Utah Boating Regulations

Many associate Utah with its vast desert landscapes that stretch across one of the driest states in America. But this state also has the sixth most boatable water per capita, offering abundant boating opportunities to residents and visitors alike.

To enjoy these waters, boaters in Utah need to navigate various laws and regulations. This guide will help you understand Utah’s boating rules and make the most of your marine adventures in the Beehive State.

Why Following Utah’s Boating Laws Matters

Complying with Utah’s boating regulations is important because:

• The law requires you to observe boating regulations.
• Boating regulations help keep you and your boat safer from accidents.
• Boating laws protect other people, animals and ecosystems.
• Disregarding boating regulations leads to costly fines and other consequences.

Who’s in Charge of Utah Boating Rules?

Several authorities work together to establish and administer boating regulations in Utah. The main regulatory entities you should know are:

• The Division of Outdoor Recreation: This Department of Natural Resources (DNR) division publishes boating regulations.
• The Division of Motor Vehicles: The DMV processes boat titles and registrations.
• The State Legislature: The legislature creates and amends boating laws in Utah.
• The U.S. Coast Guard: The Coast Guard enforces federal boating laws and safety standards nationwide.
• Local law enforcement: Local police enforce boating regulations on Utah’s waters within their jurisdictions.

What Are the Requirements to Drive a Boat in Utah?

Before you can drive a boat on Utah’s waters, you must meet a few requirements. These include education, registration, titling and insurance.

1. Boater Education

Boater education is encouraged for all boaters in Utah, though it is not a legal requirement for boaters over 18. The rules are stricter for younger boaters:

• Boaters under 16: A person aged 12-15 may operate a personal watercraft (PWC) with direct adult supervision only with a state-approved Boater Education Card. People under 16 may only operate motorized boats and sailboats under direct adult supervision.
• Boaters aged 16-17: A person aged 16-17 may operate a PWC without requiring adult supervision only with a state-approved Boater Education Card.

2. Boat Registration, Titling and Identification

All motorized boats and sailboats operating in Utah’s waters must be registered and have up-to-date registration decals. To register your boat in Utah, apply through your nearest DMV office. They will provide you with a certificate of registration and annual registration decals when you complete the application form with the accompanying fee and supporting documents. Ensure your current decals are visible on your boat and that you carry your certificate of registration when operating your boat.

Utah recognizes boat registrations from other states for visiting boaters. Non-motorized canoes and kayaks do not require registration.

In addition to registration, boats built from 1985 onward and older boats with more than 25 horsepower must be titled by the DMV. Titling is a one-time requirement when purchasing a boat, whereas you must renew your registration certificate and decals annually.

Finally, your boat requires a hull identification number (HIN) to be fixed to its rear.

3. Boat Insurance

Utah residents must have liability insurance on motorboats and PWCs and carry proof of insurance when operating their boats. The DNR publishes minimum insurance requirements, so check the current requirements on their website.

If your boat is an airboat or a motorboat with less than a 50-horsepower engine, you are exempt from mandatory insurance. Visitors from other states must comply with the insurance requirements of the state where their boat is registered while operating their boat in Utah’s waters.

Utah Boating Safety Regulations and Best Practices

The Beehive State has published safety practices that boaters should observe to protect themselves and others. Several of these are required by law. Here are the safety regulations you need to know for boating in Utah.

Safety Equipment

Your boat should have the following safety equipment onboard every time you take it out:

• Life jackets: Wearing a life jacket could prevent up to 80% of drownings in boating accidents. By law, all boats operating in Utah must have at least one U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket in the proper size and condition for each person onboard. Children aged 12 and under must wear their life jackets whenever the boat is running. Boats 16-39 feet must also carry a throwable personal floatation device (PFD), and larger boats must carry at least two.
• Fire extinguishers: All motorboats must carry a working Underwriters Laboratory (UL) classified and marine-approved fire extinguisher. The number and class of fire extinguishers required depend on your boat’s size and age.
• Ventilation: A gasoline-powered boat with a covered inboard or inboard-outboard motor needs proper ventilation to remove hazardous vapors from the engine and fuel tank compartments.
• Backfire flame control: Inboard gas engines require a UL- of U.S. Coast Guard-approved backfire flame arrestor on the carburetor.
• Navigation lights: If you operate your boat between sunset and sunrise, you must display navigation lights to help you see and be seen on the water. These lights should be positioned on your boat’s masthead, sides and stern with the required range and arc specified for your boat.
• Horn or whistle: You need to be able to let other boaters know you’re approaching or warn them of any danger you spot. You can do this with a horn or whistle, producing a four- to six-second sound. Boats 16-39 feet must have one of these. Boats 40 feet and longer also need a bell. If your boat is under 16 feet, having a horn or bell is recommended, though not required by law.
• Bailing device: Unless your boat is self-bailing, it needs a bail bucket or bilge pump onboard. Consider carrying both in case one fails.
• Spare propulsion: If your boat is under 21 feet long, you must carry at least one spare propulsion device onboard. This could be a spare motor, paddle or oar.
• Mufflers: All motorboats need a functional muffler system to keep engine noise under 90 decibels for boats made before 1993 and 88 decibels for newer boats. You may not use a muffler bypass system or cut out your muffler.
• Marine toilets: Dumping human waste into or near Utah’s waters is illegal. Instead, use a marine toilet and empty it after returning to your dock or at an approved sanitation facility.
• Other recommended items: Though not required by law, you can make your boating experience safer by carrying extra items like a flashlight, first-aid kit, boarding ladder, tool kits, rope, spare parts, an anchor, a distress signal, a cell phone, a GPS or a marine band radio.

