Boat Registration Number Rules by State
Requirements for boat registration numbers in all 50 states and Washington DC, with the letter height each one expects. States with their own rules beyond the federal baseline link to a full guide.
The federal baseline (33 CFR 173.27):
Registration number: plain vertical BLOCK characters not less than 3 inches high; contrasting with background, distinctly visible and legible; read left to right; painted on or permanently attached to each side of the forward half of the vessel; spaces or hyphens equal to a letter width between letter and number groupings (e.g., FL 1234 AB or FL-1234-AB). Validation sticker placement is set by each state, not 173.27.
Registration number: plain vertical BLOCK characters not less than 3 inches high; contrasting with background, distinctly visible and legible; read left to right; painted on or permanently attached to each side of the forward half of the vessel; spaces or hyphens equal to a letter width between letter and number groupings (e.g., FL 1234 AB or FL-1234-AB). Validation sticker placement is set by each state, not 173.27.
Requirements by state
| State | Min. height | Decal placement |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3" | Within 6 in before or after, in line with the number; both bows. |
| Alaska | 3" | Within 6 in before or after, in line with the number; both sides of the bow. |
| Arizona | 3" | 3 in forward of the "AZ" prefix, in line with the number, both sides (A.A.C. R12-4-515). |
| Arkansas | 3" | 3 in aft of (toward the stern) and in line with the number, each side. |
| California | 3" | Exactly 3 in aft of and directly in line with the CF number, both sides (13 CCR 190.01). |
| Colorado | 3" | 2 in to the LEFT of the "C" in the registration number; keep other stickers clear of the number. |
| Connecticut | 3" | 2 in to the RIGHT of and in line with the number, both bows. |
| Delaware | 3" | Within 6 in of and in line with the number, both sides; may precede or follow it. Remove expired decals. |
| Florida | 3" | Decal PORT side only, within 6 in before or after the number (Fla. Stat. 328.48(5)); documented vessels: port side, window allowed. |
| Georgia | 3" | Each side of bow, BEFORE (forward of) the number prefix (GA DNR). |
| Hawaii | 3" | 3 in aft of the number and directly in line with it, each side. |
| Idaho | 3" | Within 6 in of and directly in line with the number, each side of the bow; sticker is approx 3 in square (Idaho Code 67-7008). |
| Illinois | 3" | After a space following the registration number, each side. |
| Indiana | 3" | Within 3 in to the RIGHT of the number, on the bow each side. |
| Iowa | 3" | 4 in behind and in line with the number. |
| Kansas | 3" | 3 in aft of and in line with the number, each side. |
| Kentucky | 3" | Toward the stern, within 6 in of and in line with the number; remove last year's decal. |
| Louisiana | 3" | Within 6 in of the number, before or after, each side of the bow. |
| Maine | 3" | Approx 3 in behind the last character of the number and level with it, both bows (12 M.R.S. 13056). |
| Maryland | 3" | Within 3 in of the number; above, below, or beside; both sides (MD DNR). |
| Massachusetts | 3" | In line with and 3 in toward the stern of the number; letters separated from numbers by hyphen or 2-in space. |
| Michigan | 3" | 3 in after the last character of the number; numbers as high above waterline as practical. |
| Minnesota | 3" | Within 4 in of the license number (typically trailing), both sides. |
| Mississippi | 3" | Within 6 in of the number and PRECEDING the prefix letters, both sides. |
| Missouri | 3" | Immediately aft of the number, both sides. |
| Montana | 3" | 3 in aft of the number, PORT SIDE ONLY (permanent decal; MT no longer issues annual validation decals). |
| Nebraska | 3" | Decal PRECEDES the number, in line, on both port and starboard bow. |
| Nevada | 3" | Aft of the number (toward the stern), within 6 in and in line with it, each side. |
| New Hampshire | 3" | Within 6 in of and to the RIGHT of the number, both sides of the bow (Saf-C 2300); number-exempt vessels display within 2 ft of the stem. |
| New Jersey | 3" | 3 in behind and in line with the number. |
| New Mexico | 3" | Within 6 in to the right of the number, PORT side only (18.17.2 NMAC). |
| New York | 3" | Registration stickers 18 in from the bow on both sides (NY DMV); legibility at 100 ft per NY guidance. |
| North Carolina | 3" | STARBOARD bow only, within 6 in following the number; USCG-documented vessels show decals on both sides of the forward half. |
| North Dakota | 3" | Within 6 in of the number toward the stern; no other numbers in that area. |
| Ohio | 3" | 6 in toward the stern from the number, each side of bow; number in one solid color. |
| Oklahoma | 3" | Behind the number, within 6 in of the final letter (OAC 710:22). |
| Oregon | 3" | 3 in aft of and directly in line with the number, each side; decals are 3 in x 3 in (OAR 250-010-0040). |
| Pennsylvania | 3" | Within 6 in of the number, before or after, level with it (PFBC). |
| Rhode Island | 3" | Within 3 in to the right of the number, each side. |
| South Carolina | 3" | Within 6 in of and PRECEDING the number, both sides (SC Code Title 50 ch. 23). |
| South Dakota | 3" | Adjacent to and in line with the number, both sides of the bow. |
| Tennessee | 3" | To the left or right of the number, both sides (TWRA). |
| Texas | 3" | In line with and 3 in toward the stern of the TX number (TPWD). |
| Utah | 3" | 3 in aft of the last character of the number, each side; remove expired decals. |
| Vermont | 3" | Within 6 in of the number on both bows; on the PORT side the decal precedes the number. |
| Virginia | 3" | Within 6 in of the number on each side, visible while operating (Va. Code 29.1-703). |
| Washington | 3" | Within 6 in behind and in line with the number (WA DOL); tenders display parent number + '1'. |
| Washington DC | 3" | Within 6 in of the number, forward half of each side; no other number in that area. |
| West Virginia | 3" | Within 6 in immediately following the number, both sides. |
| Wisconsin | 3" | In line with the number, 3 in toward the stern (WI DNR); letters separated from numbers by 2-in space. |
| Wyoming | 3" | Behind and directly in line with the number, each side. |
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Martin Graphics is a sign shop, not a regulatory agency. We publish this as a courtesy and keep it as accurate as we can, but rules change and enforcement varies. You are solely responsible for confirming and meeting the requirements that apply to your vehicle or vessel.