Planning on hitting the water for your upcoming vacation? If you and your family are going to be on the backs of jet skis, it’s worth knowing the specific rules and regulations for each state. For example, your 14-year-old can’t operate a jet ski by himself in Maine and you need a boater’s license if you’re taking out a jet ski in Michigan. Here’s the scoop on age restrictions, boater education requirements and other PWC rules for all 50 states.
Alabama
- Age to ride: 14
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about Alabama PWC laws here
Alaska
- Age to ride: N/A
- No boater education required for PWC riders
Learn more about Alaska PWC laws here
Arizona
- Age to ride: 12
- No boater education required for PWC riders
Learn more about Arizona PWC laws here
Arkansas
- Age to ride: 16
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about Arkansas PWC laws here
California
- Age to ride: 16
- No boater education required for PWC riders
Learn more about California PWC laws here
Colorado
- Age to ride: 16, younger with boater education
- Boater education required for PWC riders ages 14-15
Learn more about Colorado PWC laws here
Connecticut
- Age to ride: 16
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about Connecticut PWC laws here
Delaware
- Age to ride: 14
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about Delaware PWC laws here
Florida
- Age to ride: 14
- Boater education required for PWC riders under 21
Learn more about Florida PWC laws here
Georgia
- Age to ride: 12
- Boater education required for PWC riders ages 12-15
Learn more about Georgia PWC laws here
Hawaii
- Age to ride: 15
- No boater education required for PWC riders
Learn more about Hawaii PWC laws here
Idaho
- Age to ride: N/A
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about Idaho PWC laws here
Illinois
- Age to ride: 18, 12 years old with boater education
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about Illinois PWC laws here
Indiana
- Age to ride: 15
- Boater education required for PWC riders ages 15-16
Learn more about Indiana PWC laws here
Iowa
- Age to ride: 12
- No boater education required for PWC riders
Learn more about Iowa PWC laws here
Kansas
- Age to ride: 16, younger with boater education
- Boater education required for PWC riders ages 12-15
Learn more about Kansas PWC laws here
Kentucky
- Age to ride: 12
- Boater education required for PWC riders ages 12-17
Learn more about Kentucky PWC laws here
Louisiana
- Age to ride: 13
- Boater education required for PWC riders under 21
Learn more about Louisiana PWC laws here
Maine
- Age to ride: 16
- No boater education required for PWC riders
Learn more about Maine PWC laws here
Maryland
- Age to ride: 16
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about Maryland PWC laws here
Massachusetts
- Age to ride: 16
- Boater education required for PWC riders ages 16-17
Learn more about Massachusetts PWC laws here
Michigan
- Age to ride: 16
- Boater education required for PWC riders ages 16-17
Learn more about Michigan PWC laws here
Minnesota
- Age to ride: 14
- Boater education required for PWC riders ages 14-17
Learn more about Minnesota PWC laws here
Mississippi
- Age to ride: 12
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about Mississippi PWC laws here
Missouri
- Age to ride: 14
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about Missouri PWC laws here
Montana
- Age to ride: 13
- Boater education required for PWC riders ages 13-14
Learn more about Montana PWC laws here
Nebraska
- Age to ride: 14
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about Nebraska PWC laws here
Nevada
- Age to ride: 14
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about Nevada PWC laws here
New Hampshire
- Age to ride: 16
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about New Hampshire PWC laws here
New Jersey
- Age to ride: 13
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about New Jersey PWC laws here
New Mexico
- Age to ride: 13
- No boater education required for PWC riders
Learn more about New Mexico PWC laws here
New York
- Age to ride: 14
- Boater education required for PWC riders
Learn more about New York PWC laws here
North Carolina
- Age to ride: 14
- No boater education required for PWC riders
Learn more about North Carolina PWC laws here
North Dakota
- Age to ride: 12
- Boater education required for PWC riders
Learn more about North Dakota PWC laws here
Ohio
- Age to ride: 16
- Boater education required for PWC riders
Learn more about Ohio PWC laws here
Oklahoma
- Age to ride: 12
- Boater education required for PWC riders
Learn more about Oklahoma PWC laws here
Oregon
- Age to ride: 16
- Boater education required for PWC riders
Learn more about Oregon PWC laws here
Pennsylvania
- Age to ride: 12
- Boater education required for PWC riders
Learn more about Pennsylvania PWC laws here
Rhode Island
- Age to ride: 16
- Boater education required for PWC riders
Learn more about Rhode Island PWC laws here
South Carolina
- Age to ride: 16, younger with boater education
- Boater education required for PWC riders ages 15-16
Learn more about South Carolina PWC laws here
South Dakota
- Age to ride: 14
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about South Dakota PWC laws here
Tennessee
- Age to ride: 12
- Boater education required for PWC riders under 21
Learn more about Tennessee PWC laws here
Texas
- Age to ride: 13
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about Texas PWC laws here
Utah
- Age to ride: 18, 16 with boater education
- Boater education required for PWC riders ages 16-17
Learn more about Utah PWC laws here
Vermont
- Age to ride: 16
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about Vermont PWC laws here
Virginia
- Age to ride: 16, younger with boater education
- Boater education required for PWC riders ages 14-16
Learn more about Virginia PWC laws here
Washington
- Age to ride: 14
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about Washington PWC laws here
West Virginia
- Age to ride: 15
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about West Virginia PWC laws here
Wisconsin
- Age to ride: 16, younger with boater education
- Boater education required for all PWC riders
Learn more about Wisconsin PWC laws here
Wyoming
- Age to ride: 16
- No boater education required for PWC riders
Learn more about Wyoming PWC laws here
For more information about PWC rules in each state, be sure to visit the links above or the individual websites for each state’s Department of Recreation or Department of Natural Resources. Happy jet skiing!
