It's the Law: Before Going Out on Your Vessel

All operators are required to obey laws that regulate your vessel's registration and operation.

Registering Your Motorboat

You must have a Massachusetts Certificate of Number (boat registration) to legally operate a motorboat on Massachusetts' waters. Exceptions to registration are:

• Vessels without any kind of motor (unpowered canoes, sailboats, or kayaks)
• Vessels properly registered in another state and using Massachusetts' waters for 60 or fewer consecutive days
• Vessels documented with the U.S. Coast Guard

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

The registration number and validation decal must be displayed as follows:

• Number must be painted, decaled or otherwise attached on the forward half of each side 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.
• Number's color must contrast with its background.
• No other numbers may be displayed on either side of the bow.
• Letters must be separated from the numbers by 2-inch spaces or hyphens:
  “MS 3717 ZW” or “MS-3717-ZW”.
• The validation decal should be placed in line with and within 6 inches following the registration number on the port (left) side of the vessel.

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

Where to Register

You can submit your registration or title applications and fees to:

Massachusetts Environmental Police
Registration and Titling Bureau
251 Causeway St., Suite 101
Boston, MA 02114 or...

Any of our satellite offices listed on the inside back cover or...

Renew your registration online at www.mass.gov/massoutdoors.

Registration Questions? Contact the Registration and Titling Bureau by calling
617-626-1610, or sending a fax to 617-626-1630. You may also find the answers to registration questions on the Internet by visiting www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dle/.

How to Apply for Registration

To register a vessel, you need to provide:

Bill of Sale (name and address of seller)

Sales tax form (ST-6) or (ST-6E) (you can pay sales tax online at www.dor.state.ma.us)

Pencil tracing of Hull ID number (serial number)*

Required fees (see fee schedule on next page)

Properly completed and signed registration application

* If your vessel was built prior to 1972, or does not have a proper 12 character Hull Identification Number (HIN), a vessel inspection may be required. Click here to read more information on HINs.

If the vessel is 14 ft. in length or more, in addition to the documents above you also need to provide:

• The title** or, if vessel is documented with the U.S. Coast Guard, Termination of Documentation (“Deletion Letter”) from the U.S. Coast Guard.

** If the vessel is purchased new from a registered boat dealer or department store, an original “Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin” is required in lieu of title. When a boat is purchased from a private party from a non-titled state, the previous owner's registration is required in lieu of title.

When in doubt, please call one of our registration offices prior to submitting an application.