You must be at least 14 years of age to operate a PWC.

• Anyone who is convicted of a criminal boating violation, any boating infraction resulting in a reportable boating accident, or two non-criminal boating safety violations within a 12-month period must attend and successfully complete an approved boating safety course and file proof with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The violator’s privilege to operate a vessel in the state will be suspended until proof of course completion is filed.

Steps to Meeting Florida Education Requirements Step 1: Meet the age and horsepower requirements above. Step 2: Pass the BoatU.S. Online Course for Florida and get your free certificate. Step 3: Turn it in to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for your state issued card. Submit your name, date of birth, return address, phone number and a copy of your BoatU.S. Certificate to: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement Boating Safety Section 620 South Meridian Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600

Reckless & Negligent Operation:

Anyone who operates a vessel with willful disregard for the safety of persons or property will be cited for reckless operation (a first-degree misdemeanor).

All operators are responsible for operating their vessel in a reasonable and prudent manner with regard for other vessel traffic, posted restrictions, the presence of a divers-down flag, and other circumstances so as not to endanger people or property. Failure to do so is considered careless operation (a non-criminal infraction).

A violation of the Federal Navigation Rules is also a violation of Florida law.

MANDATORY VIOLATOR EDUCATION

Florida law requires that anyone convicted of a criminal boating violation, a non-criminal boating infraction which resulted in a boating accident, or two non-criminal boating safety infractions within a 12-month period, must enroll in, attend, and successfully complete a NASBLA/state approved classroom boater education course. Correspondence or on-line course applications do not meet these requirements.

MAXIMUM LOADING AND HORSEPOWER

No person may operate a monohull boat of less than 20 feet in length while exceeding the maximum weight, persons, or horsepower capacity as displayed on the manufacturer's capacity plate.

Boat Speed Limits:

Any vessel operating in a speed zone posted as “Idle Speed - No Wake” must operate at the minimum speed that will maintain steerageway.

Any vessel operating in a speed zone posted as “Slow Down - Minimum Wake” must operate fully off plane and completely settled in water. The vessel’s wake must not be excessive nor create a hazard to other vessels.

Special Activities Restrictions and Considerations:

Many states regulate certain water sports activities such as waterskiing, diving and hunting from a vessel as well as environmental issues specific to the region. For your safety, and for those who may be in the water, you should learn and abide by these special laws.

See Special Activities, Restrictions & Requirements for:
Water Skiing
Mooring/Anchoring
Diving
Liveries/Rental Facilities
Manatee Awareness
Sea Grass Awareness

WATER SKI REGULATIONS

• The operator of a vessel towing someone on skis or another aquaplaning device must either have an observer, in addition to the operator, on board who is attendant to the actions of the skier or have and use a wide-angle rear view mirror.
• No one may ski or aquaplane between the hours of ½ hour past sunset to a ½ hour before sunrise.
• No one may water ski or use another aquaplaning device unless they are wearing a U.S.C.G. approved non-inflatable Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device (PFD). Inflatable personal flotation devices are prohibited.
• No one may ski or use another aquaplaning device while impaired by alcohol or other drugs.
• The operator of a vessel towing a skier may not pull the skier close enough to a fixed object or another vessel that there is risk of collision.

MOORING TO MARKERS OR BUOYS

• Except in the event of an emergency, it is unlawful to moor or fasten to any lawfully placed navigation aid or regulatory maker.

INTERFERENCE WITH NAVIGATION

• Except in the event of an emergency, it is unlawful for any person to anchor or operate a vessel in a manner that will unreasonably interfere with the navigation of other vessels.

DIVERS-DOWN FLAG

• The size of divers-down flags displayed on vessels must be at least 20 inches by 24 inches, and a stiffener is required to keep the flag unfurled. Dive flags carried on floats may still be 12 inches by 12 inches. Also, divers-down flags on vessels must be displayed above the vessel's highest point so that the flag's visibility is not obstructed in any direction.
• Divers must make reasonable efforts to stay within 300 feet of a divers-down flag on open waters (all waterways other than rivers, inlets, or navigation channels) and within 100 feet of a flag within rivers, inlets, or navigation channels.
• Vessel operators must make a reasonable effort to maintain a distance of at least 300 feet from divers-down flags on open waters and at least 100 feet from flags on rivers, inlets, or navigation channels. Vessels approaching divers-down flags closer than 300 feet in open water and 100 feet in rivers, inlets, and navigation channels must slow to idle speed.

