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

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

• Inflatable vessels that are 7 feet or less in length
• Canoes and kayaks that are 13 feet or less in length
• Vessels properly registered in another state and using Iowa waters for 60 or fewer days within one calendar year

The Registration Certificate and registration decals are obtained by presenting the proper application form and fee to a County Recorder. Application should be made in the county of residence of the owner or the county where the vessel is principally used if the owner is a non-resident. The Registration Certificate (pocket-sized registration card) must be on board and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever the vessel is operated.

Registration Certificate

The registration number and registration decals must be displayed as follows.

• Number must be painted, applied as a decal, or otherwise affixed to the forward half of each side of the vessel, placed for maximum visibility.
• No other numbers may be displayed on either side of the bow.
• Number must read from left to right on both sides of the vessel.
• Number must be in at least 3-inch-high, bold, BLOCK letters.
• Number’s color must contrast with its background.
• Letters must be separated from the numbers by a space or hyphen: IA 3717 ZW or IA-3717-ZW.
• Decals must be affixed on each side of the vessel, toward the stern of the registration number, 4 inches from and in line with the number.

If a vessel is propelled by sail alone, the registration number may be placed in a position to provide maximum visibility, including placement on the mast.

A sailboard is not required to display the registration number, but the decal must be placed on the bottom surface of the bow of the sailboard.

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 certificate’s number and registration decals.

Other Facts about Registering and Titling Your Vessel

• All vessels 17 feet long and longer that require registration and are purchased new, or are sold or traded, must be titled also.
• A Registration Certificate is valid for three years and expires on April 30th of the last calendar year of the registration period. Owners of vessels that have been registered previously may be sent a renewal notice to their residence.
• The owner of a vessel that requires registration must apply for the registration within 30 days of the date of purchase or date of transfer of ownership.
• If a numbered vessel is abandoned or destroyed, or if the owner’s address or name is changed, the owner must notify the County Recorder within 10 days of the event.
• If you lose or destroy your Registration Certificate or decals, you must apply for a duplicate and submit a processing fee.
• Larger recreational vessels owned by U.S. citizens may (at the option of the owner) be documented by the U.S. Coast Guard. Call the USCG at 1‑800‑799‑8362 for more information.Documented vessels must be registered and display the registration decal only.

Registration Questions?

Call the Iowa Department of Natural Resources at 515-281-5918.

Display of Vessel Capacity

• The passenger capacity of a vessel must be painted on or attached to the starboard (right) side of the vessel within 9 inches of the transom and clearly visible above the waterline when the vessel is fully loaded. The displayed passenger capacity must conform with the passenger capacity designated on the Registration Certificate.
• Most vessels have a U.S. Coast Guard or manufacturer’s plate that shows capacity in number of persons. This is the capacity number that must be on the Registration Certificate and displayed on the right side of the vessel. If a vessel does not have a capacity plate, the capacity of the vessel is “operator’s responsibility” and the letters OR must be on the Registration Certificate and displayed on the vessel instead of a capacity number.
• The displayed capacity number (or OR) must be the same size as the registration number on the bow.
• It is illegal to deface, destroy, remove, or alter a vessel’s capacity plate.

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 or stamped in the hull transom, or on a metal plate attached to the transom, or are printed on inflated rafts and kayaks.
• 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.
• If your vessel is homemade, the Department of Natural Resources may issue you a HIN, which you then must affix permanently to the transom.
• It is illegal to destroy, remove, cover, or mutilate a HIN.