Boat rental laws by state

Federal rules that apply everywhere

On top of state law. They apply to every boat you rent out, in every state.

• Under federal law a boat leased, rented or chartered to someone else for their pleasure is a “recreational vessel” — so the federal recreational boating rules apply to your rentals.

  Law Business and renter Source: § 2101(34) · govinfo.gov ↗ Checked October 18, 2026

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  46 U.S.C. § 2101 — General definitions“"recreational vessel" means a vessel— (A) being manufactured or operated primarily for pleasure; or (B) leased, rented, or chartered to another for the latter's pleasure.”

• Every recreational vessel needs at least one wearable Coast Guard-approved life jacket on board for each person, used as its approval label says; boats 16 ft or longer also need one throwable device.

  Law Business and renter Source: § 175.15(a)–(b) · ecfr.gov ↗ Checked October 18, 2026

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  33 CFR § 175.15 — Personal flotation devices required“At least one wearable PFD is on board for each person; … No person may use a recreational vessel 16 feet or more in length unless one throwable PFD is onboard”

• A child under 13 aboard a recreational vessel under way must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket unless below decks or in an enclosed cabin. Where a state has its own child life jacket law, the state age applies on its waters instead.

  Law The renter Source: § 175.15(c) · ecfr.gov ↗ Checked October 18, 2026

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  33 CFR § 175.15(c) and § 175.25“No person may operate a recreational vessel under way with any child under 13 years old aboard unless each such child is either— ( 1 ) Wearing an appropriate PFD approved by the Coast Guard; or ( 2 ) Below decks or in an enclosed cabin.”

• If the state has a statute requiring children of a certain age to wear a life jacket, that state requirement applies on the state's waters instead of the federal under-13 rule.

  Law The renter Source: § 175.25(b) · ecfr.gov ↗ Checked October 18, 2026

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  33 CFR § 175.25 — Enforcement of State requirements for children to wear personal flotation devices“If the applicable State statute establishes any requirement for children of a certain age to wear an appropriate PFD approved by the Coast Guard, then that requirement applies on the waters subject to the State's jurisdiction instead of the requirement provided in § 175.15(c) of this part .”

• Whoever operates a recreational boat under 26 ft (115 lb static thrust or more) must use the engine cut-off switch link when on plane or above displacement speed, unless the main helm is in an enclosed cabin or the boat has no switch and needs none.

  Law The renter Source: § 4312(b), (e)(1) · govinfo.gov ↗ Checked October 18, 2026

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  46 U.S.C. § 4312 — Engine cut-off switches“An individual operating a covered recreational vessel shall use an engine cut-off switch link while operating on plane or above displacement speed.”

• The operator must file a boating accident report when someone dies, is injured beyond first aid or disappears, or damage reaches $2,000 or a boat is lost — within 48 hours (death within 24 h, injury, disappearance) or 10 days. If the operator cannot, the owner must.

  Law Business and renter Source: § 173.55(a)–(c) · ecfr.gov ↗ Checked October 18, 2026

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  33 CFR § 173.55 — Report of casualty or accident“Damage to vessels and other property totals $2,000 or more or there is a complete loss of any vessel; … When the operator of a vessel cannot submit the casualty or accident report required by paragraph (a) of this section, the owner shall submit the casualty or accident report.”

• Renting a boat with the crew provided or specified by the owner, with passengers aboard, can make it an “uninspected passenger vessel” (under 100 GT: up to 6 passengers) — and a self-propelled one must be operated by a Coast Guard-licensed operator.

  Law The rental business Source: § 8903 · govinfo.gov ↗ Checked October 18, 2026

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  46 U.S.C. § 8903 — Self-propelled, uninspected passenger vessels (definition: § 2101)“A self-propelled, uninspected passenger vessel shall be operated by an individual licensed by the Secretary to operate that type of vessel, under prescribed regulations.”