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DETROIT LAKES, Minn. (Valley News Live) – It’s lake season in Minnesota, and starting July 1st, 2025, there’s going to be a new boating safety law.
Starting July 1st, 2025, adults, anyone 12 and older, and youth who operate motorboats, including a personal watercraft, will have to get a valid watercraft operator’s permit.
“Right now, it does require youth operators, those under the age of 18, to have an operator’s permit if they’re going to be operating certain types of watercraft, like a PWC, or a watercraft over 25 horsepower,” said William Landmark. a Conservation Officer with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
People without a permit can still operate a boat. There just needs to be an accompanying operator, anyone over 21.
“It’s a good thing for the state. Because there are so many lakes, it’s a part of our culture. Just to have that knowledge base, especially with the younger generations, it’s going to create future generations of more, safer boaters,” said Brady Baxter, the Owner of Baxstar Fishing.
He says the law is unique.
“So you don’t need a boater’s license in Minnesota. Up to this point, this is why this is unique: there is no requirement. There hasn’t been one in this state. There are some requirements to do with youth and what they can drive and things like that. For adults, there’s never been a requirement to have any kind of safety permit or things like that to operate a boat. It’s going to be a game changer.”
There’s a gradual rollout planned throughout 2028. In that time, the age requirement for those who would need a permit will expand, and when you can be an adult operator will decrease. For example, starting July 1st, 2025, boaters will need to be at least 21 years of age to operate a watercraft without a permit. Additionally, at final rollout in 2028, boaters will need to be 41 or older to operate without a permit.
The rollout impacts those born after the following dates:
- June 30, 2004 (starts July 1, 2025)
- June 30, 2000 (starts July 1, 2026)
- June 30, 1996 (starts July 1, 2027)
- June 30, 1987 (starts July 1, 2028)
“I’m sure we’re going to come across a lot of folks out there who aren’t aware of this when the season fires up. We’re really getting into the busy season now, starting last weekend. Our focus, and our goal, is just going to be on education. For the entire rollout of this process. So, the next five years, it’s just going to be education,” added Landmark.
While everyone gets used to the new law, at the end of the day, Baxter says it’s about safety first.
“It will just bring awareness to some existing laws that are already on the books and some new ones as well.”
To clarify, this permit will effectively be a driver’s license, but for boats, and it’s for life. One other thing to note is that those who already have a permit will not be affected by the law.
For more information and how to get your operator’s permit, you can click here.
