Paddle Rules Finder

Paddling rules by state

49 states, every rule from an official agency or statute page. Last checked Oct 26, 2026. South Dakota isn't listed yet because its official pages didn't give a clear answer for paddlecraft.

Alabama
No registration (no motor)Alaska
No registration (no motor)Arizona
No registration (no motor)Arkansas
No registration (no motor)California
No registration (no motor)Colorado
No registration (no motor)Connecticut
No registration (no motor)Delaware
No registration (no motor)Florida
No registration (no motor)Georgia
No registration (no motor)Hawaii
No registration (no motor)Idaho
Registration not verified yet Illinois
No registration (no motor)Indiana
No registration (no motor)Iowa
Depends on length or where you launch Kansas
No registration (no motor)Kentucky
Registration not verified yet Louisiana
No registration (no motor)Maine
No registration (no motor)Maryland
No registration (no motor)Massachusetts
No registration (no motor)Michigan
No registration (no motor)Minnesota
Depends on length or where you launch Mississippi
No registration (no motor)Missouri
No registration (no motor)Montana
No registration (no motor)Nebraska
No registration (no motor)Nevada
No registration (no motor)New Hampshire
No registration (no motor)New Jersey
No registration (no motor)New Mexico
Registration not verified yet New York
No registration (no motor)North Carolina
No registration (no motor)North Dakota
No registration (no motor)Ohio
Registration required Oklahoma
No registration (no motor)Oregon
No registration (no motor)Pennsylvania
Depends on length or where you launch Rhode Island
Depends on length or where you launch South Carolina
No registration (no motor)Tennessee
No registration (no motor)Texas
No registration (no motor)Utah
Registration not verified yet Vermont
No registration (no motor)Virginia
No registration (no motor)Washington
No registration (no motor)West Virginia
No registration (no motor)Wisconsin
No registration (no motor)Wyoming
Registration not verified yet

Federal rules on every state's waters

Life jacket: a U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket for each person aboard canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. Children under 13 must wear one while underway unless the state sets its own age rule.
Sound signal: carry a whistle or horn; your voice doesn't count.
Light: from sunset to sunrise and in poor visibility, have a white light (flashlight or lantern) ready to show in time to prevent a collision.
Night signals: manually propelled boats are exempt from daytime visual distress signals but must carry night signals on coastal waters after dark.

Sources: 33 CFR Part 175 · USCG Boater's Guide to Federal Requirements · USCG Boating FAQ