SC · State boating guide
South Carolina
boating laws
Last verified
At a glance
- Boater card
- Required for specified operators
- operators born after July 1, 2007 running a boat of 10 horsepower or more, a personal watercraft or a specialty propcraft
- Operating age
- State law sets no minimum operating age. Operators born after July 1, 2007 must hold a boating safety certificate or a valid boat rental safety certificate, or be accompanied by a qualified person at least 18 years old.
- Life-jacket age rule
- Children under 12 must wear a USCG-approved life jacket on any Class A boat (under 16 feet).
- BUI / BAC limit
- 0.08 BAC
- Registration fee
- $10.00–$20.00
- Published categories; see fees and exceptions below.
- Registration term
- 1 year
The short answer
Do I need a boating license in South Carolina?
South Carolina Boating Safety Certificate is required for operators born after July 1, 2007 running a boat of 10 horsepower or more, a personal watercraft or a specialty propcraft.
Confirm with South Carolina Department of Natural Resources ↗South Carolina requires anyone born after July 1, 2007 to pass an approved boater education course before operating a boat with 10 horsepower or more, a personal watercraft or a specialty propcraft. Nearly all watercraft must be registered and titled, and registration renews every year for $10. Children under 12 must wear a life jacket on boats under 16 feet, and a BAC of 0.08 or more allows an inference of impairment.
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 July 1, 2007 running a boat of 10 horsepower or more, a personal watercraft or a specialty propcraft |
| Card or certificate | South Carolina Boating Safety Certificate |
| Minimum operating age | State law sets no minimum operating age. Operators born after July 1, 2007 must hold a boating safety certificate or a valid boat rental safety certificate, or be accompanied by a qualified person at least 18 years old. |
| Out-of-state cards | Nonresidents holding a boating safety certificate or equivalency issued by another state are exempt. SCDNR accepts any NASBLA-approved course, and holders of a U.S. Coast Guard license or merchant mariner credential are also exempt. |
Your boat’s paperwork
Boat registration & fees
All watercraft must be registered and titled except documented vessels, windsurfers and watercraft propelled only by human power or paddles. Since January 1, 2020, registration renews every year, and the renewal fee is billed by the county with property taxes.
- New registration and title$20.00
- Annual registration renewal$10.00
Registration fee data and sources
| Boat / fee category | Fee | Term | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| New registration and title | $20.00 | 1 year | Official source: New registration and title ↗ |
| Annual registration renewal | $10.00 | 1 year | Official source: Annual registration renewal ↗ |
Personal watercraft (Jet Ski) rules
- Everyone aboard a personal watercraft or specialty propcraft must wear a USCG-approved Type I, II, III or V life jacket.
- No PWC operation after sunset or before sunrise.
- The PWC must have a working lanyard-type engine cut-off switch attached to the operator, or a working self-circling device.
- Idle speed within 50 feet of a moored or anchored vessel, dock, pier or person in the water, and within 100 yards of the Atlantic coastline; on the major listed lakes, idle speed within 100 feet of docks and piers.
- A PWC towing a skier must have a wide-angle mirror or an observer on board.
- Do not chase or harass wildlife.
Towing & watersports
- The towing boat must carry an observer in addition to the operator, or have a wide-angle rear-view mirror.
- No water skiing or towing from sunset to sunrise.
- Anyone water skiing or riding a towed device must wear a USCG-approved Type I, II, III or V life jacket.
- No wake surfing above idle speed within 200 feet of a moored vessel, dock, pier or person in the water.
Life jacket rules
- Carry one USCG-approved wearable life jacket for each person on board.
- Boats 16 feet or longer must also carry a throwable Type IV device.
- Children under 12 must wear a USCG-approved life jacket on any Class A boat (under 16 feet).
- Everyone on a PWC and anyone being towed must wear a 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
- Born after July 1, 2007? You need boater education for 10 hp or more.
- Registration renews every year for $10, billed with county property taxes.
- Kids under 12 wear life jackets on boats under 16 feet.
- No PWC riding between sunset and sunrise.
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.
- S.C. Code Title 50, Chapter 21: Watercraft and Motorboats ↗South Carolina Legislature
- S.C. Code Title 50, Chapter 23: Watercraft and Outboard Motor Titling ↗South Carolina Legislature
- Boater Education ↗South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
- Titling and Registration Fees ↗South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
- Titling and Registration FAQ ↗South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
- 2020 Registration Renewal Changes ↗South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
- South Carolina Boating Handbook ↗South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (Kalkomey)
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