Which Boats Require Registration?
Requirements for vessel registration vary. In the District of Columbia, you must have a District of Columbia Certificate of Number and validation stickers to legally operate your vessel on public waters. The only exceptions are:
- Vessels registered in other states or countries using District of Columbia waters for 50 days or less
- Vessels documented by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) using District of Columbia waters for 50 days or less
- Vessels owned by the U.S. government or a state government
- A vessel’s lifeboat
- A vessel used exclusively for racing
