State Compliance Guide
Every motorized boat and sailboat 14 feet or longer operating on Texas public waters must display its TX-prefixed registration number on both sides of the forward half of the hull. Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD) enforces specific rules on letter height, font style, color contrast, and the position of the validation decal relative to the number. Getting any of these wrong is the most common reason boats fail a TPWD inspection.
Letters and numbers must be at least 3 inches tall, painted or applied as solid, vertical block characters. No italics, script, shadowed, or outline fonts are accepted. Stroke width should be proportional so the characters read cleanly from at least 100 feet away.
The number must be a color that sharply contrasts with the hull background. Light hulls (white, cream, light gray) require dark letters; dark hulls require light letters. Reflective vinyl is allowed but the underlying color rule still applies.
A space or hyphen equal to the width of a character must separate the TX prefix, the digit group, and the suffix letters. Example: TX 1234 AB or TX-1234-AB. Running the characters together is a violation.
The current TPWD validation decal must be affixed exactly 3 inches toward the stern (rear) of the last character of the registration number, on both sides of the hull. It cannot be above, below, or in front of the number.
Numbers go on both sides of the forward half of the vessel, above the waterline, in a location that is unobstructed and clearly visible. They must read from left to right.
At least 3 inches tall, measured from the top to the bottom of the character, in plain vertical block style.
No. TPWD requires plain, vertical block characters. Script, italic, shadowed, and outlined fonts are not compliant.
Exactly 3 inches toward the stern of the last character of your registration number, on both sides of the hull.
You need either a hyphen or a clear space equal to the width of a character. TX 1234 AB and TX-1234-AB are both acceptable; TX1234AB is not.
In Texas, the assigned TX number stays with the hull for its entire life, even when the boat is sold.
Our online designer enforces the 3-inch height, plain block font, and contrast rules automatically — so what you preview is what passes inspection.
Source: Reference · Always verify current requirements with your state boating authority before relying on this guide for compliance.
