Mississippi Boating Safety Requirements


Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs aka Life Jackets)

When boating in Mississippi, you are required to have at least one U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD for each person on board, regardless of the length of vessel, and including canoes or kayaks. The PFDs must be readily accessible.

In addition, Mississippi boaters are required to carry at least one Type IV throw-able PFD, either a ring buoy or seat cushion, aboard any vessel 16 feet in length or longer.


Under Mississippi law, you must also comply with the following PFD regulations.

  • Flotation devices that are ripped or are in poor condition are not considered approved and therefore should not be used.
  • Persons being towed behind the boat are considered to be on board.
  • All persons on a personal watercraft and any person being towed must wear a Type I, II, or III PFD while underway.

PFD Requirements for Children

All boaters or passengers 12 years of age and younger on a vessel that is 26 feet in length or less must wear a PFD while the vessel is underway.

Alcohol & Boating Under the Influence (BUI)

A boater with a blood alcohol content of .08% or more shall be presumed to be under the influence of alcohol. If convicted on a first offence of Boating Under the Influence, or BUI, the boater may face a fine of up to $1,000 and could receive a 2 day jail sentence, and must complete a boating safety course. If a found guilty for BUI a second time within five years, the boater shall be fined, jailed, and will lose their right to boat for one year, and must complete a boating safety course.

In the case of any boating accident resulting in death or serious injury where the operator is found to be under the influence, the operator may be found guilty of a felony offense.

Mississippi Boat Registration

The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks (DWFP) regulates the state boating laws in Mississippi.

All motorized boats, including trolling motors and sailboats principally operated on the public waters of Mississippi, must be registered and issued a Mississippi Certificate of Number or Registration. The Certificate of Number is valid for three years and expires on the last day of the month that it was registered.



A boat owner may face a misdemeanor charge and a fine ranging from $25 to $250 for not registering their watercraft.

Boat owners may also choose to title their watercraft, although it is not mandatory.

The Certificate of Number and validation decals are required to legally operate a vessel on Mississippi waters.

All motorized vessels, including jet skis, that are used on public waters must be registered.


Certificate of Number

The certificate of number, registration and title can be obtained by submitting the proper application and fee to the DWFP.

Boat owners must have at least a temporary Certificate of Number before they can operate in state waters. Once the Certificate is issued, is must be signed and kept on board while the vessel is being operated.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks must be notified within 15 days if the boat owner changes residences.

Cost to Register a Boat in Mississippi

Once your watercraft is registered, you will be issued a Certificate of Number, physical boat numbers and a decal. The certificate must be kept on board the vessel at all times. It is advisable to keep the registration in a dry-bag on board.

Under federal and state law, boat numbers must be:

  • Affixed on both sides of the bow;
  • Block letters, three inches high and contrasting with the color of your boat; and
  • Separated from letters with a space or a hyphen. For example: MS 7843 JK or MS-7843-JK.

The Validation Decal must be placed no more than 6 inches from the Registration Number.

It's important to make sure your watercraft is properly marked and documented. Failure to comply with this federal and state requirement can result in delays and fines. The fine for not registering your boat can range between $25 and $100, plus court costs.

Refer to the following chart for a list of registration fees.


If the transaction is a... then your fee is...

3 year Registration of a vessel (by length*)
Less than 16 ft

$9.20

3 year Registration of a vessel (by length*)
More than 16 ft but less than 26 ft

$24.70

3 year Registration of a vessel (by length*)
26ft and over

$46.70

Dealer number

$39.20

Duplicate Registration

$6.70

Title

$11.70

Transfer title of a used or new vessel

$11.70

*Measured from the tip of the bow to the outside of the stern

Aquatic Nuisance Species

Non-native aquatic species, plants, fish and animals are invading Mississippi's waters. Hydrilla, Egeria Densa, Water Hyacinth and Zebra Mussels are nuisance species that can be accidentally transported by recreational boaters when caught in propellers, intakes or attached to hulls. These pests can increase dramatically under the right conditions, displacing native species, clogging waterways, and impacting navigation and recreation. Once introduced, they are nearly impossible to eliminate.



To help prevent the introduction and spread of non-native species from one body
of water to another, you should:

  • Inspect your boat and remove aquatic plants or animals before you leave any body of water.
  • Flush raw-water cooling systems and clean sea strainers before moving your boat from one body of water to another.
  • Empty bait buckets and remove any plant fragments from bait wells, fishing gear, trailers, dive gear or props. Dispose on land into a garbage receptacle.
  • Drain water from your motor, live wells and bilge.
  • Wash your boat before putting it into a new body of water.
  • Report new infestation of non-native aquatic species to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Personal Watercraft Laws & Regulations

Personal watercraft are very powerful for their small size and demand the same respect as any size boat. That means PWC operators must follow the same rules and regulations as powerboat operators, including registering the watercraft with the state and carrying a B-1 fire extinguisher on board.

  • There are also some additional requirements for operating a PWC in Mississippi.
  • The operator and all passengers on a personal watercraft must wear a PFD or lifejacket. 
  • When towing someone on a tube or on water-skis there must be capacity on the PWC to accommodate the operator, the observer and the person being towed. 
  • It is recommended that PWCs being operated in Mississippi waters have a kill switch or lanyard. The lanyard should be fastened to the operator, the operator’s clothing or PFD. 
  • Marine waters south of Interstate 10 in Mississippi have some additional requirements:
    • PWC operated on these waters are required to have a kill switch or lanyard. The lanyard must be fastened to the operator, clothing or PFD.
    • PWC must not be operated at an excessive speed within 100 feet of another occupied vessel except in a crossing situation or overtaking in accordance with the navigation rules.
    • Wake jumping cannot be done when within 100ft of another vessel. o PWC are not permitted to follow within 100 feet of a water skier. 
  • Operate at slow 'no wake' speed when:
    • Within the proximity of a surfer, a swimmer, diving flag, bank or wading angler, dock, swim float, boat launch, ramp, pier, marina, floating home, moorage area, or boathouse as well as shorelines.

Before operating a PWC, please consult your local marinas or municipalities for the zones of restricted operation. Municipalities may have restricted operation areas.

Hours of Operation

It is recommended that PWC only be used during daylight, as most PWC do not have navigation lights.