Boating Safety

Kayak Life Jacket Laws By State

Do you need to wear a lifejacket in a kayak? In most states, the laws read that there must be at least one U.S. Coast Guard Approved Type I, II or III lifejacket (PFD) per person onboard the vessel (your kayak). That lifejacket must be in good serviceable condition, be sized appropriately for the person intended to wear it, and is must be readily available. In addition, lifejackets must be worn by children according to that state’s minimum PFD age law.

Each state has a slight variation on the minimum age that must wear a lifejacket, and a few states have specific rules about when adults must also physically wear a lifejacket. So please read your state’s individual life jacket laws for specific detailed rules and regulations.

The following are only summaries of each state’s life jacket laws. They are intended to cover the basics. We strongly suggest you investigate your individual state's requirements.

Alabama Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: One life jacket per person on board
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Anyone under 8
  • Approved life jackets: USCG Type I, II, or III
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: At all times while onboard any vessel
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Alaska Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: One life jacket per person on board, readily available.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Anyone under 13
  • Approved life jackets: USCG Type I, II, III, or V in some situations
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: In an open vessel, on deck, or while waterskiing
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Arizona Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: One life jacket per person on board, readily available.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: 12 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG Type I, II, III, or V in some situations
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway on any vessel
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Arkansas Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: One life jacket per person on board, readily available.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: 12 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG approved
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: At all times
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

California Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: One life jacket per person on board, readily available.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: 12 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, III or V
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: On any recreational vessel underway
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Colorado Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: A vessel less than 16 feet must have one wearable PFD, readily available, onboard for each person
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: All children under 13
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, or III PFD
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: Children onboard any recreational vessel underway
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels for children

Connecticut Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: one PFD for each person on board. With a rule unique to Connecticut, that anyone in a manually propelled vessel must actually wear their PFD from October 1 through May 31.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Children 12 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: Onboard any recreational vessel underway
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels for children

Delaware Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: One PFD on board per person and children 12 and under must wear a life jacket.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: 12 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, III or V
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: Onboard any recreational vessel underway
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Florida Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: A wearable PFD for each person
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Children under 6
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved I, II, or III
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: On recreational vessel underway
  • Vessel length requirement: Vessels less than 26 feet

Georgia Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: A wearable USCG Type I, II, III, or V PFD for each person – in good condition and readily accessible.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Children 12 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: Onboard a moving vessel
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Hawaii Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All vessels are required to have a wearable USCG-approved personal flotation device for each person.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Children 12 and under must wear it
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: When a vessel is underway or moored or anchored outside a mooring area
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Idaho Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: One life jacket on board per person.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Kids 14 years and younger must wear their life jacket on all boats 19′ and under.
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While boat is underway
  • Vessel length requirement: Vessels 19′ and less

Illinois Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: One Type I, II, III personal flotation device on board per person.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 13
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved PFD
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While vessel is underway
  • Vessel length requirement: Vessels less than 26′

Indiana Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: One Type I, II, III, or V USCG approved PFD on board per person.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 13
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved PFD
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While onboard any vessel
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Iowa Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: One Type I, II, III, or V life jacket on board per person in all kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 13
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved PFD
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: All recreational vessels while underway
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Kansas Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: One Type I, II, III, or V life jacket on board per person.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: 12 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, or III, or V PFD
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: Onboard or while being towed. And by children under 14 in USCG jurisdiction waters.
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Kentucky Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: One Type I, II, or III PFD on board per person
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Children 12 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: At all times while underway and on deck
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Louisiana Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: Each person on board must wear a USCG–approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD while underway on a motorboat less than 16 feet long that’s using an outboard motor and is steered by a hand tiller or steering arm attached to the motor.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: 16 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, III, or V
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway
  • Vessel length requirement: Vessels less than 26′

Maine Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: One Type I, II, III, or V USCG-approved PFD on board per person.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: 10 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, III, or V
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: At all times
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Maryland Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: One Type I, II, III or V USCG-approved PFD on board per person.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under the age of 13. Children under 4 must wear a PFD that has additional safety features (see ” Maryland Kayaking Laws – MD” link below).
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved PFD
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: On a recreational vessel while underway
  • Vessel length requirement: Vessels under 21′

Massachusetts Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: One Type I, II, III USCG-approved PFD on board per person.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Life jackets must be worn by canoeists and kayakers from September 15 – May 15, and at all times by youth under 12.
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, III
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Michigan Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: One Type I, II, or III USCG-approved PDF on board per person. On kayaks and canoes can alternatively choose to have a Type IV throwable on board.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 6
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I or II
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While riding on the open deck of a vessel
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Minnesota Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All vessels must have one Coast Guard approved personal flotation device of Type I, II or III for each person on board.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 10
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, or III
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: When not below deck or anchored
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Mississippi Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: All vessels must have one Coast Guard approved personal flotation device of Type I, II or III for each person on board
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: 12 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, or III
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While in the open portion of a vessel
  • Vessel length requirement: Vessels less than 26′

