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Starting on July 1, 2025, a new law will require some adults and youth who operate motorboats—including personal watercraft—to have a valid watercraft operator's permit.
People who already have a watercraft operator's permit are not affected by the law, which is designed to make boating safer by ensuring  everyone operating a motorized watercraft knows the rules and is properly trained. Here's a breakdown of the key points:

• Permit requirement: Some adults (defined below) need a valid operator's permit to drive any motorboat or personal watercraft starting July 1, 2025.
• Exemptions: Some adults are exempt from this requirement. Check the law for specific exemptions.
• Supervised operation: People without a permit still can operate a boat, but only if there's an accompanying operator (defined below) onboard.

• Restrictions on high-powered watercraft: Young operators (people less than 12 years old), can't operate a personal watercraft or any motorboat with a motor over 75 horsepower.
• Low-powered motorboats: Young operators can operate a motorboat that's not a personal watercraft and has a motor under 75 horsepower as long as there is an accompanying operator in the motorboat.

• Is 12 years old or older, and
• Was born after these dates:

   

  • June 30, 2004 (started July 1, 2025)
  • June 30, 2000 (starts July 1, 2026)
  • June 30, 1996 (starts July 1, 2027)
  • June 30, 1987 (starts July 1, 2028)

• A person 21 years of age or older who:

   

  • Is in a personal watercraft or other type of motorboat;
  • Is within immediate reach of the controls of the motor; and
  • Possesses a valid operator's permit or is an exempt operator.

• Possesses a valid license to operate a motorboat issued for maritime personnel by the United States Coast Guard under Code of Federal Regulations, title 46, part 10, or a marine certificate issued by the Canadian government.
• Is not a resident of the state, is temporarily using the waters of the state for a period not to exceed 60 days, and:

   

  • meets any applicable requirements of the state or country of residency; or
  • possesses a Canadian pleasure craft operator's card;
  • is operating a motorboat under a dealer's license according to section 86B.405; or
  • is operating a motorboat during an emergency.

• Adult and youth permits: Young operators and some adults need a valid operator's permit to operate certain motorized watercraft. For adults born after June 30, 2004, the requirement started July 1, 2025. The law will extend to older age groups over time.
• Youth restrictions: Young operators can't operate boats with more than 75 horsepower. They can operate boats (that are not PWC) with less than 75 horsepower if they're with an accompanying operator.
• Gradual rollout: The law will phase in over the next few years. The operator permit requirement started July 1, 2025 and gradually expands through 2028.

• 18 and older: Must have a valid watercraft operator's permit.
• Under 18: Cannot rent watercraft.