Boat hire rules in the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads
22 rules for hire businesses in the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, from 7 official sources — on top of the rules that apply everywhere in the United Kingdom.
Rules in the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads
Briefing and checklist before each hire
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You must not let a boat go out on hire if the weather at the start of the hire is likely to threaten the safety of those on board.
Show the official wording
“The Operator must not cause or permit any Vessel to be let for hire in weather conditions which, at the time of the commencement of the hire, are likely to pose a threat to the safety of those on board the Vessel.”
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You must not hire to anyone who is, or appears to be, under the influence of alcohol or drugs when the hire starts.
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“The Operator must not hire any Vessel to any person or persons who are or appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the commencement of the hire.”
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Before each hire the skipper must get a systematic, documented handover suited to the boat, the hire length and the area, including an in-water trial. You must also demonstrate how to fit, wear and use the lifejackets or buoyancy aids, and keep a record of every briefing.
Show the official wording
“(i) A systematic and documented handover procedure, appropriate to the type of boat, length of hire and its area of operation is followed. An in-water trial is an integral part of the handover process. (ii) A proper demonstration on how to fit, wear and use the buoyancy aids or lifejackets provided with the Vessel.”
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Every member of the hire party must get a documented handover with an in-water trial, a lifejacket demonstration, and a briefing on zones, routes, obstacles, commercial vessels, bridges and navigation rules, with a map where needed.
Show the official wording
“An appropriate briefing which must include advising the hirer of: zones, routes, obstacles, commercial vessels, bridges, rules of navigation and where necessary provide a map showing access, egress, distances, locations of specific hazards and prominent features and emergency access points and contacts.”
Does the hirer need a licence?
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Your staff must have the competencies, qualifications or experience for their role, keep up annual refresher training and records, and you must keep a staff list with qualifications available for inspection.
Show the official wording
“The Operator must ensure that their staff possess the competencies, qualifications and/or experience required for the discharge of their responsibilities.”
Age limits
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You must not hire a mechanically powered boat to anyone under 16.
Show the official wording
“The Operator must not hire any Vessel which is mechanically powered to any persons under 16 years of age.”
Kayaks, canoes and SUPs
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Provide a suitable buoyancy aid or lifejacket for each person, marked with your business name and phone number (on the back, visible from the bank when worn). Paddleboards must come with a leash.
Show the official wording
“A buoyancy aid or lifejacket, of an appropriate size and type, complying with the relevant European standard and fit for purpose must be provided for each member of the party. a. Each buoyancy aid or lifejacket provided must be identified with the operator’s name and contact telephone number”
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Unpowered hire craft may only be used on MCA Category A waters.
Show the official wording
“Vessels shall only be operated in MCA Category A waters.”
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Do not hire a paddleboard to someone who intends to paddle alone.
Show the official wording
“Paddleboards shal l not be hired for individuals intending to paddle alone.”
Safety equipment on board
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Each hire boat must provide a personal flotation device of an appropriate size and type, meeting the relevant ISO standard, for every member of the party.
Show the official wording
“A Personal Flotation Device of an appropriate size and type, complying with the relevant ISO standard and fit for purpose must be provided for each member of the party.”
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Any hire boat with gas-fuelled equipment must have a Gas Safety (Installation and Use) certificate.
Show the official wording
“Any vessel offered for hire with gas-fuelled equipment must have a Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Certificate.”
Survey and commercial vessel rules
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Every licensed hire boat must comply with the Code for the Design, Construction and Operation of Hire Boats (AINA and British Marine, with MCA support).
Show the official wording
“Each Vessel must comply with the Code for the Design, Construction and Operation of Hire Boats produced jointly by the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities, and British Marine with support from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.”
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With your licence application you must submit a loading and stability test result for each boat. The test requirements are in the Hire Boat Code (2021).
Show the official wording
“You must submit results of a loading and stability test for each boat you wish to licence with your application.”
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Without reasonable excuse, letting for hire a boat that does not meet the Broads Authority's construction and equipment standards, or does not have the required insurance, is an offence.
Show the official wording
“(a) keeps, lets for hire or uses a vessel in the navigation area or on adjacent waters which does not comply with any standards applicable to the vessel; or (b) contravenes the requirements of section 14(2) as to insurance policies,”
Permits and licences for the business
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On the Broads you need a Broads Authority licence for each boat you hire out, and you, the operator, also need a licence. This includes unpowered craft such as canoes, kayaks and paddleboards.
Show the official wording
“Licences must be held for each hired vessel and their operators must also be licensed under our hire boat licensing scheme.”
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On the Broads, the Broads Authority takes the council's place for hire boat licensing under s. 94 of the 1907 Act.
