What 'permanently attached' means
The federal rule does not require paint. It requires the characters to stay put and stay legible. Adhesive marine vinyl bonded to a clean, de-waxed hull is the standard method used by dealers and manufacturers.
Answer Hub
Can boat registration numbers be vinyl decals instead of painted?
Yes. 33 CFR 173.27 says the number must be painted on or permanently attached to each side of the forward half of the vessel. Marine-grade vinyl decals satisfy the permanently attached wording in every state, as long as the characters meet the height, style, and contrast rules.
Reviewed August 22, 2026
The character rules still apply
Switching from paint to vinyl changes nothing about the requirements: at least 3 inches tall, plain vertical block characters, contrasting with the hull, reading left to right, with the state's required separation between groups.
Magnetic signs and temporary placards
A number that can be lifted off by hand is not permanently attached. Magnets, suction-cup placards, and taped paper numbers do not meet the rule even when the characters themselves are the right size.
What we supply
Our sets are cut from Oracal 651 six-year marine vinyl in plain block styles at a true 3-inch character height, with the separation your state's format calls for already built into the layout.
Verified character-style wording by state
The style each state publishes for the characters themselves — the same requirement applies whether the number is painted or applied as vinyl.
| State | Published wording | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | BLOCK characters | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
| Florida | Block characters | Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles |
| California | Plain vertical block letters and numbers | California Department of Motor Vehicles |
| Michigan | Block characters | Michigan Secretary of State / Michigan DNR |
| Wisconsin | BLOCK letters | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources |
| Minnesota | Block characters | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources |
| North Carolina | Block lettering | North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission |
| South Carolina | Block letters | South Carolina Department of Natural Resources |
| Georgia | Block letters | Georgia Department of Natural Resources / Law Enforcement Division |
| Tennessee | Plain vertical BLOCK letters | Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency |
Rules change. Confirm with your state agency before ordering, and see the full 48-state requirement guide.
Related questions
Do vinyl registration numbers count as permanently attached?
Yes. Adhesive marine vinyl applied to a clean hull is the accepted method under the painted-or-permanently-attached wording.
Can I use magnetic registration numbers?
No. Removable magnets are not permanently attached and do not satisfy the rule.
Does the vinyl color matter?
Only that it contrasts with the hull. Dark characters on a light hull and light characters on a dark hull.
Keep reading
Ready to order your registration numbers?
The designer lays out a true 3-inch plain block set with correct spacing, cut from six-year marine vinyl and shipped ready to apply.
Official sources
Editorial review date: August 22, 2026. We publish state-specific rules only where an official agency source confirms them.