​States that require canoe registration

[Guest]

Is there a compendium of State paddlecraft regulations, specifically States that require canoes to display some kind of registration on the hull? Or those that require even out-of-State visiting paddlers to display a boat registration or permit.

The discussion on another tread about State registration requirements for any craft using a sail has me curious about that requirement as well. None of my boats sport a current registration, and most are outfitted for at least a downwind sail.

 

[forest runes]

Mike, Pennsylvania has what is called a launch permit sticker to use pfbc ramp facilities & stocked lakes for non powered craft ,motorized (gas or electric ) craft need a registration # affixed to the hull statewide.

 

[yellowcanoe]

No handy dandy list that I know of. Each year legislators in various states try to add registration so a list would be hard to keep updated
I do know:
No s
Florida
Georgia
Arkansas
Missouri
Maine
NH
CT
NY
MA
VT
SC
NC
UT
MT
KY
NJ
AZ
LA
MS

the States requiring reg seem to mostly be Midwest
OH
MN
IA

Probably more. The no States I have paddled in

 

[Muskrat]

States around me that yellowcanoe didn't already mention.

No registration in:
KS
CO
NE
TX
OK

 

[Jim Dodd]

Wisconsin also requires license stickers.
Here in Iowa visiting states are required to be stickered in their state or ours.

Iowa requires those AWEFUL numbers, because they say the Coast Guard gives them a kick back. I hate putting numbers on my canoes !
Also in Iowa, if the canoe or kayak is 13' or less, no registration required. 90% of the kayaks here, fall in that category.
I guess I'd better make shorter canoes.

Jim

 

[pblanc]

Illinois requires a "WUS" (water usage stamp), which must be purchased yearly from a "POS" (point of service provider). This has largely replaced their multi-year registration. Indiana does not require registration, but there are certain lakes that are parts of state parks managed by the Indiana DNR. If you paddle on these lakes, you require a permit even if you do not launch from any maintained facility.

 

[BWCA66]

News to me if Wisconsin requires canoe or kayak stickers, never have in the past. MN reqiures you to have a stcker from MN or your home state so out of state canoes need that don't have one need to get one and the state doesn't make it easy,

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Idaho requires no license, so long as no motor or no permanently mounted sail. I haven't tested the idea beyond a phone call to one agency - but I think a downwind sail that folds away would get a pass. Once registered though, it has to be registered every year - motor or no. We do have a yearly invasive species sticker requirement ($7 per boat).....don't get me started on that.

Neither Oregon nor Wyoming have required me to license or number a canoe while visiting (I don't think they have the requirement for residents, but not sure), but Oregon has an invasive permit (yearly - one per boat owner, per boat. Can be carried from boat to boat), but as of last year, I was only required to buy the park permit for Grand Teton in Wyoming. Don't know about outside the park.

 

[GearFreak]

News to me if Wisconsin requires canoe or kayak stickers, never have in the past. MN reqiures you to have a stcker from MN or your home state so out of state canoes need that don't have one need to get one and the state doesn't make it easy,

I remember looking it up once when contemplating bringing my canoe camping across the border - I recall if your visiting less than 10 days or something it was not required - but that may have changed so take that with a grain of salt.

 

[Sweetfancymoses]

Indiana: No registration for non-motorized watercraft required but $5 launch permit for DNR regulated waters.

 

[yellowcanoe]

No Canadian Provinces/territories require registration. Go North!

 

[flyingbison]

News to me if Wisconsin requires canoe or kayak stickers, never have in the past.

Not required in WI unless you have a motor or sail on it ...

"You must have a Wisconsin Certificate of Number (i.e. registration) and expiration decals to legally operate a recreational vessel legally. Exceptions to the requirement to register a recreational vessel include:

• sailboats 12 feet of length or less and not equipped with a motor
• sailboards
• manually propelled vessels that are not equipped with a motor or sail
• vessels registered in another state and using Wisconsin waters for less than 60 consecutive days."

http://dnr.wi.gov/permits/registrationandtitling.html

 

[Guest]

No handy dandy list that I know of. Each year legislators in various states try to add registration so a list would be hard to keep updated

This is at least a start, albeit potentially out of date hearsay as soon as compiled.

I am surprised that none of the paddler organizations, the ACA or American Whitewater or etc, maintains an on-line compendium of State/out of State paddling requirements and regulations. Maybe I just haven’t searched hard enough. Seems like information those organizations would want to provide

Such an updated list would be handy for paddlers everywhere, even if some caveat “Contact State DNR for the latest regulations before paddling” was needed to CYA.

Beyond just boat registration requirements there are gear requirements, some specific to individual rivers or time of year.

 

[coldfeet]

NYC requires you to purchase a $15 permit to put in and paddle their waterways. But I guess if you live on the water you can put in without a fee. I know the Sebago Canoe club in Brooklyn has it's own dock and is part of the NYC parks dept. Their members don't need a permit to put in there and paddle. I'm going to paddle the Bronx River and purchased a yearly permit. If I get stopped carting the boat through the zoo and don't have the permit with me I might end up in one of the exhibits! "Hey Mom, look at guy with the water buffalo's!"

 

[Jim Dodd]

News to me if Wisconsin requires canoe or kayak stickers, never have in the past. MN reqiures you to have a stcker from MN or your home state so out of state canoes need that don't have one need to get one and the state doesn't make it easy,

Reason I know. Last Summer I transfered ownership of a Bell Wildfire from Wisconsin to Iowa. A Pain !

Right Alan ?

If I'm wrong, I hope someone may have at least an explanation !

Jim

 

[Jim Dodd]

The Previous owner of The Wildfire, may have licensed it, so he could use it in other states ???
I did have to contact him, and have him sign a paper, in order to license it in Iowa. I'm sure I peeled off a Wisconsin sticker !

Jim

 

[BWCA66]

Reason I know. Last Summer I transfered ownership of a Bell Wildfire from Wisconsin to Iowa. A Pain !

Right Alan ?

If I'm wrong, I hope someone may have at least an explanation !

Jim

I think your issue was since wi does not require it then it's hard to register in a state that does, had problems with getting a wi canoe registered in MN for that reason.

 

[Guest]

No Title

No registration is required in Delaware for non-motorized watercraft, but I registered my sweet Bell Magic in Delaware because I was occasionally using it with the Propele Electric Paddle (motor). Cost was $20/year. I then realized it was a pretty good thing to do for other reasons. For one, I didn't need to try to find out about other states that might require registration or ramp permits. It is also good to have as ironclad proof of ownership for a used canoe, for insurance if nothing else. It is also good to have as identification if you lose it. It might also deter theft, and loss or theft of a state-titled watercraft will probably generate some genuine attention by the authorities. So, I obtained a notarized bill of sale with the last used canoe I bought, and used that for the registration. Without a notarized bill of sale, or the manufacturer's certificate of origin, there will likely be some pushback in trying to register it. The only downside is the ugly numbers/letters.

 

[sailsman63]

When I registered my first canoe in WI (Intended to paddle in MN) The DNR guy had to look up some extra paperwork because I had built it myself. Essentially, the state generated a HIN, like production boats have on those little metal plates that are illegal to remove...

Last time I checked, MN regs specifically stated that they do not apply to canoes <17' so the vast majority of recreational boats are safe.