Map Options
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 |