Colorado Boating Laws, Explained

Colorado Parks and Wildlife sets the registration, equipment, and education rules. This page is a dealer’s plain-language overview, not a substitute for the current CPW handbook.

Motorboats used on public water need current Colorado registration and the registration number displayed on the hull. Carry the card on the boat. Wearable life jackets are required for each person on board, and children have a wear requirement that depends on age. Confirm the current age cutoff with CPW before you go.

Operating under the influence applies to boats. Night running needs the required navigation lights. Wake and surf boats still have to obey no-wake zones, which are posted at many Front Range reservoirs and change by lake.

Chatfield, Horsetooth, Pueblo, and the mountain reservoirs each add their own launch hours, inspections, and aquatic-nuisance rules. Check the lake you are launching at that week. Elevated’s destination guides cover how we boat those waters. They do not replace the lake’s own regulations.

If you are new to Colorado registration or you just bought a boat from us, call the Arvada shop and we will point you to the paperwork for that unit.