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Louisiana
16
Idaho
14
Alaska
12
Arizona
12
Arkansas
12
California
12
Colorado
12
Connecticut
12
Delaware
12
Georgia
12
Hawaii
12
Illinois
12
Indiana
12
Iowa
12
Kansas
12
Kentucky
12
Maryland
12
Massachusetts
12
Mississippi
12
Montana
12
Nebraska
12
Nevada
12
New Hampshire
12
New Jersey
12
New Mexico
12
New York
12
North Carolina
12
Oklahoma
12
Oregon
12
Pennsylvania
12
Rhode Island
12
South Carolina
12
Tennessee
12
Texas
12
Utah
12
Vermont
12
Virginia
12
Washington
12
West Virginia
12
Wisconsin
12
Wyoming
12
Maine
10
Minnesota
10
North Dakota
10
Ohio
10
Alabama
8
Missouri
7
South Dakota
7
Florida
6
Michigan
6
Life Jacket Laws by State 2023
State | Age That Must Wear PFD | Vessel Length | PFD Styles | PFD Must Be Worn | Life Jacket Exceptions | Who Else Must Wear PFD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 8 | All lengths | USCG-approved Type I, II, or III | All times while aboard any vessel | When in enclosed cabin | Anyone operating any vessel on the waters and anyone being towed on skis or a tube, riding a Jet Ski or Sea Doo, or boating within 800 feet below a dam |
| Alaska | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved Type I, II, III, or V | When in an open boat, on an open deck or waterskiing | When child is not in an open boat, on an open deck, or waterskiing | |
| Arizona | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved Type I, II, or III | While underway on any vessel | When vessel is not underway | Each person on board a PWC and anyone being towed behind a motorized vessel while on water skis, an aquaplane, or other device |
| Arkansas | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved | All times while aboard any vessel | When in enclosed cabin | Each person on board a PWC or being towed behind a motorized vessel on water skis, an aquaplane, or other device |
| California | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved Type I, II, III or V | On a moving recreational vessel of any length. | When in enclosed cabin. When on a sailboat and constrained by a harness tethered to the sailboat. When on a vessel engaged in an emergency rescue situation. | Every person riding a PWC or being towed behind a vessel |
| Colorado | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved Type I, II, or III | While aboard recreational vessels underway | When in enclosed cabin | |
| Connecticut | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved | While aboard recreational vessels underway | When in enclosed cabin | |
| Delaware | 12 | All lengths | Type I, II, III, or V | While on board any vessel | Below deck, in an enclosed cabin, or when the boat is moored or at anchor | Everyone on a personal watercraft (jet ski) |
| Florida | 6 | Less than 26 feet | Type I, II, or III | While vessel is underway | None | |
| Georgia | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved | When aboard a moving vessel | When in enclosed cabin | Each person aboard a vessel operating in an area marked as "hazardous area" |
| Hawaii | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved | When a vessel is underway or when the vessel is moored or anchored in a non-designated offshore mooring area | When in enclosed cabin | |
| Idaho | 14 | 19 feet or less | USCG-approved | While boat is underway | None | |
| Illinois | 12 | Less than 26 feet | USCG-approved | Must be worn while vessel is underway | Below deck in an enclosed cabin | Anyone who operates watercraft or jet ski |
| Indiana | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved | When on board any vessel on Waters of Concurrent Jurisdiction | Below deck in an enclosed cabin | |
| Iowa | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved | On all recreational boats while underway on Iowa waterways | When in enclosed cabin | |
| Kansas | 12 | All lengths | Type I, II, or III | Must be worn while on board or while being towed. Must be worn on recreational vessels by children under 14 in waters under Coast Guard jurisdiction | None | |
| Kentucky | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved | At all times while underway in an open vessel or on an open deck of a vessel | None | Operators and passengers of personal watercraft |
| Louisiana | 16 | Less than 26 feet | USCG-approved Type I, II, or III | Must be worn while vessel is underway | None | |
| Maine | 10 | All lengths | Type I, II, or III | Wear at all times | None | |
| Maryland | 12 | Under 21 feet in length | USCG-approved | While underway on a recreational vessel | When a vessel is moored, anchored, or when a child is below deck or in an enclosed cabin | |
| Massachusetts | 12 | All lengths | Type I, II, III, or V | While vessel is underway | When child is below deck | Personal watercraft users, waterskiers, canoeists/kayakers |
| Michigan | 6 | All lengths | Type I or II | When riding in the open deck area of a boat | When child is below deck | Everyone riding or being towed by a PWC |
