Things To Do

Licensing Your Boat

Boats over 12 feet long and motorboats of any length, including those using electric trolling motors, must be registered to be operated on public waters. Boat registration, transferring of boat ownership and replacing lost boat registration stickers are done through your local county treasurer office.

Boats are registered for a one year period in South Dakota. Fees are based on the length of boat and the type of propulsion. All registration needs to be done at the county treasurer's office in the county of residence, not where a boat is kept or primarily used.

Boat Numbers

South Dakota follows U.S. Coast Guard guidelines for placing identification numbers on watercraft. These straightforward requirements are important for vessel identification, safety, and law enforcement.

What types of boats need a number?

Number Requirements

Registering Your Boat

Boat registrations are handled by local county treasurer's offices.

Reminder

Remember, if your vessel requires registration and boat numbers it is illegal to operate it or allow others to operate it unless registered and numbered properly. Your boat registration card must be on board and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever the boat is being operated.

Boat numbers that do not meet specifications are subject to fines. Those that are illegible due to size, non-contrasting colors, or other reasons may need to be replaced immediately.

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