State Law vs. Federal Law

Registration and Titling Requirements:

To operate a vessel on the waters of Nevada, it must be registered with Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) and display current validation. The following vessels are exceptions from registration:

• Non-motorized vessel such as canoe, kayaks, rafts and sailboats without motors.
• Vessels having valid registration in another state and not remaining in Nevada waters for more than 90 consecutive days.
• A ship's life boat(s).

To register your boat and receive your Certificate of Number and Validation Decals, you must send the proper application form and registration fee to:

Nevada Department of Wildlife
11 Valley Road
Reno, NV 89512

Once in receipt of the application and fee, you will be issued a Nevada Certificate of Number. This pocket-sized registration card must be kept aboard the boat at all times and be readily available for inspection by a law enforcement officer. You will also be issued a set of Validation Decals. The boat registration and validation decals are valid for one year and will always expire on December 31st of each year.

The boat registration and validation decals expire on December 31st of each year!

You must display your validation decals and registration numbers (beginning with NV) on the forward half of your vessel well above the waterline where it can be easily read by law enforcement officials. Letters and numbers are to be block style of at least 3" tall and must be black or another color that contrasts with the hull. Letters and numbers are to be block style of at least 3" tall and must be black or another color that contrasts with the hull. Letters and numbers are to read from left to right and have a space or hyphen to separate letter and numbers. The validation decals must be affixed within six inches of and inline with the registration numbers.

Laws for Required Wearing of PFDs :

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

• Currently, children under the age of 12 are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD at all times while underway aboard any watercraft unless in an enclosed cabin or below decks. Children's PFD must be securely fastened and be appropriate size for the wearer.
• Beginning October 1, 2007, Children under the age of 13 will be required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD at all times while underway aboard any watercraft unless in an enclosed cabin or below decks. Children's PFD must be securely fastened and be appropriate size for the wearer.

Children must wear a properly fitting PFD while boating!

Every person on board a personal watercraft (PWC) or being towed must wear a Coast Guard approved Type I, II, or III PFD. Inflatable PFDs are not intended for use while participating in tow-sports or other high impact sports.

Additional Equipment Requirements:

Beyond minimum federal equipment requirements, some states may have other requirements for certain bodies of water. Please check with your state boating agency for a list of the required equipment for where you intend to boat.

Nevada law requires the following items on all bodies of water:

The state of Nevada also recommends the following additional equipment:

• Compass and charts
• Marine VHF radio
• Anchoring equipment
• Bailing device
• Spare parts & tools
• Extra starting battery
• Oars or paddles
• Flashlight

Mufflers and Noise Levels:

An effective muffling system is required for the exhaust of each engine. Any boat operated on the waters of Nevada must be muffled with a permanently installed muffler or similar device to effectively reduce noise. Specifically, it is illegal to exceed:

• 86 decibels db(A) when measured at a distance of 50 feet.
• 90 decibels db(A) measured using a stationary sound level test if the engine was manufactured before January 1, 1993.
• 88 decibels db(A) measured using a stationary sound level test if the engine was manufactured on or after January 1, 1993.
• 75 decibels db(A) measured from the shoreline using a stationary sound level test.

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 boat's sound signals and warnings and approaching law or rescue personnel.

Requirements for Waste, Oil and Garbage Disposal:

• Federal regulations and equipment standards established jointly by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard govern the uses of marine sanitation devices (MSDs).
• All boats with onboard toilet facilities must have a method to collect and contain all waste products, preventing it from entering surrounding waters. It is illegal to discharge sewage, treated or untreated, or any waste derived from sewage, into any water in the state of Nevada.
• Type I and II MSDs must have a “Y” valve secured to allow for waste to enter a proper on-board holding tank for future drainage at a pump-out station. Type III MSDs will typically have a built-in holding tank with no external plumbing and cannot be pumped overboard. Type III MSDs must be pumped ashore at a proper facility.
• Discharge of fuel, oil or any oil product, including contaminated bilge water, is strictly prohibited. All boats 26 feet or longer must properly display a 5-by-8 inch Oily Waste Discharge placard near the bilge pump switch.
• All boats 26 feet or longer, when operating in waters under federal jurisdiction, must display an informational placard on the subject of federal marine pollution prevention laws. The placard must be 4 inches by 9 inches and placed in a location where crew and passengers can read it.

Mandatory Education and Age Requirements:

• Boaters who were born on or after January 1, 1983 are required to complete a Nevada Department of Wildlife approved boater education course before operating a boat on Nevada's interstate waters. This requirement applies only to operators using a motorboat with a motor exceeding 15 horsepower.
• You must be at least 14 years of age to operate a PWC.

Reckless & Negligent Operation:

The failure to exercise the degree of care necessary to prevent endangering persons, property or wildlife may be considered careless or negligent operation. Therefore, no person shall operate any vessel or manipulate water skis, wakeboard, tube or similar device in a manner that can bring harm to themselves, their passengers, other boaters or the environment.

Some activities considered negligent or reckless operation in Nevada:

• Speeding in no-wake zones or boating in areas marked as restricted.
• Operating at greater than no-wake speed within 100 feet of a swimmer or a person being towed by another vessel or within 200 feet of a beach or float used for swimming, or a diving platform.
• Weaving through congested waterways and other boat traffic or failure to follow the navigation rules.
• Operating a ski boat in a reckless manner or such that that a person being towed crosses another boat, another skier or between another vessel and its tow.
• Exceeding the weight or number of persons on board or overpowering the craft with an engine larger than designated as listed on the capacity plate.
• Allowing a passenger to ride on the gunwale, bow, transom or in any other position obviously dangerous at greater than no wake speed
• Chasing, harassing or disturbing wildlife with your vessel.
• Platform dragging or teak surfing

Additional laws that apply to personal watercraft (PWC):

Boat Speed Limits:

Boat speed limits are regulated by law for certain areas and conditions. 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. You are responsible for your wake!