Show the official wording
“section 94 of the 1907 Act shall apply in respect of a relevant vessel in the navigation area or on adjacent waters as though there were substituted for the expression “the local authority” the expression “the Broads Authority”.”
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You must hold a current British Marine Quality Accredited Boatyard (QAB) certificate.
Show the official wording
“The Operator must hold a current certificate from British Marine to demonstrate that they have successfully passed an assessment under the Quality Accredited Boatyard Scheme (QAB) to ensure the operator is achieving the required safety standards.”
Local rules and by-laws
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Speed limits apply throughout the Broads: 3, 4, 5 or 6 mph (statute miles per hour, over the ground), signed on the riverbanks. Brief your hirers on them.
Show the official wording
“Speed limits are in force throughout the Broads. The limits are 3, 4, 5, or 6 mph, clearly signed on riverbanks and are in statute miles per hour measured 'over the ground'.”
Insurance
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You must hold public liability insurance with a minimum indemnity of £2 million for the whole licence period.
Show the official wording
“Current Public Liability insurance cover with a minimum indemnity of two million pounds.”
Reporting accidents
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You must report any accident to the Broads Authority in writing as soon as reasonably practicable, and at the latest within 72 hours of learning of it. This covers loss of life, major injury, serious damage, explosion, fire, capsize of a powered boat or significant pollution.
Show the official wording
“The Operator must report to the Broads Authority, in writing, and as soon as is reasonably practicable, (and in any case within seventy-two hours of the Operator becoming aware of it), the occurrence of any accident involving the Vessel.”
Other rules
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You must carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of your hire activity at least once a year, act on what it finds, and keep it documented for inspection.
Show the official wording
“The Operator must on a regular basis carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks associated with the activity of hiring vessels. The frequency of this assessment will depend on the nature of the risk but must be no less frequently than annually.”
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For every hire you must record when the boat went out, the number of people and the lead hirer, the expected return time, and the emergency procedure if the boat does not come back.
Show the official wording
“The Operator must keep proper records which show: a. When any Vessel has been hired out. b. The number of persons carried and details of the lead member of the party. c. The expected time of return. d. The emergency procedures to be implemented on the failure of a Vessel to return.”
The national rules still apply
Everything on the the United Kingdom page applies here too: 38 rules · checked 18 October 2026
All national rules for the United KingdomIn an emergency
999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard, or VHF channel 16. VesselSOS is not a rescue service — teach your hirers to call for help the official way.
VHF channel 16
HM Coastguard (Maritime and Coastguard Agency): call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard
Not confirmed yet
What we looked for and could not confirm from an official source. Ask the authority before you assume anything here.
We have not checked the text of the Broads Authority Navigation Byelaws 1995, including the rules on navigation by minors and whether jet skis are allowed anywhere on the Broads.
We have not checked the small passenger boat (skippered) licence conditions.
We have not reviewed the content of the Hire Boat Code and its stability test; it is referenced in the licence conditions.
Official bodies
Who makes and enforces these rules.
Questions operators ask
Does a hirer need a boat licence in the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads?
Your staff must have the competencies, qualifications or experience for their role, keep up annual refresher training and records, and you must keep a staff list with qualifications available for inspection. Source: broads-authority.gov.uk, checked 18 October 2026.
Do I have to brief hirers before a hire in the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads?
You must not let a boat go out on hire if the weather at the start of the hire is likely to threaten the safety of those on board. Source: broads-authority.gov.uk, checked 18 October 2026.
Is a hire boat a commercial vessel in the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads?
Every licensed hire boat must comply with the Code for the Design, Construction and Operation of Hire Boats (AINA and British Marine, with MCA support). Source: broads-authority.gov.uk, checked 18 October 2026.
Do I need a permit to hire out boats in the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads?
On the Broads you need a Broads Authority licence for each boat you hire out, and you, the operator, also need a licence. This includes unpowered craft such as canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. Source: broads-authority.gov.uk, checked 18 October 2026.
How old must a hirer be in the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads?
You must not hire a mechanically powered boat to anyone under 16. Source: broads-authority.gov.uk, checked 18 October 2026.
For your hirers
Free safety pages on VesselSOS for the people who take your craft out — link them from your booking confirmation.
Boating safety rules in the UKHow to call the CoastguardPassage planJet ski safetySUP safetyFree tools for hire operators
Print a safety briefing card, a hire agreement template or a dock poster. Free, in your browser.
Safety briefing cardHire agreement & waiver templateDock poster Starting a boat hire business in the United Kingdom All free toolsRun the hire day on one screen.
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