Pennsylvania Rules & Regulations

Alcohol & Boating Under the Influence (BUI)

A boater with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or more shall be presumed to be boating under the influence of alcohol (BUI). Boating under the influence is a serious offense in the state of Pennsylvania and is punishable by up to two years in prison, loss of boating privileges for one year and/or fines of up to $7,500.

PFBC Waterways Conservation Officers have the authority to stop and test a vessel operator if they feel reasonable suspicion exists.

"Zero Tolerance" prohibits persons younger than 21 years of age from consuming alcohol and operating a vessel with any measurable alcohol level above 0.02%.

Pennsylvania Boat Registration

The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) is responsible for regulating the state boating laws in Pennsylvania.

All vessels propelled by machinery, including gasoline, diesel and electric motors, and principally operated on Pennsylvania waters must be registered and issued a Pennsylvania Boat Registration Card by the PFBC. Documented recreational vessels such as yachts also need to be registered as well as sailboats that use gasoline, diesel or electric motors for auxiliary power.

Unpowered boats are not required to be registered – unless being launched at Commission lakes and access areas or Pennsylvania state parks, or if required by the owner (one example is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers).

Also note that the boat owner is required to obtain their boat title before they can obtain their Certificate of Boat Registration. This requirement applies to the following:

• Vessels propelled by an outboard motor which were manufactured in 1997 or later measuring 14 feet or greater.
• Vessels propelled by an inboard motor or personal watercraft which were manufactured in 1997 or later.

To obtain a boat title the boat owner must contact the PFBC. The fee for issuance of title is $15 and an additional encumbrance fee of $5 may apply if there is a lien against the boat. The fee for a duplicate title is $5.

Titling your vessel also offers certain advantages. Having your boat titled may make it easier for you to secure a loan and may act as a deterrent to boat theft. Similarly, in the event you were ever to sell your vessel, a title assures potential buyers that you are the clear owner.

Cost to Register a Boat in Pennsylvania

Successful registration results in a Certificate of Boat Registration, physical boat numbers and a decal. Boat numbers must:

Read from left to right;

• Be painted or permanently attached to each side on the forward half of the vessel where no other number may be displayed.
• Be of bold, block letters in good proportion.
• Be of a contrasting color to the color of the boat.
• Letters must be separated from the numbers by a space or hyphen equal to the width of any letter or number except “I” or “1”.  For example: PA 1234 BX.
• Be nearly as vertical as possible and easily observed.
• Be at least 3 inches high.

This is a federal and state requirement.

Color coded validation decals issued to you by the PFBC and must be displayed within 6 inches of the boat number on the same level (before or following the number).

Please note that canoes are in fact required to display the boat registration numbers as well as the validation decals, whereas kayaks, sculls and sailboards are only required to display the decal itself. In the case of inflatable vessels, they are permitted to display their boat registration number and validation decals on planks which must be securely attached to both its sides. Lack of the correct documentation may result in delays and fines.

Make sure all boats are properly marked and documented. It is important to keep your papers with the boat – be particularly aware when transferring ownership of your vessel.

Aquatic Nuisance Species

Non-native aquatic species, plants, fish and animals are invading Pennsylvania's waters. 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. 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.

• 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

Do not underestimate PWCs – they are very powerful for their small size and demand the same respect as any boat. In fact, PWC operation must adhere to the same rules and regulations as any other powerboat – including registration with the state and a B-1 class fire extinguisher aboard.

PWCs have some additional requirements:

• Fire extinguishers, sound producing device, numbers and registration (carry on board) are required when operating a PWC.
• The operator as well as all passengers of a PWC must be wearing a PFD at ALL times. Inflatable PFDs are not permitted.
• When supplied with a safety lanyard for the kill switch, it must be attached to the operator's body, clothing, or PFD.
• When towing someone on a tube or on water skis, there must be capacity on the PWC to accommodate the operator, the observer as well as the skier.
• It is illegal to tow more than one skier behind a PWC.

• PWCs must stay at a distance of 100 feet from other water skiers or others being towed behind a vessel.
• PWCs must operate at slow 'no-wake' speed, maximum 5 mph limit when:
  • Within 100 feet of a swimmer, surfer, diving flag, bank or wading angler, dock, swim float, boat launch, ramp, pier, marina, floating home, moorage area, or boathouse;
  • Within 100 feet of any anchored or non-motorized vessel; or
  • Within 100 feet of shoreline on all lakes, reservoirs, and bays.