Personal Watercraft Restrictions [Table 4.8]
State
Is there a speed limit specific to PWCs other than slow/no wake zones in your state?
If you answered “Yes” to the previous question, please list the speed limit.
Is PWC operation restricted within any area or zone in your state?
If you answered “Yes” to the previous question, please list the restricted area or zone.
Are limitations imposed on wake jumping with PWCs in your state?
If you answered “Yes” to the previous question, please describe the limitations.
Is there a kill switch or safety lanyard requirement for PWCs in your state?
Alabama
No 
 
Yes 
Only zones marked by signs or bouys or on public fishing lakes that specifically prohibit their use 
Yes 
33-5-51(d) ….jumping the wake of another vessel travelling in the same direction in close proximity to the vessel…crossing at right angles in close proximity to the stern of another vessel or when visibility around the other vessel is obstructed… 
Yes 
Alaska
No 
 
Yes 
Some special purpose areas such as state parks and state critical habitat areas 
No 
 
No 
American Samoa
No 
 
Yes 
Swimming areas, boat mooring areas 
No 
 
Yes 
Arizona
No 
 
No 
 
Yes 
A PWC cannot head into the wake of a motorboat that is within a zone of proximity closer than sixty feet and cause one-half or more of the length of the personal watercraft to leave the water.  
Yes 
Arkansas
No 
 
Yes 
Some sole state waters prohibit PWCs.  
Yes 
Unsafe PWC operation shall include but not be limited to: becoming airborne or completely leaving the water while crossing the wake of another vessel within 100ft of the vessel creating the wake. 
Yes 
Australia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
British Columbia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
California
No 
Must observe all local speed orfinances and state speed laws 
Yes 
Local agencies may restrict by time of day, special use areas, speed limits, and sanitation and pollution control 
Yes 
No wake jumping within 100 feet of the another vessel creating the wake. 
Yes 
Colorado
no 
 
no 
 
yes 
Careless boating is defined to include wake jumping at an unsafe distance or whenever visibility is obstructed. 
yes 
Connecticut
Yes 
slow/no wake within 200′ of any shore, dock, pier, float moored or anchored vessel 
No 
 
Yes 
can’t jump within 100′ behind a boat if it causes you to go airborn 
Yes 
Delaware
No 
 
No 
 
Yes 
must be 100 yards slow no wake in incorporated area, no jumping shore break 
Yes 
District of Columbia
No 
 
No 
 
Yes 
No operator of any personal watercraft while underway and within one hundred (100) yards of another vessel shall jump any other vessel’s wake while operating or in physical control of watercraft while on the District of Columbia’s waterway. When two (2) or more personal water operators are operating at a speed greater than ten (10) miles per hour, the operators shall steer their craft so as to be at least twenty-five (25) yards apart from any vessel to include any other personal watercraft 
Yes 
Florida
No 
 
Yes 
There are local restrictions. These are not state restrictions. 
Yes 
Jumping the wake of another vessel unreasonably or unnecessarily close to such other vessel or when visibility around such other vessel is obstructed is prohibited. 
Yes 
Georgia
Yes 
Idle speed within 100 feet of shoreline, dock, persons in water, moored vessels, etc. 
No 
 
Yes 
Within 100 feet of another vessel 
Yes 
Guam
No 
 
Yes 
Within Tumon and Pago bays 
No 
 
No 
Hawaii
No 
 
Yes 
§13-256-17 Recreational thrill craft operations. (a) Access to and from designated recreational thrill craft operating areas shall be by the most direct route consistent with safety considerations. (b) In non-designated ocean recreation management areas, recreational thrill craft may operate only in state waters between five hundred feet from the shoreline or the outer edge of the fringing reef whichever is greater and two miles off the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii. (c) In designated ocean recreation management areas, recreational thrill craft may operate only within locations designated for recreational thrill craft use. (d) No thrill craft shall be operated for profit or gain in a recreational thrill craft operating area. (e) Recreational thrill craft may gain access to state waters only from launching or harbor facilities or from private beach front property. §13-256-16 Thrill craft operations; general provisions. (b) No person shall operate thrill craft within a marine life conservation district or marine natural area reserve. (c) Thrill craft operations shall be curtailed in certain designated areas as described in subchapters two through eleven as necessary, to: 1) avoid possible adverse impacts on humpback whales or other protected marine life; 2) provide for increased public access; 3) reduce user conflicts; and 4) promote overall public safety.  
Yes 
per federal regs 
No 
Idaho
No 
 
No 
 
Yes 
Can be considered negligent operation under some circumstances. 
No 
Illinois
No  
 
Yes  
numerous ordinaces on private lakes restrict use of PWC’s. We also have numerous areas restricting boating..ie nuclear power plant areas etc…  
No  
 
Yes  
Indiana
No 
 
No 
 
Yes 
It is unlawful to jump the wake of another watercraft. 
Yes 
Iowa
No 
 
Yes 
A county conservation board lake, Lake Icaria, prohibits “inboard” vessels. 
No 
 
Yes 
Kansas
No 
 
Yes 
May be used only for fishing on our state fishing lakes 
Yes 
Must maintain a reasonable and prudent distance behind the vessel.  
Yes 
Kentucky
No 
 