Missouri Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All vessels must have at least one wearable life vest for each person on board.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 7
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, III, or V
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: At all times on any watercraft
  • Vessel length requirement: All vessels

Montana Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: If two or more persons are on a sailboard, each person must wear a PFD
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 12: Sailboard operators under 15 must wear a PFD at all times.
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway
  • Vessel length requirement: Vessels less than 26′

Nebraska Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All vessels (motorized and non-motorized, except for sailboards) must have one life jacket for each person on board.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 13
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, III or V
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: At all times
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Nevada Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: All vessels must have one Coast Guard approved personal flotation device for each person on board.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 13
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While onboard any vessel
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

New Hampshire Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All vessels, including kayaks and canoes, must have a PFD for each person on board. 
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: 12 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, or III
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway onboard any vessel
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

New Jersey Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: All vessels must have one Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device for each person on board
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: 12 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, III or V
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: Underway onboard any recreational vessel
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

New Mexico Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: Anyone on a kayak or canoe must wear a personal flotation device the entire time they are in the vessel.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 13
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, III, or IV
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

New York Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: All vessels must have one Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket for each person on board. 
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 12
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway
  • Vessel length requirement: Onboard any vessel 65′ and under

North Carolina Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All vessels must have one Coast Guard approved personal flotation device for each person on board.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 13
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II or III PFD
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

North Dakota Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: For all non-motorized vessels, there must be a Coast Guard approved personal floatation device onboard for each person.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: 10 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II or III PFD
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway
  • Vessel length requirement: All vessels less than 27′

Ohio Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All vessels must have one United States Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device for each person on board.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 10
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved PFD
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While onboard any vessel
  • Vessel length requirement: All vessels less than 18′

Oklahoma Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: All vessels must have one Coast Guard approved personal flotation device for each person on board.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 13
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved PFD
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway
  • Vessel length requirement: All vessels less than 26′

Oregon Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All vessels must be equipped with a PFD for each person on board.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: 12 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved PFD
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway and on open deck
  • Vessel length requirement: All length vessels

Pennsylvania Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: All kayakers through the dates of November 1 and April 30 must wear a life jacket. A life jacket must be on board at all times of year.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: 12 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved PFD
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway
  • Vessel length requirement: Vessels 20′ or less including kayaks and canoes

Rhode Island Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All vessels must have one Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket for each person on board. 
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 13
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved PFD
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway
  • Vessel length requirement: Vessels less than 65′

South Carolina Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: All vessels must be equipped with a wearable, USCG approved life jacket for each person on board or being towed.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 12
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, III or V
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: At all times while onboard
  • Vessel length requirement: Vessels less than 16′

South Dakota Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards must have on board one USCG approved wearable PFD for each person on board.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 7
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: On any vessel operating at more than no-wake speeds
  • Vessel length requirement: All vessels

Tennessee Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life vest law: All canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards must have one USCG approved wearable PFD for each person on board
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: 12 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I,II, III or V PFD
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway and on deck
  • Vessel length requirement: All vessels

Texas Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards must have on board one USCG approved wearable PFD for each person on board.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 13
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway and on deck
  • Vessel length requirement: Vessels less than 26′

Utah Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards must have on board one USCG approved wearable PFD for each person on board
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 13
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway
  • Vessel length requirement: Vessels less than 26′

Vermont Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards must have on board one USCG approved wearable PFD for each person.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 12. Anyone under 16 while sailboarding.
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved Type I, II, or III PFD
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway and on deck
  • Vessel length requirement: Vessels less than 26′

Virginia Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards must have one USCG approved wearable PFD for each person on board.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: under 13
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While onboard and underway
  • Vessel length requirement: All vessels

Washington Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards must have on board one USCG approved wearable PFD for each person
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: 12 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway
  • Vessel length requirement: Vessels under 19′

West Virginia Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards must have on board one USCG approved wearable PFD for each person on board.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: 12 and under
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway
  • Vessel length requirement: All vessels

Wisconsin Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards must have on board one USCG approved wearable PFD for each person.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: U.S.C.G. under 13
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway
  • Vessel length requirement: All vessels

Wyoming Life Jacket Laws

  • Kayak life jacket law: All canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards must have on board one USCG approved wearable PFD for each person.
  • Minimum age to wear a life jacket: Under 13
  • Approved life jackets: USCG-approved
  • When a PFD has to be worn by a child: While underway
  • Vessel length requirement: All vessels

Information courtesy of paddlecamp.com.