Entry 10Third watch · Rules & Safety4 min
Florida treats a boat a little like a car. Most boats on state waters need a registration certificate, numbers on the hull and a current decal, and the application goes through the county tax collector. The rules are in chapter 328 of the Florida Statutes, and the fees are set in section 328.72.
Who has to register
Under section 328.48, each vessel operated, used or stored on the waters of the state must be registered as a commercial or recreational vessel unless it is:
- operated, used and stored only on private lakes and ponds;
- owned by the United States government;
- used only as a ship’s lifeboat; or
- a non-motor-powered vessel less than 16 feet long, or a non-motor-powered canoe, kayak, racing shell or rowing scull of any length.
Registration is not required for a vessel that is not used on Florida waters. A kayak needs no registration; the same kayak with a trolling motor does.
What it costs
The state registration fee is charged for each 12-month period and depends on the boat’s length class. On top of it, the tax collector charges a $2.25 service fee for each registration issued, replaced or renewed.
| Class | Length | Annual state fee | With EPIRB or PLB |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-1 | Under 12 feet, and any canoe with a motor | $5.50 | $2.95 |
| A-2 | 12 to under 16 feet | $16.25 | $11.00 |
| 1 | 16 to under 26 feet | $28.75 | $20.40 |
| 2 | 26 to under 40 feet | $78.25 | $57.50 |
| 3 | 40 to under 65 feet | $127.75 | $94.95 |
| 4 | 65 to under 110 feet | $152.75 | $113.40 |
| 5 | 110 feet and over | $189.75 | $141.15 |
The right-hand column is a reduced fee the statute sets for a recreational vessel equipped with an emergency position-indicating radio beacon, or whose owner owns a personal locator beacon. On a 30-foot Class 2 boat the saving is $20.75 a year; on a Class 1 center console it is $8.35. Ask the tax collector what proof of the beacon it accepts.
Applying
The owner files with the county tax collector. The application asks for the owner’s name and physical residential or business address, residency status, identification and a full description of the vessel, with the fee. An individual must show a valid driver license or state ID from Florida or another state, or a valid passport. Proof of ownership can be a bill of sale, a builder’s contract, a manufacturer’s statement of origin or a federal marine document.
Tip: Bringing a boat from another state? Bring its out-of-state registration or title and the bill of sale; the tax collector will tell you what it needs to issue Florida numbers.
What the certificate shows
Each certificate states the number assigned to the boat, the hull identification number, the owner’s name and physical address and a description of the vessel. A boat built or assembled by its owner and registered for the first time is the exception: its first certificate carries everything except the hull identification number. Check the certificate against the boat before you leave the tax collector’s office.
Displaying the numbers and decal
- Numbers go on each side of the forward half of the boat, reading left to right, in block characters at least 3 inches high.
- The color must contrast with the background: dark numbers on a light hull or light numbers on a dark one, kept clearly visible.
- The year’s decal goes on the port (left) side, within 6 inches before or after the number. On a documented vessel it may go on a port-side window or windshield instead.
- Remove old decals, and keep the pocket-sized certificate aboard whenever the boat is operating.
Buying, selling and replacing
When a registered boat changes hands, the new owner must apply to transfer the registration within 30 days, and the fee is $3.25. A duplicate certificate or a replacement for a lost decal costs $2.25. A stolen decal is replaced at no charge if the application includes a copy of the police report.
If it expires
Running with an expired registration is a noncriminal infraction under section 327.73, with penalties of up to $100 for one category of violation and, for the more serious category, up to $250 for a first offense and up to $500 for later ones. Operating an unregistered boat is also a noncriminal infraction. The simple fix is to renew before the decal year runs out.
Live-aboards and documented boats
A live-aboard owner whose primary residence is the boat may be authorized by the state wildlife commission to give a post office box instead of a physical address; see Living Aboard a Boat in Fort Lauderdale: What Florida Law Says and What to Ask a Marina. A federally documented boat still displays a Florida decal on the port side. Before your first launch, check whether you also need a boating safety card in Florida Boating Safety Education Card: Who Needs One, How to Get It and the Exemptions, and see Launching at a Fort Lauderdale Boat Ramp: City Ramps, Paperwork and a Smooth Launch for where to put in.