No 
 
Yes 
A person operating a PWC shall not jump a wake in a way tha endangers human life, human physical safety or property. 
Yes 
Louisiana
No 
 
No 
 
Yes 
Carless operation 
Yes 
Maine
No 
 
Yes 
Certain internal waters of the state under the jurisdiction of the Land Use Regulation Commission of the Dept. of Conservation. 
Yes 
A person is guilty of imprudent operation of a watercraft if that person engages in prolonged circling, informal racing, wake jumping or other continued and repeated activities that harass another person. 
No 
Manitoba (Canada)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maryland
Yes 
Must operate at a speed of less than 6 knots if operating pwc within 100′ of other boats, people in the water, docks and bridge abutments 
No 
 
Yes 
Pwc’s may not jump or attempt to jump the wake of another vessel within 100′ of the vessel. This is considered negligent operation 
Yes 
Massachusetts
No 
 
Yes 
(1) Eastern area of Cape Cod:six contiguous towns have prohibited them in local coastal waters. 
Yes 
The “unreasonable” jumping the wake of another boat is prohibited. 
Yes 
Michigan
No 
 
No 
 
Yes 
Cannot pass within 150 feet of another vessel 
Yes 
Minnesota
t’s not a statewide speed limit, just various slow-no wake zones with 150 feet of shore, docks, swimmers, swim rafts, anchored boats, etc. 
Slow no wake through emergent or floating vegetation, anchored or moored boats, non-powered boats, shore, docks, swim rafts.  
Yes 
Anywhere motor boats are restricted or restricted. 
Yes 
No wake jumping within 150 feet of the stern of the other boat. 
Yes 
Mississippi
No 
 
No 
 
No 
 
No 
Missouri
No 
They also cannot operate above idle speed within 50 feet of another vessel or person in the water. 
No 
 
Yes 
Jumping the wake of a vessel when visibility is obstructed. Becoming airborne while crossing the wake of another motorboat within 100 feet of that motorboat. 
Yes 
Montana
No 
 
No 
 
Yes 
crossing or jumping the wak of another vessel when within 100 yards of the vessel or within 100 yards of a waterskier being towed by a vessel 
Yes 
Nebraska
No 
 
No 
 
Yes 
PWC cannot jump the wake of a boat pulling skiers or tubers. PWC cannont jump wake of a boat within 50 yards of the boat. 
Yes 
Nevada
No 
 
No 
 
Yes 
Vessels must stay 5 lengths away from longest vessel. 
Yes 
New Hampshire
No 
 
Yes 
A number of lakes do not allow ski craft. Also any lake less than 75 acres do not allow ski craft (one or two seater)  
Yes 
Vessel cannot be totally airborne when jumping wakes. 
No 
New Jersey
No 
 
Yes 
Point Pleasant and Cape May Canals 
Yes 
cannot jump wake w/i 100′ of vessel creating wake 
Yes 
New Mexico
No 
 
No 
 
Yes  
within 150 feet of any other cruising vessels.  
Yes 
New York
Yes 
f. No person shall operate a personal watercraft or a specialty prop-craft within five hundred feet of any designated bathing area, except in bodies of water where the opposing shoreline is less than five hundred feet from such designated area and in accordance with speed regulations and restrictions as provided by local law or ordinance but in no event at a speed in excess of ten miles per hour, provided, however, that nothing contained in this subdivision shall be construed to prohibit the launching of such vessel from designated launching areas or sites.  
Yes 
restriction vary by town and waterway 
Yes 
g. Every personal watercraft and specialty prop-craft shall at all times be operated in a reasonable and prudent manner. Maneuvers which unreasonably or unnecessarily endanger life, limb, or property, including, but not limited to, (i) weaving through congested vessel traffic, or (ii) jumping the wake of another vessel unreasonably or unnecessarily close to such other vessel or when visibility around such other vessel is obstructed, or (iii) swerving at the last possible moment to avoid collision shall constitute reckless operation of a vessel, as provided in section forty-five of this article 
Yes, if provided on watercraft 
North Carolina
Yes 
No person shall operate a personal watercraft on the waters of this State at greater than no 
Yes 
See #66 
 
A personal watercraft must at all times be operated in a reasonable and prudent manner. Maneuvers that endanger life, limb, or property shall constitute reckless operation of a vessel as provided in G.S. 75A 
Yes 
North Dakota
No 
 
No 
 
Yes 
JUmping the wake of another watercraft within one hundred feet of the other watercraft. 
Yes 
Northern Mariana Islands
Yes 
5 mph 
Yes 
micro beach north to paupau beach and sugar dock area south to San Antonio  
No 
 
No 
Ohio
No 
 
Yes 
Operation is restricted in “No boat areas”, within 300 feet of an offical diver’s flag.  
Yes 
Becomming air borne while crossing the wake of another vessel within 100 ft or unsafe distance. 
Yes 
Oklahoma
No 
 
Yes 
Some municipal lakes have specified PWC use areas. 
Yes 
No person shall operate any vessel in a reckless or negligent manner so as to endanger life or property of any person. No person shall operate any vessel at speeds over ten MPH while within 50 feet in proximity to another vessel. 
Yes 
Ontario (Canada)
 
 
 
 
 
