Starting July 1, 2025, a new law requires some adults and youth who operate motorboats—including personal watercraft—to have a valid watercraft operator’s permit.
People who already have a watercraft operator’s permit are not affected by the law, which is designed to make boating safer by ensuring everyone operating a motorized watercraft knows the rules and is properly trained. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
Adult Operators
Permit requirement: Some adults (defined below) need a valid operator’s permit to drive any motorboat or personal watercraft starting July 1, 2025.
Exemptions: Some adults are exempt from this requirement. Check the law for specific exemptions.
Supervised operation: People without a permit still can operate a boat, but only if there’s an accompanying operator (defined below) onboard.
Young Operators
Restrictions on high-powered watercraft: Young operators (people less than 12 years old), can’t operate a personal watercraft or any motorboat with a motor over 75 horsepower.
Low-powered motorboats: Young operators can operate a motorboat that’s not a personal watercraft and has a motor under 75 horsepower as long as there is an accompanying operator in the motorboat.
Who is Considered an Adult Operator?
Is 12 years old or older, and was born after these dates: June 30, 2004 (started July 1, 2025); June 30, 2000 (starts July 1, 2026); June 30, 1996 (starts July 1, 2027); June 30, 1987 (starts July 1, 2028).
This means people born after June 30, 2004, will need a permit to operate a boat starting in 2025. The permit requirement will gradually apply to older age groups over the next few years.
Who is Considered an Accompanying Operator?
A person 21 years of age or older who is in a personal watercraft or other type of motorboat; Is within immediate reach of the controls of the motor; and Possesses a valid operator’s permit or is an exempt operator.
Who is Considered an Exempt Operator?
“Exempt operator” means a motorboat operator, including a personal watercraft operator, who is 12 years of age or older and who possesses a valid license to operate a motorboat issued for maritime personnel by the United States Coast Guard under Code of Federal Regulations, title 46, part 10, or a marine certificate issued by the Canadian government;n Is not a resident of the state, is temporarily using the waters of the state for a period not to exceed 60 days, and meets any applicable requirements of the state or country of residency; Or possesses a Canadian pleasure craft operator’s card; Is operating a motorboat under a dealer’s license according to section 86B.405; or; Is operating a motorboat during an emergency.
Key Takeaways
Adult and youth permits: Young operators and some adults need a valid operator’s permit to operate certain motorized watercraft. For adults born after June 30, 2004, the requirement started July 1, 2025. The law will extend to older age groups over time.
Youth restrictions: Young operators can’t operate boats with more than 75 horsepower. They can operate boats (that are not PWC) with less than 75 horsepower if they’re with an accompanying operator.
Gradual rollout: The law will phase in over the next few years. The operator permit requirement started July 1, 2025 and gradually expands through 2028.
This new law aims to improve safety on the water by making sure everyone operating a motorized watercraft is trained and qualified.
Rentals
Eighteen and older: Must have a valid watercraft operator’s permit.
Under 18: Cannot rent watercraft.
Low-Powered Motorboats
This new law does not affect individuals who operate motorboats powered by a motor with a factory rating of 25 horsepower or less. People of any age do not need a valid watercraft operator’s permit or have an accompanying operator in the motorboat so long as it is not a personal watercraft and is powered by a motor with a factory rating of 25 horsepower or less.
