Colorado boat rental laws
5 rules for boat and jet ski rental businesses in Colorado, from 2 official sources.
Rental-specific lawColorado's vessel livery statute (C.R.S. 33-13-107, amended by HB 26-1197) requires liveries to keep hire records for three years and to send out only equipped and registered vessels. Motorboats may not be rented to anyone under 18, except that 14–17-year-olds with an approved boating safety certificate may be authorized to operate.
Boater education card for renters
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Since 1 June 2024 no one under 18 may operate a motorboat unless aged 14 or older, has completed a CPW-approved boating safety course, and keeps the certificate on them or accessible aboard. No education requirement applies to adults.
Show the official wording
C.R.S. 33-13-107.1(1), (2), as amended by SB 23-069 (Session Laws 2023, ch. 147)“(a) Completes a boating safety course approved by the division of parks and wildlife; and”
Age limits
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A vessel livery may not rent a motorboat to or for operation by anyone under 18, except that a 14–17-year-old who has met the boating safety course and certificate requirement may be authorized to operate.
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C.R.S. 33-13-107.1(4), as amended by HB 26-1197 (Session Laws 2026, ch. 230)“lease, hire, or rent a motorboat to or for operation by any individual under eighteen”
Safety equipment
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The livery and its agents or employees may not let any vessel leave the premises unless it is equipped and registered as article 13 and CPW rules require.
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C.R.S. 33-13-107(2), as amended by HB 26-1197 (Session Laws 2026, ch. 230)“unless such vessel is equipped and registered as required by this article 13”
Records to keep
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A vessel livery records the name and address of each hirer, the vessel’s hull identification number, and the departure and expected return date and time; records are kept for three years after the vessel is due back and are open to CPW inspection.
Show the official wording
C.R.S. 33-13-107(1), as amended by HB 26-1197 (Session Laws 2026, ch. 230)“the hull identification number of the vessel, and the departure date and time and the expected date and time of return of the vessel. … THREE YEARS after the vessel is to be returned”
Other rules
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A “vessel livery” is a person that advertises and offers a vessel for rent or lease to another person for any kind of payment. Stand-up paddleboards count as vessels; air mattresses, beach toys and inner tubes do not.
Show the official wording
C.R.S. 33-13-102(5.3), added by HB 26-1197 (Session Laws 2026, ch. 230)“"VESSEL LIVERY" MEANS A PERSON THAT ADVERTISES AND OFFERS A VESSEL FOR RENT OR LEASE TO ANOTHER PERSON IN EXCHANGE FOR ANY KIND OF PAYMENT.”
Not confirmed yet
What we looked for and could not confirm from an official source. Ask the agency before you assume anything here.
The consolidated current text of C.R.S. provisions are quoted from the official session laws that amended them, quoting only unchanged or newly added words.
CPW boating regulations (2 CCR 405-2, Chapter P-2), including any livery or PWC equipment rules, were not reviewed.
No state licence for rental businesses or insurance requirement was found in the provisions read.
Federal rules still apply
On top of Colorado 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.
Show the official wording
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.
Show the official wording
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 Colorado.
Questions rental operators ask
Does a renter need a boater education card in Colorado?
Since 1 June 2024 no one under 18 may operate a motorboat unless aged 14 or older, has completed a CPW-approved boating safety course, and keeps the certificate on them or accessible aboard. No education requirement applies to adults. Source: leg.colorado.gov, checked October 18, 2026.
How old must a renter be in Colorado?
A vessel livery may not rent a motorboat to or for operation by anyone under 18, except that a 14–17-year-old who has met the boating safety course and certificate requirement may be authorized to operate. Source: leg.colorado.gov, checked October 18, 2026.
For your renters
Free boating-law page for Colorado on VesselSOS — link it from your booking confirmation.
Colorado 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.