Legend
Alabama
Age to Ride: 14
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, required for all boaters born after 4/28/54.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Alaska
Age to Ride: No age restriction.
Boater Education Req'd: No
Restrictions on Access: Restrictions on some state park waters.
Arkansas
Age to Ride: 16
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, required for all boaters born after 1/1/86.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
California
Age to Ride: 16
Boater Education Req'd: No
Restrictions on Access: Strict regulations for marine emissions in place. Carbon Monoxide warning label required.
Colorado
Age to Ride: 16, but younger with boater education.
Boater Education Req'd: For all boaters 16 and younger only
Restrictions on Access: Dependent on lake management plans.
Connecticut
Age to Ride: 16
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, boating course and PWC course both required.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Delaware
Age to Ride: 16
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for persons born after 1/1/78.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
District of Columbia
Age to Ride: 13
Boater Education Req'd: No, for vessels under less than 16 feet. PWC are considered Class A (less than 16') inboard boats by the U.S. Coast Guard. Because of this, all PWCs are subject to the same laws and requirements as other conventional boats in this class, including numbering and registering.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Florida
Age to Ride: 14
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all boaters born after 1/1/1988
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Georgia
Age to Ride: 12
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for persons born after 1/1/98.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Hawaii
Age to Ride: 15
Boater Education Req'd: Yes
Restrictions on Access: PWC restrictions and bans in place in state conservation districts and other state managed areas.
Idaho
Age to Ride: No age restriction
Boater Education Req'd: Idaho law requires those who rent PWCs to deliver education. Afterwards, each rider must carry the state's verification of education card whenever operating a rented PWC.
Restrictions on Access: Some county ordinances affect PWC access.
Illinois
Age to Ride: 18, but 12 years old with boater education.
Boater Education Req'd: Yes
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Indiana
Age to Ride: 15
Boater Education Req'd: Only required for persons under 16 years old.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Iowa
Age to Ride: 12
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, if between the ages of 12 – 17 years old.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Kansas
Age to Ride: 18, but younger with boater education.
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all boaters under the age of 20.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Kentucky
Age to Ride: 12 with boater education.
Boater Education Req'd: Only required for persons under 17 years old.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Louisiana
Age to Ride: 16
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all boaters born after 1/1/1984.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Maine
Age to Ride: 16
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all boaters under 18 years old.
Restrictions on Access: PWCs banned on many lakes under Great Ponds Act. Municipalities can petition state for bans.
Maryland
Age to Ride: 16
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all boaters born after 7/1/72.
Restrictions on Access: Restrictions on Deep Creek Lake.
Massachusetts
Age to Ride: 16
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all PWC operators 16 – 17 years old.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Michigan
Age to Ride: 14
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for persons born after 12/31/78.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Minnesota
Age to Ride: 14
Boater Education Req'd: Only required for boaters under 17 years old.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Mississippi
Age to Ride: 12
Boater Education Req'd: Yes
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Missouri
Age to Ride: 16
Boater Education Req'd: Yes
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Montana
Age to Ride: 13
Boater Education Req'd: Only required for persons 13-14 years old.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Nebraska
Age to Ride: 14
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, any persons boar after 12/31/1985
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Nevada
Age to Ride: 14
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all persons born after 1/1/83.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
New Hampshire
Age to Ride: 16
Boater Education Req'd: Yes
Restrictions on Access: PWCS banned on lakes and ponds of less than 75 acres. 15 other named lakes and ponds prohibit PWCs.
New Jersey
Age to Ride: 16
Boater Education Req'd: Yes
Restrictions on Access: Restricted access on Point Pleasant and Cape May canals.
New Mexico
Age to Ride: 13
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all boaters born after 1/1/1989.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
New York
Age to Ride: 14
Boater Education Req'd: Yes
Restrictions on Access: Legislation passed in 2000 allows local regulation and bans of PWCs.
North Carolina
Age to Ride: 14
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for persons born after 1/1/1985.
Restrictions on Access: State regulations allow localities to further regulate PWCs.
North Dakota
Age to Ride: 12
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all boaters 16 and under
Restrictions on Access: Only if restrictions apply to all boats.
Ohio
Age to Ride: 16
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for persons born after 1/1/82.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Oklahoma
Age to Ride: 12
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all boaters 16 and under.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Oregon
Age to Ride: 12
Boater Education Req'd: Yes
Restrictions on Access: PWC use restricted or prohibited on rivers.
Pennsylvania
Age to Ride: 12
Boater Education Req'd: Yes
Restrictions on Access:
Rhode Island
Age to Ride: 16
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all PWC operators.
Restrictions on Access: Cities and towns are authorized to regulate or ban PWCs.
South Carolina
Age to Ride: 16, but younger with boater education.
Boater Education Req'd: Only required for persons under 16.
Restrictions on Access:
South Dakota
Age to Ride: 14
Boater Education Req'd: No
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Tennessee
Age to Ride: 12
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for persons born after 1/1/89.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Texas
Age to Ride: 16
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all boaters 17 and younger.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Utah
Age to Ride: 18, but 16 years old with boater education.
Boater Education Req'd: Only required for PWC operators age 12-17.
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Vermont
Age to Ride: 16
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all boaters born on or after 1/1/1974.
Restrictions on Access: Restrictions on most waters under 300 acres.
Virginia
Age to Ride: 16, but younger with boater education.
Boater Education Req'd: Yes
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Washington
Age to Ride: 14
Boater Education Req'd: Yes
Restrictions on Access: PWC use restricted on the Spokane River. Some restrictions in place at county level.
West Virginia
Age to Ride: 15
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for persons born after 12/31/86
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Wisconsin
Age to Ride: 16, but younger with boater education.
Boater Education Req'd: Yes, for all boaters born after 1/1/1989
Restrictions on Access: N/A
Wyoming
Age to Ride: 16
Boater Education Req'd: No
Restrictions on Access: PWCs banned on some lakes.

For more detailed information on state PWC laws, please visit: www.boatus.org/courses/ or www.nasbla.net/referenceguide