It's the Law: Before Going Out

All operators are required to obey laws that regulate your vessel’s registration, titling, and operation.

Registering Your Vessel

• You must have a Florida Certificate of Registration and validation decal to operate a vessel legally on public waters in Florida. The only exceptions are: non-motorized vessels less than 16 feet in length; non-motorized canoes, kayaks, racing shells, or rowing skulls of any length; and vessels used exclusively in private lakes and ponds.
• The Certificate of Registration and validation decal are issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
  • The registration and decal are obtained by submitting the proper application and fee to your county tax collector’s office. Additional information is available and application forms may be downloaded on the Internet at: www.hsmv.state.fl.us/html/forms.html
  • Fees for registration are based on a vessel’s length.
• The Certificate of Registration must be on board and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever the vessel is operated.

• The registration number and validation decal must be displayed as follows.
  • Number must be painted, applied as a decal, or otherwise affixed to both sides of the bow and placed where it can be observed clearly.
  • Numbers must read from left to right on both sides of the bow.
  • Numbers must be in at least three-inch-high bold BLOCK letters
  • Number's color must contrast with its background.
  • Letters must be separated from the numbers by a space or hyphen equal to the letter width: FL 3717 ZW or FL–3717–ZW.
  • Decal must be affixed to the port (left) side of the vessel within six inches of the registration number. The decal may precede or follow the number.

Validation Decal Placement on a PWC

• If your vessel requires registration, it is illegal to operate or allow others to operate unless your vessel is registered and numbered as described above.

Other Facts About Titling and Registration

• A Certificate of Title proves ownership. All vessels are required to have a Certificate of Title except:
  • Non-motorized vessels less than 16 feet in length
  • Non-motorized canoe, kayak, racing shell, or rowing scull, regardless of length
  • Vessels used exclusively on private lakes and ponds
  • Vessels documented with the U.S. Coast Guard
• A Certificate of Registration is valid for one year and will expire on the last day of the month that is prior to the owner’s birth month.
• The owner of a registered vessel must notify the county tax collector within 30 days if he or she changes address.
• The owner of a registered vessel must notify the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles within 30 days if the vessel is sold, stolen, destroyed, abandoned, or lost.
• Vessels must be registered and numbered within 30 days of purchase.
• If your vessel has a current and valid registration or certificate of number from another U.S. state or territory, you may operate it in Florida for 90 days before you are required to register it in Florida.
• Larger recreational vessels, owned by U.S. citizens, may (at the option of the owner) be documented by the U.S. Coast Guard. Call the USCG at
  1-800-799-8362 for more information. Documented vessels operating on Florida waters must have a current vessel registration either from Florida or another state.