Most people don’t know the life jacket requirements for their states. Worse yet, many states have different regulations, which can make the situation even more confusing.
Some states require a wearable life jacket onboard watercraft, but there are no stipulations as to whether to wear the flotation device or not. This can leave anyone asking the question “are life jackets required on kayaks?”
Today, we’re going to take a closer look at approved life jacket requirements while kayaking for each state.
Are Life Jackets Required on Kayaks? What You Should Know
Kayaking laws are constantly changing but currently, most states require kayakers to have at least a Type 1, 2, or 3 life jacket approved by the US Coast Guard.
The life jackets need to be appropriately sized for the individual wearing them. Some states also stipulate that young children must wear life jackets.
The minimum age for children to wear life jackets varies between states, with some states requiring adults to wear a personal flotation device while in a kayak.
Life Jacket Regulations for each State
Alabama
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 8
- Life jacket law: 1 per person
Alaska
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 13
- Life jacket law: 1 per person/readily available
Arizona
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: 1 per person/readily available
Arkansas
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: 1 per person/readily available
California
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: 1 per person/readily available
Colorado
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 13
- Life jacket law: Vessels less than 16 feet but children must wear regardless of length. Readily available
Connecticut
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths (for children)
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: 1 per person/readily available. Kayakers must wear from October to May
Delaware
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: 1 per person
Florida
- Vessel length requirement: Under 26 feet
- Children under must wear: 6
- Life jacket law: 1 per person
Georgia
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 10
- Life jacket law: 1 per person and readily available
Hawaii
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: 1 per person
Idaho
- Vessel length requirement: Under 19 feet
- Children under must wear: 14
- Life jacket law: 1 per person on board
Illinois
- Vessel length requirement: Under 26 feet
- Children under must wear: 13
- Life jacket law: 1 per person on board
Indiana
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 13
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved for each person on board
Iowa
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 13
- Life jacket law: 1 per person onboard even kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards
Kansas
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: 1 per person on board
Kentucky
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: 1 per person on board
Louisiana
- Vessel length requirement: Under 26 feet
- Children under must wear: 16
- Life jacket law: 1 per person onboard motorboat smaller than 16 feet
Maine
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 10
- Life jacket law: 1 per person on board
Maryland
- Vessel length requirement: Under 21 feet
- Children under must wear: 13 (life jackets for kids under 4 must have extra safety features)
- Life jacket law: 1 per person on board
Massachusetts
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved for 1 per person on board
Michigan
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 6
- Life jacket law: Kayaks can have Type IV throwable
Minnesota
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 10
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved. 1 per person on board
Mississippi
- Vessel length requirement: Under 26 feet
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved for each person
Missouri
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 7
- Life jacket law: 1 per person
Montana
- Vessel length requirement: Less than 26 feet
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: no specific law for kayakers
Nebraska
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 13
- Life jacket law: 1 per person
Nevada
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 13
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved per person
New Hampshire
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: 1 per person even kayaks
New Jersey
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved per person
New Mexico
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 13
- Life jacket law: Kayakers must wear life jackets at all times
New York
- Vessel length requirement: Under 65 feet
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved per person
North Carolina
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 13
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved per person
North Dakota
- Vessel length requirement: Under 27 feet
- Children under must wear: 10
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved for non-motorized crafts
Ohio
- Vessel length requirement: Under18 feet
- Children under must wear: 10
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved per person
Oklahoma
- Vessel length requirement: Under 26 feet
- Children under must wear: 13
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved. 1 per person on board
Oregon
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: 1 per person on board
Pennsylvania
- Vessel length requirement: Under 20 feet
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: All kayakers must have one from November 1st to April 30th.
Rhode Island
- Vessel length requirement: Under 65 feet
- Children under must wear: 13
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved for each person
South Carolina
- Vessel length requirement: Under 16 feet
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved on board for each person
South Dakota
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 7
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved on board
Tennessee
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved on board
Texas
- Vessel length requirement: Under 26 feet
- Children under must wear: 13
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved on board
Utah
- Vessel length requirement: Under 26 feet
- Children under must wear: 13
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved on board
Vermont
- Vessel length requirement: Under 26 feet
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved on board
Virginia
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 13
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved on board
Washington
- Vessel length requirement: Under 19 feet
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved on board
West Virginia
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 12
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved on board
Wisconsin
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 13
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved on board
Wyoming
- Vessel length requirement: All lengths
- Children under must wear: 13
- Life jacket law: USCG-approved on board
Bottom Line
These are the life jacket requirements for kayakers and people using other watercraft, like a canoe, boat, or paddle board, in each state at the moment. You should note that “USCG approved type I on board” means that it isn’t a requirement to wear a life vest. The state simply requires an approved PFD to be available on the craft.
