50-State Reference
Boat registration decal regulations Letter height, font style, separators, and placement requirements for boat registration number decals in every U.S. state. Always confirm with your state boating agency before finalizing your design.
Tap any state for the full compliance guide.
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block characters, non-slanted
Placement Within 6 inches of the registration number, in line, either preceding or following it Registration numbers remain permanently assigned to the hull for its entire lifetime.
Read full Alabama guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Bold block letters, read left-to-right
Placement Within 6 inches of the registration number on both sides Required for all motorized vessels and commercial sport fishing guide boats.
Read full Alaska guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block characters
Placement Exactly 3 inches in front of the registration number prefix Characters must be clearly visible and legible from a distance of 100 feet away.
Read full Arizona guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Bold block letters, non-script
Placement Adjacent to and directly in line with the numbers Proof of Hull Identification Number (HIN) rubbing/photo mandatory during 3-year renewals.
Read full Arkansas guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain, vertical block font
Placement Exactly 3 inches behind (aft of) the registration number sequence Decals must be securely affixed on the forward half of each side of the hull.
Read full California guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block characters
Placement Affixed cleanly above the waterline on the forward half of the hull Non-motorized vessels are strictly exempt from registration requirements.
Read full Colorado guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block characters
Placement Displayed clearly on each side of the forward half of the bow Boat registrations are valid for 1 year and require annual validation renewals.
Read full Connecticut guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block characters
Placement Placed directly in line with the assigned registration numbers All numbering components must be permanently attached to the forward half of the vessel.
Read full Delaware guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Within 6 inches of the registration number sequence Numbers are permanent to the hull structure and remain with the vessel if sold.
Read full Florida guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Within 6 inches of the assigned registration sequence Applies strictly to all mechanically propelled and motorized vessels navigating state waters.
Read full Georgia guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Affixed cleanly on the bow above the waterline Human-powered vessels such as kayaks and canoes are exempt from registration rules.
Read full Hawaii guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Adjacent and aligned next to the registration numbers Annual registration renewals are legally required for all motorized watercraft.
Read full Idaho guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Affixed on both sides of the forward half of the bow All watercraft exceeding 16 feet in total length must be fully registered.
Read full Illinois guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Solid block font; no shadows, outlines, or italics permitted
Placement Positioned directly in line with the numbers Strict visual styling mandates prohibit stylized, slanted, or multi-colored fonts.
Read full Indiana guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Positioned directly in line with the numbers Characters must retain clean legibility from a distance of at least 100 feet away.
Read full Iowa guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Exactly 3 inches aft (behind) the registration characters Applies legally to all powered vessels, jet skis, and sail-powered craft.
Read full Kansas guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Within 6 inches of the registration number path Vessel validation validation renewals are required every 3 years.
Read full Kentucky guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Separator Space or hyphen equal to the structural width of a text character
Placement Within 6 inches of the assigned registration numbers The separator gap width is legally measured against a standard capital letter width.
Read full Louisiana guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Positioned directly in line with the numbers All validation stickers must be explicitly fade-resistant and waterproof.
Read full Maine guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Within 3 inches of the registration sequence Features a significantly shorter required decal placement distance than most other states.
Read full Maryland guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Within 6 inches of the assigned registration layout Vessel documentation validation certificates must be renewed every 2 years.
Read full Massachusetts guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Positioned directly in line with the numbers Visual metrics dictate clear readability from 100 feet away during normal daylight hours.
Read full Michigan guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Within 6 inches of the registration sequence Mandatory registration policies apply to all vessels measuring over 10 feet in total length.
Read full Minnesota guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Within 6 inches directly preceding the text prefix Unique layout mandate: Decal sits entirely in front of the number blocks on both hull sides.
Read full Mississippi guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Positioned directly in line with the numbers Standard registration schedules are valid for a 3-year term for all motorized watercraft.
Read full Missouri guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Port Side: 3 inches aft (behind) numbers. Starboard Side: Immediately aft of numbers. Asymmetrical layout rules require distinct target placement on the left versus right hull.
