California boating laws
What you need before you launch in California: boater education, age limits, life jackets, safety gear and registration.
Boater education
All operators of motorized boats need a California Boater Card, regardless of age, since Jan 1 2025. Official course info
Who can drive a boat
Check with the California boating agency for age limits.
Life jackets
Children under 13 must wear a life jacket on a moving vessel except in an enclosed cabin.
Required safety gear
Federal U.S. Coast Guard minimums apply:
- A wearable life jacket for each person aboard, plus a throwable cushion or ring on boats 16 feet and longer
- A fire extinguisher on most motorboats with an enclosed engine or fuel tank
- A whistle or horn
- Navigation lights if you are out between sunset and sunrise or in poor visibility
- Visual distress signals (flares or a flag) on coastal waters and the Great Lakes
Registration
Sailboats over 8 ft and any boat with a motor must be registered. Boats used in fresh water also need a Mussel Fee sticker.
Boating under the influence
It is illegal to operate a boat with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher.
Before you launch in California
🧼 Boats entering California are inspected at state border stations, and many lakes and reservoirs require an inspection before launch.
Links go to official California agency pages.
Summary checked 2026-10-27. Rules change, so confirm with the official California source before you go. This is not legal advice.