Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Your Vessel’s Registration

Requirements for vessel registration vary from state to state. In Colorado, you must have a Colorado Boat Registration and expiration date decals to operate a vessel legally on Colorado’s public waters. Exceptions to registration are:

• Vessels without any kind of motor or a sail
• Vessels properly registered in another state and using Colorado waters for 60 or fewer consecutive days
• Vessels documented with the U.S. Coast Guard

The Boat Registration and expiration date decals are obtained by submitting the proper application form and fee to:

Colorado State Parks
Registration Unit
13787 S. Hwy. 85
Littleton, CO 80125

The Boat Registration (pocket-sized card) must be on board and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever the vessel is operated.

Expiration Date Decals

The vessel number and expiration date decals must be displayed as follows.

• Number must be painted, decaled, or otherwise affixed to each side of the bow on the forward half of the vessel, placed to be clearly visible.
• Number must read from left to right on both sides of the vessel.
• Number must be in bold, BLOCK letters, at least 3 inches high (excluding border or trim).
• Number’s color must contrast with its background.
• Letters must be separated from the numbers by a space or hyphen: CL 3717 ZW or CL-3717-ZW.
• No other numbers may be displayed on either side of the bow.
• Expiration date decals must be affixed on each side of the vessel two inches to the left of the registration number.

If your vessel requires registration, it is illegal to operate it or allow others to operate your vessel unless it is registered and numbered as described above.

PWCs also are required to display the registration number and expiration date decals.

Other Facts about Titling and Registering Your Vessel

• A Boat Registration is valid for one year and expires on December 31 of each year. Owners of vessels that have already been registered will be sent a renewal notice to their residence.
• Colorado State Parks must be notified within 15 days of the sale, trade, or transfer of ownership of a registered vessel.
• The owner of a registered vessel must notify Colorado State Parks within 15 days if the vessel is abandoned, destroyed, lost, or stolen; the registration issued for the vessel must be surrendered.
• When the owner of a registered vessel changes address from that shown on the registration, he or she must notify the Colorado State Parks within 15 days of the change.
• If you lose or destroy your Boat Registration or decals, you must apply for a duplicate within 15 days in writing and submit a processing fee.
• Canoes, kayaks, sailboards, or non-motorized rafts, which are not required to be registered, must be marked clearly with the owner’s name and current address in a place on the vessel where it will be clearly visible.
• Larger recreational vessels, owned by U.S. citizens, may (at the option of the owner) be documented by the U.S. Coast Guard. (Read more about obtaining the U.S. Coast Guard’s Certificate of Documentation). Call the USCG at 1-800-799-8362 for more information.

Registration Questions? Call Colorado State Parks Boat Registration hotline at: 303-791-1920 or visit the Colorado State Parks website.

Hull Identification Number

• The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a unique, 12-digit number assigned by the manufacturer to vessels built after 1972.
• Hull Identification Numbers:
  • Distinguish one vessel from another­—the same as serial numbers distinguish one car from another.
  • Are engraved in the fiberglass or on a metal plate permanently attached to the transom.
• You should write down your HIN and put it in a place separate from your vessel in case warranty problems arise or your vessel is stolen.