It's the Law: Before Going Out

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

Registering Your Vessel

You must have a Louisiana Certificate of Number (registration) and validation decals to operate your vessel legally on public waters in Louisiana. The only exceptions are:

• A sailboat 12 feet or less in length
• A sailboard
• Vessels documented with the U.S. Coast Guard
• Vessels with valid registration in another state or country, on the waters of Louisiana for 90 or fewer consecutive days

The Certificate of Number must be on board and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever the vessel is operated.

The registration number and validation decals must be displayed as follows.

• Number must be painted, applied as a decal, or otherwise affixed to both sides of the bow.
• Number must read from left to right on both sides of the bow.
• Number must be in at least three-inch-high, plain BLOCK letters.
• Letters must be separated from the numbers by a space or hyphen equal in width to a letter; for example: LA 3717 ZW or LA-3717-ZW.
• Number's color must contrast with its background.
• No other numbers may be displayed on either side of the bow.
• Decals must be affixed on both sides of the vessel within six inches of the registration number.

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

Where to Register

Registration application and renewal forms can be obtained from:

• The Boat Registration Office of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF)
• LDWF's website, www.wlf.louisiana.gov
• Any LDWF district office

You can submit your registration application and fee to:

Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries, Boat Registration
P.O. Box 14796
Baton Rouge, LA 70898

Registration Questions?

Call the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' Boat Registration Office at 225-765-2898. Also, you can call or visit one of the LDWF offices listed on the back of this handbook, or visit LDWF's website at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on the Internet.