WY · State boating guide
Wyoming
boating laws
Last verified
At a glance
- Boater card
- No general requirement
- no one; Wyoming does not require a boating safety course, though Game and Fish links to online courses
- Operating age
- Under 16: may operate a numbered motorboat or PWC only when an adult (18 or older) is aboard and responsible for its operation.
- Life-jacket age rule
- Children 12 and under must wear a life jacket while the boat is underway.
- BUI / BAC limit
- 0.08 BAC
- Registration fee
- $5.00–$80.00
- Published categories; see fees and exceptions below.
- Registration term
- 1 year / 3 years
The short answer
Do I need a boating license in Wyoming?
Wyoming has no boater education requirement.
Confirm with Wyoming Game and Fish Department ↗Wyoming has no boater education requirement. Anyone under 16 may operate a numbered motorboat or PWC only with an adult 18 or older aboard and responsible for the boat. Motorboats, including those with electric trolling motors, are registered with Game and Fish for $30 a year or $80 for three years, and nearly every boat on Wyoming waters also needs an aquatic invasive species decal. The boating alcohol limit is 0.08.
Before you operate
Boater education & operating age
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Education required | No — see the official requirements for exceptions |
| Who needs a card | no one; Wyoming does not require a boating safety course, though Game and Fish links to online courses |
| Card or certificate | No state card required (voluntary online course certificate) |
| Minimum operating age | Under 16: may operate a numbered motorboat or PWC only when an adult (18 or older) is aboard and responsible for its operation. |
| Out-of-state cards | No education card is required, so none is needed by visitors. Motorboats numbered in another state may operate in Wyoming for up to 90 consecutive days before Wyoming registration is required. |
Your boat’s paperwork
Boat registration & fees
All motorboats powered by any propulsion machinery, including electric trolling motors, must be registered and numbered with Wyoming Game and Fish (1-year or 3-year registration). Boats numbered in another state may stay up to 90 consecutive days. Separately, almost all watercraft, motorized or not, must display an annual aquatic invasive species (AIS) decal; exempt are non-motorized inflatables 10 feet or less, paddleboards and water sport toys.
- Motorboat registration (1 year)$30.00
- Motorboat registration (3 years)$80.00
- Duplicate registration$10.00
- AIS decal, resident motorized (per year)$10.00
- AIS decal, resident non-motorized (per year)$5.00
- AIS decal, nonresident motorized (per year)$30.00
- AIS decal, nonresident non-motorized (per year)$15.00
Registration fee data and sources
| Boat / fee category | Fee | Term | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorboat registration (1 year) | $30.00 | 1 year | Official source: Motorboat registration (1 year) ↗ |
| Motorboat registration (3 years) | $80.00 | 3 years | Official source: Motorboat registration (3 years) ↗ |
| Duplicate registration | $10.00 | Not published | Official source: Duplicate registration ↗ |
| AIS decal, resident motorized (per year) | $10.00 | 1 year | Official source: AIS decal, resident motorized (per year) ↗ |
| AIS decal, resident non-motorized (per year) | $5.00 | 1 year | Official source: AIS decal, resident non-motorized (per year) ↗ |
| AIS decal, nonresident motorized (per year) | $30.00 | 1 year | Official source: AIS decal, nonresident motorized (per year) ↗ |
| AIS decal, nonresident non-motorized (per year) | $15.00 | 1 year | Official source: AIS decal, nonresident non-motorized (per year) ↗ |
Personal watercraft (Jet Ski) rules
- Everyone aboard a PWC must wear a USCG-approved wearable life jacket.
- A PWC must have a manufacturer-installed engine cut-off switch, attached by lanyard to the operator while underway.
- No crossing or jumping another boat's wake within 100 feet of that boat.
- Operators under 16 need an adult 18 or older aboard and responsible for the PWC.
- PWC are banned on certain waters listed in the Watercraft Regulation.
Towing & watersports
- A motorboat towing a skier or similar device must carry at least two people, one of whom continuously watches the person towed, unless it has a wide-angle rearview mirror.
- No towing from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.
- Everyone being towed must wear a USCG-approved wearable life jacket.
- Tow in a careful manner at a reasonable distance from people and property.
Life jacket rules
- Carry one properly sized USCG-approved wearable life jacket for each person on board.
- Boats 16 feet and longer must also carry one throwable device.
- Children 12 and under must wear a life jacket while the boat is underway.
- Everyone on a PWC and everyone 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
- No boating license or education card is required in Wyoming.
- Operators under 16 need an adult 18+ aboard.
- Motorboat registration is $30 a year or $80 for three years.
- Nearly all boats, including kayaks and canoes, need an AIS decal.
- Kids 12 and under must wear life jackets 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.
- Boating and Watercraft ↗Wyoming Game and Fish Department
- Watercraft Regulations 2026 (brochure) ↗Wyoming Game and Fish Commission
- Chapter 22 Watercraft Regulation ↗Wyoming Game and Fish Commission
- AIS Decal Information ↗Wyoming Game and Fish Department
- Watercraft Registration Application ↗Wyoming Game and Fish Department
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