Read full Montana guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Positioned directly in line with the numbers High-visibility materials and layout execution are legally enforced standard metrics.
Read full Nebraska guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Within 6 inches of the registration character path Vessel ownership certificates require re-validation updates every 3 years.
Read full Nevada guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Positioned directly in line with the numbers Enforced for all powered watercraft; strictly mandates specialized outdoor marine vinyl specs.
Read full New Hampshire guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Affixed cleanly on the forward half of each hull side Standard issue validation decals are fully valid for a 3-year term window.
Read full New Jersey guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Port Side: Exactly 6 inches past the aft (rear) of numbers. Strict visual placement checks require explicit 6-inch spacing behind the text sequence.
Read full New Mexico guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Positioned directly in line with the numbers Canoes, rowboats, and non-motorized kayaks are entirely exempt; requires annual renewals.
Read full New York guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain block-style font only; no stylized text
Placement Positioned directly in line with the numbers Strict font mandates require rigid block properties; slants or stylized scripts fail inspection.
Read full North Carolina guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Within 6 inches of the registration layout Mandatory numbering rules apply cleanly to all mechanically motorized vessels.
Read full North Dakota guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain un-slanted vertical block font
Placement Positioned directly in line with the numbers Sticker tags carry a 3-year validation span; text must be completely solid without accents.
Read full Ohio guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain block font with structural stroke width of at least 0.5 inches
Placement Aft (behind) and directly in line with the text block Specific font geometry rules enforce a thick 0.5-inch structural line thickness metric.
Read full Oklahoma guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Separator Space or hyphen; Gap Rule requires at least 2 inches between groups
Placement Exactly 3 inches toward the stern (rear) of the numbers Unique Gap Rule enforces distinct 2-inch structural separation spacing between text groupings.
Read full Oregon guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Within 6 inches; may legally precede or follow the numbers Flexible placement rules permit the decal tag to sit on either side of the sequence.
Read full Pennsylvania guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Placement To the right and directly in line with the numbers Characters must be explicitly robust and legible from a distance of 100 feet.
Read full Rhode Island guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Clear, legible vertical block characters
Placement Within 6 inches following the registration numbers State inspectors strictly look for high-visibility orientation on the forward hull.
Read full South Carolina guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Adjacent and directly in line with numbers Must stay completely visible at 100 feet away on a standard clear weather day.
Read full South Dakota guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain, vertical un-slanted block font mandatory
Placement To the left or the right of the registration number State wildlife officers enforce strict zero-tolerance policies on stylized or script text.
Read full Tennessee guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Separator Explicit space or hyphen separating text prefixes from numerical blocks
Placement Exactly 3 inches toward the rear (stern) of the final character Crucial target market metric: Decal must be exactly 3" behind the sequence path.
Read full Texas guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Exactly 3 inches aft (toward the rear) Enhanced legibility guidelines dictate text must be readable from 150 feet away.
Read full Utah guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Port Side: Precedes the number. Starboard Side: Follows the number. Mirror-image placement logic keeps tags consistently oriented on the boat hull sides.
Read full Vermont guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Separator Space or hyphen required to separate letter/number segments
Placement Within 6 inches of the registration layout Segment separation is strictly monitored by marine law enforcement units.
Read full Virginia guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Within 6 inches aft (behind) and directly in line Sticker tag placement must strictly follow behind the sequence layout path.
Read full Washington guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Within 6 inches following the registration block Decal must immediately follow the assigned sequence on the forward half.
Read full West Virginia guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Placement Exactly 3 inches aft (rear) and directly in line Wisconsin validation sequences explicitly require the 'WS' prefix designation.
Read full Wisconsin guide
Letter height 3″ minimum · contrasting color
Font Plain vertical block font
Separator Space between segments must equal the exact structural width of the letter 'W'
Placement Aft (rear) and directly in line with the numbers Features a unique geometric spacing metric directly scaled to the letter 'W'.
Read full Wyoming guide Disclaimer: This reference is provided as a convenience and is summarized from public state regulations and consolidated industry guides. Rules change — please verify with your state boating authority before relying on these details for compliance.