• White buoys with red markings and black letters will indicate speed limits and no-wake zones.
• When operating your boat in a no-wake zone you must proceed at a speed at which the vessel does not produce a wake, not to exceed 5 miles and hour.
• In times of restricted visibility such as in fog or stormy conditions, you must be able to stop your vessel within half the distance of forward visibility. At all times, operators must be prepared to avoid a collision and have engines ready for immediate maneuvering.

Special Activities Restrictions and Considerations:

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

Special Activities, Restrictions & Requirements:

• A person operating a tow-vessel must be at least 14 years of age. OR, at least 12 years of age as long as another person that is at least 21 years of age is aboard to supervise the operator. You must be at least 14 years of age to operate a PWC - no exceptions.
• Boaters (and PWC operators) engaged in towing a water skier or similar device must have an observer that is at least 12 years of age OR, at least 10 years of age as long as another person that is at least 21 years of age is aboard and is in a position to supervise the operator.
• All boats or PWCs used for skiing or towing operations must be rated for at least 3 people to accommodate the operator, observer and retrieved skier and must be able to accommodate an additional observer if required as above. However, you must never exceed the vessel's recommended carrying capacity.
• When towing a person on water skis or similar device, the participant must wear a properly fitting U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD.
• Towing activities must take place only during daylight hours (sunrise to sunset).
• Vessels engaged in waterskiing or similar activity must carry and use a red or orange 12" square "skier down" flag anytime a skier is in the water.
• Vessels engaged in scuba diving and snorkeling must display a red and white diver down flag. Divers or snorkelers must remain within 100 feet of the flag. Other boats must keep a distance of 100 feet of the flag and must operate at no-wake speed when between 100 and 200 feet of the flag.
• Vessels engaged in diving activity and restricted in their ability to maneuver, must hoist a blue and white alpha flag when conducting operations in federal and international waters. This does not replace the diver flag.
• It is strongly recommended that if a PWC is equipped with an emergency engine cut off lanyard, it should be properly attached to the operator during operation.

BOATERS URGED TO STOP SPREAD OF INVASIVE MUSSELS FROM LAKE MEAD

With the discovery of nonnative quagga mussels at in the Colorado River system including Lake Mead, boaters are urged to take positive action to avoid spreading this aquatic invasive species. Though this species is easily spread when boats are moved from one water to another, there are steps boaters can follow to help contain these unwelcome mussels.

When removing a boat from any infected water, boaters should do the following:

• Drain the water from your motor, live well, and bilge on land before leaving the immediate area of the lake.
• Completely inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visual mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.
• Flush the motor, bilges, hull, trailer and any other exposed part with hot, soapy water.
• Clean and wash your trailer, truck or any other equipment that touches the lake water. Mussels can live in small pockets where water collects.
• Air-dry the boat and other equipment for at least five days before launching in any other waterway.

Quagga mussels are biofoulers that obstruct pipes in municipal and industrial raw-water systems, requiring untold millions of dollars annually to treat. Each and every body of water that becomes infected with these creatures raises the financial costs and has serious impacts on native wildlife and the local ecosystem.

Operating Under the Influence

State Operating Under the Influence (OUI) laws are becoming more stringent. As on the roadways, on-water enforcement officers may administer sobriety tests and conduct a chemical test to determine level of sobriety.

In Nevada

• No person shall operate any vessel, personal watercraft, water skis or similar device while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Boaters that have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or greater are considered boating/operating under the influence (OUI).
• Additionally, if a boater appears to be impaired by any substance that results in unsafe operation, that person is considered to be operating under the influence (OUI).
• By operating your boat in the state of Nevada, you have consented to and must submit to evidentiary testing for drug and alcohol use if requested by law enforcement personnel.
• Nevada law prescribes fines and possible jail times for those who violate state OUI laws.

Officer Authority, Compliance & Assistance

Game wardens of the Nevada Department of Wildlife, local sheriffs and any other law enforcement or peace officers have the authority to stop and/or inspect vessels to enforce Nevada and federal boating laws. Additionally, the United States Coast Guard has enforcement authority on federally controlled waters.

Game Wardens of the Nevada Department of Wildlife have the authority to stop and/or inspect vessels!

These officers also have the authority to terminate voyages, escort boaters ashore, or order boaters to the nearest moorage if an unsafe condition is found that cannot be corrected on the spot.

Boat operators must immediately yield and reduce speed when being overtaken, approached or directed by a law enforcement official. When operating in an area of law enforcement activity, you must reduce speed and give a wide berth until beyond the area.

Accident Reporting Requirements

• Anyone involved in a boating accident is required to stop and give assistance as long as it will not personally endanger the operator, passengers or vessel.
• You should always be prepared to exchange information like name, address, phone numbers and boat registration numbers with other parties involved and/or law enforcement personnel.
• Any boating accident that involves death or the disappearance of a person, or involves personal injury that causes loss of consciousness, requires medical treatment, or disables a person for more than 24 hours, must be reported immediately to the NDOW. A written follow up report must be made within 48 hours after the occurrence.
• Any boating accident that involves property damage in excess of $500 or results in a total loss of a vessel, must be reported in writing to the NDOW within 10 days of the occurrence.

Accident report forms are supplied by the Nevada Department of Wildlife or by calling the NDOW at 775-688-1500.

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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