Safety Do’s and Don’ts

Once you’ve met the initial requirements for education, registration and insurance and assembled all your safety equipment, the rest comes down to how you operate your boat. Follow these guidelines for safe and legal boating:

• Do obey the speed limit: Any time you are in a designated slow, wakeless speed area or within 150 feet of another boat, swimmer, skier you’re not towing, shore angler, launch ramp, dock or swimming area, you should maintain a wakeless or idle speed. You are responsible for any injuries or damage your boat’s wake causes.
• Don’t drink and drive: You may carry alcohol on your boat but may not operate a motorboat under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The limits — 0.05% blood alcohol content (BAC) — and penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) are the same on the water as on the road. Boating on Utah’s waters is considered implicit consent to a sobriety test by any officer who suspects DUI.
• Do take breaks: Natural stressors like brightness, heat and the boat’s motion in the water can all wear down a boater’s judgment and reactions. After four hours on the water, the impact of these stressors on your reaction time is equivalent to having a BAC of 0.1% — twice the legal limit. Protect yourself and others by taking regular breaks on land if you want to spend long periods on the water.
• Do avoid carbon monoxide: Carbon monoxide (CO) is a lethal exhaust gas produced by any boat with an engine or generator. It is colorless, odorless and tasteless, and it causes irritated eyes, headaches, nausea and dizziness, followed by the risk of death from extended exposure to high concentrations. To limit these dangers, stay away from open exhaust areas, even after turning the engine off, and never leave the engine running when stopping the boat on the water.
• Don’t run your propeller near people: If anyone is in the water near your boat’s propeller, keep your engine off until there is a safe distance between them and the propeller.
• Do watch the weather: Weather can turn suddenly in Utah. Check the forecast before heading out, and watch the conditions while on the water. Head to shore if you see any signs of storms approaching.
• Do file a float plan: Let a responsible person know where you’re going and when to expect you back. If you don’t return at the expected time, this person can call for lifesaving help.
• Do consider your passengers: If you have passengers on the front, sides, back, seat backs or motor cover of your boat, you must maintain a wakeless speed unless you have adequate rails to protect them from falling.
• Do respect right of way: If you approach another boat head-to-head, both must change course to the right. When crossing paths, the boat on the left must yield to that on the right. When overtaking from the rear, the passing boat must yield to the boat it is passing and stay at least 150 feet away while overtaking. While motorboats should stay clear of manually powered boats and sailboats, these vessels must yield to motorboats.
• Do tow with care: If you want to tow a skier, you may only do so during daylight hours and never in a slow, wakeless speed area. You must have an extra observer onboard to display an international orange flag when preparing and finishing the tow. The observer must communicate with the skier as necessary for their safety. 
• Don’t ignore an accident: If you are involved in or see a boating accident, you have legal duties to fulfill before moving on. First, aid anyone who needs help as best you can. Then, exchange contact information with anyone injured or whose property was damaged if you were involved in the accident. If anyone dies, disappears or needs further medical attention, or if there is major property damage, contact law enforcement immediately.

Environmental Regulations

Utah seeks to protect its waters and the ecosystems that depend on them. You can do your part by following these environmental regulations:

• Invasive species: Complete an annual aquatic invasive species awareness course through the STD of the Sea website. Pay the annual fee and display your Aquatic Invasive Species decal on your boat. These funds help control the spread of dangerous quagga mussels in Utah’s waters.
• Waste: Use appropriate containers to store waste, including litter and human waste, until you can dispose of it at an approved location. Avoid polluting Utah’s waters.
• Noise: Keep engine noise below your boat’s 88- or 90-decibel limit, and only use your whistle or horn when necessary for safety. Consider the peace of other people and animals if you choose to play music onboard.
• Speed: Observe speed regulations to avoid disturbing marine ecosystems in your wake.

Utah Dock Regulations

If you live near the water and want to install a dock to launch your boat from your part of the shoreline, you must apply for permission from the Division of Outdoor Recreation. This applies to any device you install in or on the water, including floating and fixed docks. If you want to install a dock on Bear Lake, there is a separate application to complete for that location. In either case, submit your application at least 30 days before you plan to install your dock.

The state requires docks to be constructed at or near right angles to the shoreline and to not interfere with existing structures like neighbors’ docks. Your dock must have a yellow light visible from up to half a mile away that flashes at least 30 times per minute. Place a reflective 3-inch silver band at or near this light.

Following these regulations will allow you to dock your boat without endangering others or breaking the law.

Choose EZ Dock for Boating in Utah

If you own a shoreline property in Utah, EZ Dock is the answer to your docking needs. EZ Dock provides high-quality, low-maintenance docks and boat lifts in Utah. Whether you need a ready-to-install floating dock configuration or dock sections to create your own custom solution, EZ Dock is your partner of choice for:

• Durability: Our docks are made from high-quality polyethylene and recycled rubber couplings for strength, stability and resilience against the elements.
• Convenience: Our docking systems require minimal maintenance, with no routine painting or coating needed, so you can spend more time on the water.
• Peace of mind: Our products come with industry-leading warranties, so you can rest assured you have a docking solution you can trust.
• Eco-friendliness: Our materials are recyclable and release no harmful chemicals into the water.

Find an EZ Dock distributor near you to choose your docking solution today.