Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Your Vessel’s Certificate of Boat Registration and Decals

Requirements for vessel registration vary from state to state. In Pennsylvania, you must have a Pennsylvania Certificate of Boat Registration and validation decals to operate motorboats legally on public waters in Pennsylvania. In addition, unpowered vessels using Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) lakes, state parks, or access areas must be registered or have a launch permit issued by the PFBC or the Bureau of State Parks.

The Certificate of Boat Registration and validation decals are obtained by submitting the proper application and fee to any authorized agent or to:

Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
Licensing and Registration Section
P.O. Box 67000
Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000

Fees for registration are based on a vessel’s length and type of propulsion.

The Certificate of Boat Registration (registration card) must be on board and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever the vessel is operated.

Validation Decals

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 forward half of the vessel where no other number may be displayed.
• Number must read from left to right on both sides of the bow.
• Number must be in at least three-inch-high, vertical BLOCK letters.
• Number’s color must contrast with its background.
• Letters must be separated from the numbers by a hyphen or spaces equal to the width of the numbers or letters.
• Decals must be affixed on both sides of the bow within six inches of, and in line with, the registration number. The decals may precede or follow the number.

Requirements for displaying numbers and decals for small vessels are as follows.

• Kayaks, sculls, and sailboards are exempt from displaying their registration number but must display the validation decals.
• Canoes must display both the number and the decals.
• Inflatable boats may display their number and decals on boards that are tied to each side of the boat.

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.

PWCs also are required to display the certificate's number and validation decal.

Correct spacing of decal and registration number; decal may precede or follow the number.

Other Facts About Titling and Registering Your Vessel

A Certificate of Title proves ownership. At the request of the owner, any vessel may be titled. Once a title has been issued, that vessel must remain titled by future owners. The following vessels are required to have a Certificate of Title:

• Power-driven boats with a model year of 1997 or newer, excluding boats less than 14 feet in length that are powered by an outboard motor
• All inboard vessels (including PWCs) with a model year of 1997 or newer, regardless of length

A Certificate of Boat Registration is valid for two years and will expire on March 31 of the second year. Owners of vessels which have been registered previously will be sent a renewal notice prior to the expiration date.

The owner of a registered vessel must notify PFBC’s Licensing and Registration Section within 15 days if:

• He or she changes address or …
• The vessel is lost, stolen, destroyed, abandoned, or sold.

Owners of vessels registered in another state have 60 days to transfer the registration to Pennsylvania after Pennsylvania becomes the state where the boat is principally used.

If you lose or destroy your Certificate of Boat Registration or decal, you must apply to PFBC’s Licensing and Registration Section for a duplicate and submit a processing fee.

Larger recreational vessels, owned by U.S. citizens, may (at the option of the owner) be documented by the U.S. Coast Guard. (Read more about obtaining the U.S. Coast Guard's Certificate of Documentation.) Call the USCG at 1-800-799-8362 for more information. Documented vessels also must obtain a Pennsylvania registration and display the validation decals.

Registration Questions?

Contact the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, Licensing and Registration Section, by:

• Calling 1-866-BOATREG (1-866-262-8734)
• Visiting PFBC’s website

Application For Pennsylvania Boat Registration and/or Title

Registration and title application forms can be obtained from:

• PFBC’s website
• PFBC’s regional offices
• Most county treasurers
• Certified issuing agents
• Many marine dealers

Hull Identification Number

The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a unique, 12-digit number assigned by the manufacturer to vessels built after 1972.

Hull Identification Numbers:

• Distinguish one vessel from another­—the same as serial numbers distinguish one car from another.
• Are engraved in the fiberglass or on a metal plate permanently attached to the transom.

You should write down your HIN and put it in a place separate from your vessel in case warranty problems arise or your vessel is stolen.

If the HIN is missing or nonexistent, such as with a homebuilt vessel, apply for an identification number with the PFBC.