| Minnesota | 10 | All lengths | USCG-approved | While aboard recreational vessels underway | Children who are below the top deck or in an enclosed cabin. Children aboard passenger vessels being operated by a licensed captain. Children engaged in swimming or diving activities from an anchored boat. | |
| Mississippi | 12 | Less than 26 feet | Type I, II, or III | While in the open portion of a vessel on Mississippi waters | None | Each person riding on or being towed behind a personal watercraft |
| Missouri | 7 | All lengths | Type I, II, III or V PFD | At all times while aboard any watercraft | When in enclosed cabin | |
| Montana | 12 | Less than 26 feet | USCG-approved | While vessel is underway, and if two or more persons are occupying a sailboard | None | |
| Nebraska | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved Type I, II, or III | Wear at all times | When hunting waterfowl in an anchored boat | |
| Nevada | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved | While on board any vessel | When in enclosed cabin | |
| New Hampshire | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved | While under way on a vessel at all times | When aboard boats, vessels, and ships with continuous side rails 3 feet or more in height enclosing the perimeter, and enclosed between the deck and top railing | |
| New Jersey | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved Type I, II, III or V | Whenever a recreational vessel is underway | When aboard boats, vessels, and ships with continuous side rails enclosing the perimeter, 3 feet or more in height, and enclosed between the deck and top railing | |
| New Mexico | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved | When any vessel is underway | When in enclosed cabin | Every person towed behind a vessel or boating on a river |
| New York | 12 | 65 feet and under | Type I, II, III, or V | While vessel is underway | When in enclosed cabin | Anyone underway in a boat less than 21 feet in length anytime between November 1 and May 1 |
| North Carolina | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved Type I, II, or III | When underway on a recreational vessel | Below deck in an enclosed cabin | Anyone riding a personal watercraft or being towed by one |
| North Dakota | 10 | Less than 27 feet | Type I, II, or III PFD | While vessel is underway | None | All personal watercraft users, as well as anyone towed on skis, tubes, boards or other similar devices |
| Ohio | 10 | Less than 18 feet | USCG-approved | While on board vessel | None | Any person operating a watercraft 16 feet or greater in length |
| Oklahoma | 12 | Less than 26 feet | USCG-approved | Must be worn while vessel is underway | None | |
| Oregon | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved | At all times while on an open deck or cockpit of vessels that are underway or being towed | None | |
| Pennsylvania | 12 | 20 feet or less (inc. kayaks and canoes) | USCG-approved | Must be worn while vessel is underway | None | From November 1st to April 30 - boaters while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or on any kayak, canoe, or paddleboard |
| Rhode Island | 12 | Less than 65 feet | USCG-approved | Must be worn while vessel is underway | Below deck in an enclosed cabin | All canoers, kayakers and paddleboarders must wear a life jacket |
| South Carolina | 12 | Class A (boat or PWC under 16 feet) | Type I, II, III or V | When onboard vessel | None | |
| South Dakota | 7 | All lengths | USCG-approved | On any vessel moving at greater than slow-no-wake speed | Below deck in an enclosed cabin | |
| Tennessee | 12 | All lengths | Type I, II, III or V | While on the open deck of a recreational boat when the boat is underway | Except when anchored, moored, or aground | |
| Texas | 12 | Less than 26 feet | USCG-approved | While vessel is underway | Unless anchored, moored, or aground | |
| Utah | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved | At all times | If the child is in an enclosed cabin of a boat that is 19 feet in length or greater | Participants engaged in towing activities, anyone on a PWC |
| Vermont | 12 | All lengths | Type I, II or III PFD | At all times while underway on the open deck of any vessel | None | All persons under 16 years of age and riding a sailboard |
| Virginia | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved | While aboard recreational vessels underway | Below deck in an enclosed cabin | |
| Washington | 12 | Less than 19 feet | USCG-approved | While underway | Below deck in an enclosed cabin | |
| West Virginia | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved | Must be worn while vessel is underway | Below deck in an enclosed cabin | |
| Wisconsin | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved | While underway | Below deck in an enclosed cabin | |
| Wyoming | 12 | All lengths | USCG-approved | While aboard recreational vessels underway | Below deck in an enclosed cabin | Anyone riding a personal watercraft or when being towed by or riding in the wake of a watercraft |
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