Do life jacket wear (kids) rules differ by state?

Yes. Who must wear a life jacket here — exact age, plus small-boat or winter rules Crosstatelaws maps all 50 states for travelers who are physically in that state — not for what a state requires of its own plates or licenses.

Does life jacket wear (kids) apply if my vehicle is registered in another state?

Operate-here rules (speed, helmets, possession, inspections you must stop for) follow the state you are in. Registration-state rules such as a front license plate do not. Read the layer notes on the map.

Where can I see a life jacket wear (kids) map?

Open the Crosstatelaws interactive map with this layer soloed: https://crosstatelaws.com/?solo=life_jacket

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Life jacket wear (kids) laws by state

People search “Life jacket wear (kids) by state”, “Life jacket wear (kids) laws by state”, and “Life jacket map” when a road trip, boat, bike, or load is about to cross a line. This page is the 50-state index for life jacket wear (kids). Colors and quotes are written for someone in that state today, not for what that state demands of its own registered vehicles.

Open the Life jacket difference map

How states differ

Who must wear a life jacket here — exact age, plus small-boat or winter rules.

Wear past under-13, or all occupants on some boats / seasons
Children under 13 must wear a jacket underway
Wear cutoff is under 12, 10, 8, 7, or 6

Searches this page is meant to answer

If you typed any of these — or a close variant with a state name — this is the Crosstatelaws topic that should show up:

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Life jacket wear (kids) laws by state
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Life jacket wear (kids) map
Life jacket wear (kids) traveling across state lines
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Life jacket wear (kids) in California / Texas / Florida / New York
is life jacket wear (kids) legal while traveling

All 50 states

One-line traveler summary for each state. Open the map for the quoted rule and footnotes.

Alabama (AL): Alabama: child wear — under 8 on any vessel, even when not underway (cabin/sleeping-space exception). Extra: all persons within 800 ft below a hydroelectric or navigation lock-and-dam. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Alaska (AK): Alaska: child wear — under 13 in an open boat/open deck or while water-skiing. Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.
Arizona (AZ): Arizona: child wear — age 12 and younger, underway, any vessel. Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.
Arkansas (AR): Arkansas: child wear — age 12 and younger at all times; exception: enclosed houseboat/cruiser/rail-enclosed barge when NOT underway. Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.
California (CA): California: child wear — under 13 on a moving recreational vessel of any length (cabin or emergency-rescue exception). PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Colorado (CO): Colorado: child wear — under 13 unless below deck/enclosed cabin. Extra: regulated river-outfitter trips except designated flatwater. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Connecticut (CT): Connecticut: child wear — under 12 except below decks. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Delaware (DE): Delaware: child wear — age 13 and younger. Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.
Florida (FL): Florida: child wear — under 6 on a vessel under 26 ft underway. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Georgia (GA): Georgia: child wear — under 10 in an open vessel. Extra: all persons in a designated Hazardous Area. Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.
Hawaii (HI): Hawaii: child wear — under 13 underway on ocean/navigable streams, or moored/anchored offshore outside a designated mooring (cabin exception). Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.
Idaho (ID): Idaho: child wear — age 14 and younger (USCG 4.9). Extra: vessel-length trigger is not restated here. Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.
Illinois (IL): Illinois: child wear — under 13 while underway. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Indiana (IN): Indiana: child wear — under 13 only on waters of concurrent (federal) jurisdiction; no extra child-wear on state waters in USCG 4.9. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Iowa (IA): Iowa: child wear — no statewide child-wear in USCG 4.9 (federal under-13 still applies on federal waters). PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Kansas (KS): Kansas: child wear — under 13 while onboard. Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.
Kentucky (KY): Kentucky: child wear — under 12 in an open boat or on an open deck, recreational, underway. Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.
Louisiana (LA): Louisiana: child wear — age 16 and younger on a Class A or Class 1 motorboat/vessel underway (exception: 13+ in commercial fishing on commercial vessels). PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Maine (ME): Maine: child wear — age 10 and under. Extra: canoe/kayak on the Saco River Jan 1–Jun 1 (Hiram Dam to the ocean); certain whitewater. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Maryland (MD): Maryland: child wear — under 13 on a recreational vessel under 21 ft underway (MD DNR). Under 4: crotch strap, headrest/high collar, web handle. Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.
Massachusetts (MA): Massachusetts: child wear — under 12 when above board. Extra: canoe/kayak mid-September through mid-May — all occupants. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Michigan (MI): Michigan: child wear — under 6 on an open deck, Type I or II. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Minnesota (MN): Minnesota: child wear — under 10. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Mississippi (MS): Mississippi: child wear — under 13 anytime except when anchored/docked. Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.
Missouri (MO): Missouri: child wear — under 7 unless inside a totally enclosed cabin. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Montana (MT): Montana: child wear — under 12 while the vessel is in motion. Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.
Nebraska (NE): Nebraska: child wear — under 13. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Nevada (NV): Nevada: child wear — under 13. Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.
New Hampshire (NH): New Hampshire: child wear — age 12 and younger while the boat is in motion. Extra: ski-craft operator must wear. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
New Jersey (NJ): New Jersey: child wear — under 13. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
New Mexico (NM): New Mexico: child wear — age 12 and younger underway except inside a cabin. Extra: all occupants of canoes, kayaks, and rafts (any age). PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
New York (NY): New York: child wear — under 12 on a vessel under 65 ft unless in an enclosed cabin. Extra: EVERY person on a vessel under 21 ft Nov 1–May 1. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
North Carolina (NC): North Carolina: child wear — under 13 underway unless below decks/cabin. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
North Dakota (ND): North Dakota: child wear — age 10 and younger on a vessel under 27 ft while in operation. Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.
Ohio (OH): Ohio: child wear — under 10 on a vessel under 18 ft. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Oklahoma (OK): Oklahoma: child wear — age 12 and younger on a vessel under 26 ft. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Oregon (OR): Oregon: child wear — age 12 and younger on an open deck/cockpit underway or when towed. Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.
Pennsylvania (PA): Pennsylvania: child wear — age 12 and younger underway on a boat 20 ft or less and all canoes/kayaks. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Rhode Island (RI): Rhode Island: child wear — under 13 underway on a vessel under 65 ft unless below decks. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
South Carolina (SC): South Carolina: child wear — under 12 in a Class A motorboat. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
South Dakota (SD): South Dakota: child wear — under 7. Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.
Tennessee (TN): Tennessee: child wear — age 12 and under. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Texas (TX): Texas: child wear — under 13 on vessels under 26 ft underway. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Utah (UT): Utah: child wear — under 13 outside the cabin of a vessel 19 ft or longer. Extra: all persons on rivers except designated flatwater. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Vermont (VT): Vermont: child wear — under 12 on an open deck underway. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Virginia (VA): Virginia: child wear — no statewide child-wear in USCG 4.9 (federal under-13 still applies on federal waters). PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Washington (WA): Washington: child wear — age 12 or less on a vessel under 19 ft. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
West Virginia (WV): West Virginia: child wear — age 12 and under on an open deck underway. PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Wisconsin (WI): Wisconsin: child wear — no statewide child-wear in USCG 4.9 (federal under-13 still applies on federal waters). PWC operators and riders wear a jacket.
Wyoming (WY): Wyoming: child wear — age 12 and under underway unless in an enclosed cabin/below deck. Wear a jacket on a PWC; federal PWC wear is the safe default when the state cell is blank.

Life jacket wear (kids) laws by state

How states differ

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All 50 states

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