Life Jackets
State Requirements
State Requirements for Life Jackets
In states where no children's life jacket law is in place, a U.S. Coast Guard interim rule requires children under 13 on moving boats to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket that fits.
This rule does not change or supersede the existing law in states which have life jacket laws, it only applies to states that have no laws. Please see the list below for the latest laws in your state.
Please note that these laws provide boaters with the minimum age that a child is required to wear a life jacket. It is still a parent's responsibility to decide if a child should wear a life jacket, even in situations where the law does not require it.