It's the Law: Before Going Out

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 operate a motorboat legally 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 being operated.

Massachusetts Certificate of Number

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

Number must be painted, applied as a decal, or otherwise affixed on the forward half of each side of the vessel and placed to be clearly visible.
Number must read from left to right on both sides of the vessel.
Number must be in at least three-inch-high bold, BLOCK letters.
Number's color must contrast sharply with its background.
No other numbers may be displayed on either side of the bow.
Letters must be separated from the numbers by two-inch spaces or hyphens: MS 3717 ZW or MS-3717-ZW.
The validation decal should be placed in line with and within six inches following the registration number on the port (left) side of the vessel..

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.

Picture of correct placement of validation decal

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...

The online registration renewal at www.sport.state.ma.us

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-digit Hull Identification Number (HIN), a vessel inspection may be required. Click here to read more information on HINs.

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

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.

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