North Dakota boating laws
What you need before you launch in North Dakota: boater education, age limits, life jackets, safety gear and registration.
Boater education
Operators 12 to 15 need a boating course, or an adult aboard, to run over 10 hp. Official course info
Who can drive a boat
Under 12 may not operate over 10 hp without an adult aboard.
Life jackets
Children 10 and younger must wear a life jacket.
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
Boats with any motor, including electric, must be registered.
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 North Dakota
Links go to official North Dakota agency pages.
Summary checked 2026-10-27. Rules change, so confirm with the official North Dakota source before you go. This is not legal advice.