LA · State boating guide
Louisiana
boating laws
Last verified
At a glance
- Boater card
- Required for specified operators
- operators born after January 1, 1984 running a motorboat over 10 horsepower or any personal watercraft
- Operating age
- You must be 16 or older to operate a personal watercraft. Children under 10 may take the course but cannot be certified. Operators born after January 1, 1984 without a card may run a motorboat over 10 hp only when accompanied by someone over 18 who has completed an approved course, if required.
- Life-jacket age rule
- Children 16 and younger must wear a life jacket while underway on vessels under 26 feet.
- BUI / BAC limit
- 0.08 BAC (0.02 under 21)
- Registration fee
- $36.00–$99.00
- Published categories; see fees and exceptions below.
- Registration term
- 3 years
The short answer
Do I need a boating license in Louisiana?
Boater Education Card is required for operators born after January 1, 1984 running a motorboat over 10 horsepower or any personal watercraft.
Confirm with Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries ↗Louisiana requires anyone born after January 1, 1984 to complete an LDWF-approved boater education course before operating a motorboat over 10 horsepower or any personal watercraft. All motorized vessels and sailboats 12 feet or longer must be registered, and registration lasts three years. Children 16 and younger must wear a life jacket underway on vessels under 26 feet, and the legal limit is 0.08 BAC (0.02 under 21).
Before you operate
Boater education & operating age
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Education required | Yes — see who needs a card below |
| Who needs a card | operators born after January 1, 1984 running a motorboat over 10 horsepower or any personal watercraft |
| Card or certificate | Boater Education Card |
| Minimum operating age | You must be 16 or older to operate a personal watercraft. Children under 10 may take the course but cannot be certified. Operators born after January 1, 1984 without a card may run a motorboat over 10 hp only when accompanied by someone over 18 who has completed an approved course, if required. |
| Out-of-state cards | Louisiana requires a NASBLA-approved boating safety course, according to the LDWF boating handbook, and LDWF exempts renters who can show credentials from a NASBLA-approved course. U.S. Coast Guard licensed captains are exempt. |
Your boat’s paperwork
Boat registration & fees
All motorized vessels and sailboats 12 feet or longer used on Louisiana waters. Exempt: sailboats 12 feet or less, sailboards, USCG-documented vessels not in recreational use, and boats validly registered elsewhere for 90 or fewer consecutive days. Registration is valid for three years.
- Class A (15 feet 11 inches or less)$36.00
- Class I (16 feet to 25 feet 11 inches)$57.00
- Class II (26 feet to 39 feet 11 inches)$78.00
- Class III (40 feet or longer)$99.00
Registration fee data and sources
| Boat / fee category | Fee | Term | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A (15 feet 11 inches or less) | $36.00 | 3 years | Official source: Class A (15 feet 11 inches or less) ↗ |
| Class I (16 feet to 25 feet 11 inches) | $57.00 | 3 years | Official source: Class I (16 feet to 25 feet 11 inches) ↗ |
| Class II (26 feet to 39 feet 11 inches) | $78.00 | 3 years | Official source: Class II (26 feet to 39 feet 11 inches) ↗ |
| Class III (40 feet or longer) | $99.00 | 3 years | Official source: Class III (40 feet or longer) ↗ |
Personal watercraft (Jet Ski) rules
- Everyone riding a PWC must wear a USCG-approved wearable life jacket.
- If the PWC has a lanyard-type engine cut-off switch, attach the lanyard to your person, clothing or life jacket.
- No PWC operation between sunset and sunrise unless it has USCG-compliant navigation lights.
- You must be 16 or older to operate a PWC, and operators born after January 1, 1984 need boater education.
- No weaving through congested traffic, jumping wakes with obstructed visibility, or last-second swerving.
- Do not chase or harass wildlife.
Towing & watersports
- Everyone being towed must wear a USCG-approved wearable life jacket; inflatable life jackets are not approved for towed persons.
- The towing vessel must carry an operator and a second competent person as observer, unless the operator is at least 16 and the boat has a wide-angle convex mirror at least 7 by 14 inches.
- No towing from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.
- Keep a reasonable distance from other vessels, people and property.
Life jacket rules
- Every boat must carry a properly sized USCG-approved life jacket for each person on board or being towed.
- Boats 16 feet or longer must also carry a throwable device.
- Children 16 and younger must wear a life jacket while underway on vessels under 26 feet.
- Everyone must wear a life jacket underway on a motorboat under 16 feet steered by a hand tiller (electric trolling motors excepted).
Boating under the influence
Published limit: 0.08 BAC (0.02 under 21). Read the linked official guidance for the full rule and any age-specific provisions.
At a glance
- Born after January 1, 1984? You need boater education for motors over 10 hp.
- PWC operators must be at least 16.
- Registration lasts three years and starts at $36 for boats under 16 feet.
- Kids 16 and under wear life jackets on boats under 26 feet.
Plan your day
Before you launch
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Sources and last checked
Sources
Official guidance is the final reference. Rules and fees may change after this guide’s verification date.
- Boater Education ↗Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
- Title or Register Your Boat ↗Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
- Boat Title and Registration FAQs ↗Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
- Louisiana Boating Handbook ↗Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (Kalkomey)
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