LIVERIES (BOAT/PWC RENTAL FACILITIES)

• The facility is prohibited from renting a vessel that does not have proper safety equipment, exceeds the recommended horsepower or load capacity, or is not seaworthy.
• The facility must provide pre-rental or pre-ride instruction on the safe operation of the vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or more. This instruction must include, at a minimum, operational characteristics of the vessel, safe operation and right-of-way, operator responsibilities, and local waterway characteristics. The person delivering this information must have completed a NASBLA/state-approved boater safety course.
• All renters required by law to have a boater education ID card must have the card or its equivalent before the facility may rent to them.
• The livery must display boating safety information in a place visible to the renting public in accordance with FWC guidelines.
• PWC liveries must provide on-the-water demonstration and a check ride to evaluate the proficiency of renters.
• PWC liveries may not rent to anyone under the age of 18.
• PWC liveries must display safety information on the proper operation of a PWC. The information must include: propulsion, steering and stopping characteristics of jet pump vessels, the location and content of warning labels, how to re-board a PWC, the applicability of the Navigation Rules to PWC operation, problems with seeing and being seen by other boaters, reckless operation, and noise, nuisance, and environmental concerns.

MANATEE AWARENESS

• Manatees are protected by state and federal law.
• It is illegal to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine mammal, including manatees. Anything that disrupts a manatee's normal behavior is a violation of law, punishable under federal law up to a $50,000 fine, one-year imprisonment, or both.
• Boaters must observe all manatee protection zone requirements.

SEA GRASS AWARENESS

• Sea grasses are the principal food for endangered marine herbivores such as manatees and green sea turtles, act as natural filters to help purify the water, and provide a suitable environment for a wide variety of marine life.
• Boaters should make all available attempts to avoid running through sea grass beds.
• Navigation charts identify sea grass beds as light green or marked as "grs" on the chart.
• Boaters should make all possible attempts to stay within channels when unfamiliar with a waterway. Avoid taking shortcuts through sea grass beds to avoid causing propeller scars.
• It is a violation of Florida law to damage sea grass beds in some areas within state waters.

Operating Under the Influence

It is a violation of Florida law to operate a vessel while impaired by alcohol or other drugs. A vessel operator suspected of boating under the influence must submit to sobriety tests and a physical or chemical test to determine blood or breath alcohol content.

In Florida, a vessel operator is presumed to be under the influence if their blood or breath alcohol level is at or above .08.

Any person under 21 years of age who is found to have a breath alcohol level of .02 or higher and operates or is in actual physical control of a vessel is in violation of Florida law.

Officer Authority, Compliance & Assistance

Law enforcement officers of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Sheriff's deputies of the various counties, and any other authorized enforcement officer, shall have the authority to order the removal of vessels deemed to be an interference or hazard to public safety, enforce all boating safety laws, or cause any inspection to be made of all vessels in accordance to state law.

A law enforcement officer may stop any vessel for the purpose of checking for compliance with boating safety equipment requirements.

Accident Reporting Requirements

The operator of a vessel involved in a boating accident where there is personal injury beyond immediate first-aid, death, disappearance of any person under circumstances which indicate death or injury, or if there is damage to the vessel(s) and/or personal property of at least $2000, must, by the quickest means possible, give notice to one of the following: the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the sheriff of the county in which the accident occurred, or the police chief of the municipality in which the accident occurred, if applicable.

It is unlawful for any person operating a vessel involved in a boating accident to leave the scene without giving all possible aid to the involved persons and without reporting the accident to the proper authorities.

Other State Boating Laws

Continuing Education
Even the most experienced boater can benefit from more nautical knowledge. State and federal laws change often, and as an active boater, it’s your responsibility to know the law. Visit www.MYFWC.com often to stay on top of Florida’s boating laws and news. For further boating education, you might investigate the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s or U.S. Power Squadron’s many advanced classes at http://www.cgaux.org/ or http://www.usps.org/ respectively.

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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