Minnesota boat rental laws
10 rules for boat and jet ski rental businesses in Minnesota, from 4 official sources.
Rental-specific lawMinnesota has a dedicated statute for motorboat and PWC rental businesses (Minn. Stat. § 86B.306, in force since 2023): renters must be 18 or older and hold a watercraft operator's permit or be exempt, every authorized operator is listed on the agreement and gets a rules summary, and PWC renters get a life jacket at no extra cost. Non-motorized rentals and resorts are outside this section.
Instruction before every rental
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The business gives each authorized operator a summary of Minnesota boating and PWC rules and safe-operation instructions. Operators without a permit (and not exempt) must review it and pass a short DNR-approved boater safety exam before leaving the premises, unless taken in the previous 180 days.
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Minn. Stat. § 86B.306 — Motorboat rental businesses (2025)“(a) A motorboat rental business must provide each authorized operator a summary of the statutes and rules governing operation of motorboats and personal watercraft in the state and instructions for safe operation.”
Boater education card for renters
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Operators who need a watercraft operator's permit are phased in by birth date: from 1 July 2026 those born on or after 1 July 2000, from 1 July 2027 on or after 1 July 1996, and from 1 July 2028 on or after 1 July 1987.
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Minn. Stat. § 86B.30 — Definitions (2025)“(2) effective July 1, 2026, born on or after July 1, 2000; (3) effective July 1, 2027, born on or after July 1, 1996; and (4) effective July 1, 2028, born on or after July 1, 1987.”
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Anyone of any age may operate a motorboat (not a PWC) of 25 hp or less without a watercraft operator's permit or accompanying operator.
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Minn. Stat. § 86B.303 — Operating personal watercraft and other motorboats (2025)“a person of any age may operate a motorboat that is not a personal watercraft that is powered by a motor with a factory rating of 25 horsepower or less without possessing a valid watercraft operator's permit and without an accompanying operator in the motorboat.”
Age limits
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A motorboat rental business may not rent a motorboat or PWC to anyone unless the renter is 18 or older and has a valid watercraft operator's permit or is an exempt operator.
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Minn. Stat. § 86B.306 — Motorboat rental businesses (2025)“A motorboat rental business must not rent or lease a motorboat, including a personal watercraft, to any person for operation on waters of this state unless the renter or lessee: (1) has a valid watercraft operator's permit or is an exempt operator; and (2) is 18 years of age or older.”
Jet ski (PWC) rentals
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No one may operate or permit operation of a PWC unless everyone aboard wears a suitable USCG-approved life jacket, the cut-off lanyard is attached, not between one hour before sunset and 9:30 a.m., and with a DNR PWC rules decal in view of the operator.
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Minn. Stat. § 86B.313 — Personal watercraft; regulations (2025)“a person may not operate or permit the operation of a personal watercraft: … (2) between one hour before sunset and 9:30 a.m.;”
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A PWC must stay at slow-no wake speed within 150 feet of a shoreline, dock, swimmer, swimming raft, or a moored, anchored or non-motorized watercraft.
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Minn. Stat. § 86B.313 — Personal watercraft; regulations (2025)“(3) at greater than slow-no wake speed within 150 feet of: (i) a shoreline; (ii) a dock; (iii) a swimmer;”
Safety equipment
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PWC renters must be provided, at no extra cost, a USCG-approved wearable life jacket labelled as approved for (or not prohibited for) PWC or water-skiing use, plus any other required safety equipment.
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Minn. Stat. § 86B.306 — Motorboat rental businesses (2025)“A motorboat rental business must provide to all persons who rent a personal watercraft, at no additional cost, a United States Coast Guard (USCG) approved wearable personal flotation device”
Records to keep
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Each rental agreement must list the name and age of every person authorized to operate the boat or PWC; the renter must make sure only those listed operate it.
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Minn. Stat. § 86B.306 — Motorboat rental businesses (2025)“A motorboat rental business must list on each motorboat rental or lease agreement the name and age of each operator who is authorized to operate the motorboat or personal watercraft.”
Other rules
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A “motorboat rental business” is anyone renting or leasing motorboats, including personal watercraft, for up to 30 days (including agents and employees). Resort businesses are not included.
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Minn. Stat. § 86B.30 — Definitions (2025)“"Motorboat rental business" means a person engaged in the business of renting or leasing motorboats, including personal watercraft, for a period not exceeding 30 days. Motorboat rental business includes a person's agents and employees but does not include a resort business.”
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An owner or other person in lawful control of a motorboat may not allow it to be operated in breach of the operator permit and age rules.
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Minn. Stat. § 86B.303 — Operating personal watercraft and other motorboats (2025)“An owner or other person in lawful control of a motorboat may not allow the motorboat to be operated contrary to this section.”
Not confirmed yet
What we looked for and could not confirm from an official source. Ask the agency before you assume anything here.
No state licence or permit for the rental business itself was found in chapter 86B.
No state insurance or record-retention period for rental businesses was found (other than listing operators on the agreement).
The DNR-approved exam form was not reviewed.
2025 Minnesota Statutes edition used; 2026 session-law changes, if any, were not checked.
Federal rules still apply
On top of Minnesota law, the federal rules apply to every boat you rent out:
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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”
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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 .”
Official agencies
Who makes and enforces these rules in Minnesota.
Questions rental operators ask
Do I have to give renters instruction before a rental in Minnesota?
The business gives each authorized operator a summary of Minnesota boating and PWC rules and safe-operation instructions. Operators without a permit (and not exempt) must review it and pass a short DNR-approved boater safety exam before leaving the premises, unless taken in the previous 180 days. Source: revisor.mn.gov, checked October 18, 2026.
Does a renter need a boater education card in Minnesota?
Operators who need a watercraft operator's permit are phased in by birth date: from 1 July 2026 those born on or after 1 July 2000, from 1 July 2027 on or after 1 July 1996, and from 1 July 2028 on or after 1 July 1987. Source: revisor.mn.gov, checked October 18, 2026.
How old must a renter be in Minnesota?
A motorboat rental business may not rent a motorboat or PWC to anyone unless the renter is 18 or older and has a valid watercraft operator's permit or is an exempt operator. Source: revisor.mn.gov, checked October 18, 2026.
What are the rules for jet ski rentals in Minnesota?
No one may operate or permit operation of a PWC unless everyone aboard wears a suitable USCG-approved life jacket, the cut-off lanyard is attached, not between one hour before sunset and 9:30 a.m., and with a DNR PWC rules decal in view of the operator. Source: revisor.mn.gov, checked October 18, 2026.
For your renters
Free boating-law page for Minnesota on VesselSOS — link it from your booking confirmation.
Minnesota boating laws for boatersFree tools for rental operators
Print a safety briefing card, a rental agreement and waiver template or a dock poster. Free, in your browser.
Safety briefing cardRental agreement & waiver templateDock poster All free toolsRun the rental day on one screen.
VesselSOS Fleet checks renters out in 30 seconds and shows every boat and jet ski live until it is back — your customers’ phones are the trackers.
Fleet is a pilot: we are building it with a small group of rental operators for next season. No prices yet.