OR · State boating guide
Oregon
boating laws
Last verified
At a glance
- Boater card
- Required for specified operators
- anyone operating a motorboat (including a PWC) over 10 horsepower, plus youths 12 to 15 operating a motorboat of any size; there is no upper age exemption
- Operating age
- Children 11 and under may not operate a motorboat. Ages 12 to 15 may run a boat over 10 hp only when accompanied by a card-holder 16 or older (18 or older for a PWC). A PWC may be operated unaccompanied only at 16 or older with a card.
- Life-jacket age rule
- Children 12 and younger must wear a properly sized life jacket while underway.
- BUI / BAC limit
- 0.08 BAC
- Registration fee
- $5.95–$8.00
- Published categories; see fees and exceptions below.
- Registration term
- 2 years
The short answer
Do I need a boating license in Oregon?
Oregon Boating Safety Education Card (Boater Education Card) is required for anyone operating a motorboat (including a PWC) over 10 horsepower, plus youths 12 to 15 operating a motorboat of any size; there is no upper age exemption.
Confirm with Oregon State Marine Board ↗Oregon requires a Boating Safety Education Card for anyone operating a motorboat over 10 horsepower, with no upper age limit, and children 11 and under may not operate a motorboat at all. Out-of-state visitors need an Oregon card or a card from a state that issues cards for NASBLA-approved courses. Motorboats and sailboats 12 feet and longer must be titled and registered on a two-year cycle, at $5.95 per foot plus an $8 invasive species fee. Children 12 and younger must wear a life jacket while underway, and the intoxication limit is 0.08 BAC.
Before you operate
Boater education & operating age
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Education required | Yes — see who needs a card below |
| Who needs a card | anyone operating a motorboat (including a PWC) over 10 horsepower, plus youths 12 to 15 operating a motorboat of any size; there is no upper age exemption |
| Card or certificate | Oregon Boating Safety Education Card (Boater Education Card) |
| Minimum operating age | Children 11 and under may not operate a motorboat. Ages 12 to 15 may run a boat over 10 hp only when accompanied by a card-holder 16 or older (18 or older for a PWC). A PWC may be operated unaccompanied only at 16 or older with a card. |
| Out-of-state cards | Visitors need an Oregon card or a card from any state that issues cards for NASBLA-approved courses; there is no 60-day visitor exception. Washington boaters who are not required to hold a card at home must take a Washington or Oregon course. |
Your boat’s paperwork
Boat registration & fees
All motorboats, and sailboats 12 feet and longer (even when moored), must be titled and registered in Oregon. Registration is issued on a two-year calendar basis, priced at $5.95 per foot of length (rounded up to the next foot) plus an $8 aquatic invasive species surcharge. Example: a 16-foot boat costs 16 x $5.95 + $8 = $103.20 for two years. A title is $75. Non-motorized boats need a Waterway Access Permit instead, and out-of-state boaters need a $30 nonresident AIS permit.
- Motorboat registration, per foot of length$5.95
- Aquatic invasive species surcharge (added to every motorboat registration)$8.00
Registration fee data and sources
| Boat / fee category | Fee | Term | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorboat registration, per foot of length | $5.95 | 2 years | Official source: Motorboat registration, per foot of length ↗ |
| Aquatic invasive species surcharge (added to every motorboat registration) | $8.00 | 2 years | Official source: Aquatic invasive species surcharge (added to every motorboat registration) ↗ |
Personal watercraft (Jet Ski) rules
- Everyone operating or riding a PWC must wear a USCG-approved inherently buoyant life jacket (no inflatables).
- The lanyard engine cut-off switch must be attached at all times.
- PWC need the required navigation lights to operate between sunset and sunrise.
- Slow-no-wake within 200 feet of swimmers, docks, ramps, marinas and lake shorelines, and within 100 feet of anchored or non-motorized boats; ride no closer than 200 feet behind a towed skier.
- Operators must be 16 or older with a card to ride unaccompanied, or have a card-holder 18 or older on board; you must be 18 to rent a PWC.
- A PWC may tow only if it is rated for three people and a second person on board continuously watches the person being towed.
Towing & watersports
- No towed watersports between sunset and sunrise.
- An observer must continuously watch the person being towed.
- A skier-down flag is required.
- Do not operate in a way that could cause the towed person to collide with another person or object.
- Wakeboarding or wake surfing in the Newberg Pool of the Willamette River requires a Towed Watersports Education Card and boat decals.
Life jacket rules
- Every boat must carry a properly fitting, serviceable USCG-approved life jacket for each person on board.
- Boats 16 feet or longer must also carry a throwable device or life ring.
- Children 12 and younger must wear a properly sized life jacket while underway.
- Everyone on a PWC must wear an inherently buoyant life jacket.
Boating under the influence
Published limit: 0.08 BAC. Read the linked official guidance for the full rule and any age-specific provisions.
At a glance
- Every operator of a motorboat over 10 hp needs a card, at any age.
- Kids 11 and under cannot operate a motorboat.
- Registration is two years, at $5.95 per foot plus $8.
- Visitors need a NASBLA-approved card; there is no 60-day grace period.
- Kids 12 and under must wear a life jacket while underway.
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.
- Experience Oregon Boating 2026 (Safety and Regulations Handbook) ↗Oregon State Marine Board
- Boating Education Cards ↗Oregon State Marine Board
- Agency Fees ↗Oregon State Marine Board
- Motorboat Registration Fee Schedule ↗Oregon State Marine Board
- Boating Laws to Know ↗Oregon State Marine Board
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