Are Life Jackets Required on Kayaks? Here’s What to Know

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.

women wearing life jacket on kayak

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
Child in a life jacket hanging on to a tree limb
Source: Pexels

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. 

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