Chapter 37. VESSEL SAFETY AND REGISTRATION

There shall be no horsepower limitations on vessels operated on natural marshes, except Shimon Marsh Wetland Complex, Pocahontas County, which is restricted to nonmotorized vessels only. [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

Waterway markers used on the waters of this state shall be as follows: 37.102(1) Aids to navigation. a. A red buoy or sign that indicates that side of the channel to be kept to the right side of the vessel when entering the channel from the main water body or when proceeding upst…

37.103(1) No waterway marker shall be placed on, in, or near the waters of the state unless such placement is authorized by the agency or political subdivision of the state exercising jurisdiction, with respect to regulation of boating, over the area where placed, except that the…

37.104(1) Waterway markers will be maintained in proper condition or be replaced or removed. 37.104(2) Zoned areas shall extend not less than 50 feet nor more than 400 feet from shore. 37.104(3) Buoys delineating the restricted speed zone shall be placed no more than 400 feet apa…

37.105(1) A waterway marker may be displayed as a sign or a fixed support, as a buoy bearing a symbol on its surface, or as a sign mounted on a buoy. 37.105(2) When a buoy is used to carry a symbol on its surface, it will be white, with bands of international orange on the top, a…

37.106(1) The size of a display area shall be as required by circumstances, except that no display area shall be smaller than 1 foot in height. The size shall increase in increments of 6 inches; provided, however, that this specification for increase in increments shall not apply…

For all waters under the jurisdiction of the commission, the following apply: 37.107(1) Mooring buoys shall be white with a 2-inch blue reflectorized band clearly visible above the water, extend a minimum of 12 inches above the surface of the water, and have at least 1 square foo…

37.108(1) A diver’s flag shall, when displayed on the water, indicate the presence of a diver in the water in the immediate area. 37.108(2) Recognition of this flag by regulation will not be construed as conferring any rights or privileges on its users, and its presence in a wate…

In addition to provisions in Iowa Code section 462A.7, a written report is required in the case of loss of consciousness, disability in excess of 24 hours, and the disappearance of any person from onboard a vessel under circumstances that suggest any possibility of death or injur…

The identification numbers awarded under the Iowa system shall consist of three parts. The first part shall consist of the letters “IA” indicating this state. The second part shall consist of not more than four Arabic numerals. The third part shall consist of not more than two le…

These reports shall be filed in writing within 48 hours of the accident with the department using forms provided by the department. [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

The report shall include the information required in 33 CFR 173.57 (June 1, 2024). [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25] These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 321G.2, 321I.2, 462A.3, 462A.5, 462A.6A, 462A.7, 462A.9, 462A.11, 462A.12, 462A.13, 462A.15, 462…

37.12(1) The identification number awarded to any vessel under the Iowa numbering system shall be displayed thereon by being: a. Painted on, or attached to, each side of the bow (i.e., the forward half) of the vessel; read from left to right, and in such position as to provide ma…

A manufacturer or dealer may operate an unregistered vessel for purposes of transporting, testing, demonstrating, or selling the vessel after first obtaining a special certificate from the department. An application for a special certificate shall be submitted on the appropriate …

Each boat dealer shall file, before May 5 of each year, an annual report with the department on the appropriate form listing all used vessels held by the dealer for sale or trade and for which the registration fee for the current year has not been paid. [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, e…

Each county recorder shall submit a monthly report to the department listing all vessels registered in that county in the previous month. The applicable fees shall accompany the monthly report. [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

Each commercial boat operator will be required to number the boat or boats used to operate for hire with block characters of good proportion not less than three inches in height, in the following manner: Upon making application for a number for commercially operated vessels, the …

For vessels assigned a U.S. Coast Guard capacity rating in whole persons as evidenced by a U.S. Coast Guard capacity plate affixed to the vessel, that capacity shall be recognized as the registration capacity. [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

For vessels that have not been assigned a U.S. Coast Guard capacity rating in whole persons but that contain capacity information in whole persons on a plate affixed to the vessel furnished by the boating industry association, national marine manufacturer association or any simil…

For vessels with no passenger capacity information provided by the U.S. Coast Guard or the manufacturer, the passenger capacity designated on the registration shall be O.R., “Operator’s Responsibility.” The operator of the vessel has responsibility for determining passenger capac…

For the purpose of Divisions I, II, and III of this chapter: “A Scale” or “A” means the physical scale marked “A” graduated in decibels on a sound level meter that meets the requirements of the American National Standards Institute, Incorporated, publication S1.4 — 1983 General P…

When information contained on the registration certificate of a vessel is found to be incorrect regarding vessel length, vessel width, or passenger capacity, officers appointed by the department may, upon inspection of the vessel, or the county recorder, upon presentation of adeq…

37.21(1) The passenger capacity of boats as assigned by the commission shall be painted or attached to the starboard side (the right side while in boat and facing the bow) of boat within nine inches of transom in three-inch or larger block numbers in a color contrasting to the bo…

All vessels upon the inland waters, including border rivers, of this state shall conform to Subpart B, “Steering and Sailing Rules,” Rules 11 through 18, of the Inland Navigation Rules Act of 1980 (June 1, 2024). [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

All buoys placed shall be those of the uniform waterway marking system adopted by the commission and shall be constructed, placed, and maintained in accordance with Iowa Code chapter 462A and this chapter. [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

The placement of buoys or official signs that restrict speed and distance or involve special zoning restrictions shall be approved by the commission. [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

All vessels, except authorized emergency vessels, shall be operated in compliance with, and all persons engaged in water recreation activities shall obey, restrictions with posted areas marked with a uniform waterway buoy or official signs adopted by the commission. [ARC 9219C, I…

Any finding or establishment of areas involving special speed and distance or zoning restrictions by the commission may be appealed by aggrieved party upon written notice. A hearing thereon shall be held by the commission within 30 days thereafter. [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effect…

Where the state of Iowa owns riparian property adjacent to sovereign land or water, mooring of vessels is prohibited between sunset and sunrise on those riparian or sovereign lands or waters where posted by either official buoys or official signs of the department. [ARC 9219C, IA…

On artificial lakes of 100 acres or less, a vessel shall only be operated with an electric motor or with an outboard motor where permitted by the rules in division II, part II, of this chapter. On artificial lakes of more than 100 acres, vessels may be operated with unrestricted …

The horsepower rating of an outboard motor permitted on artificial lakes under the authority of Iowa Code chapter 462A and these rules shall be as determined by the manufacturer when the motor was originally produced. An outboard motor that has been altered to increase its horsep…

The number and type of fire extinguishers required for motorboats within the state of Iowa are as follows: 37.3(1) Fire extinguisher type. Fire extinguishers shall be a U.S. Coast Guard-approved B-I or B-II type as described in 33 CFR Part 175, Subpart E (June 1, 2024). 37.3(2) N…

Any power unit mounted or carried aboard a vessel, while not being used or operated as a source of propulsion, shall be lawful on artificial lakes, so long as the auxiliary power unit being used or operated as a source of propulsion is within the lawful horsepower limitation esta…

Unrestricted-horsepower vessels may be operated at a speed not greater than 5 miles per hour. [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

Unrestricted-horsepower vessels may be operated at a speed not greater than 5 miles per hour. [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

Unrestricted-horsepower vessels may be operated at a speed not greater than 5 miles per hour. [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

A safety zone is hereby established on Beaver Creek within the property boundaries of the Camp Dodge military reservation in Polk County. 37.34(1) Watercraft and vehicles shall be prohibited from entering the safety zone in order to prevent access to areas within Camp Dodge where…

Unrestricted-horsepower vessels may be operated at a speed not greater than 5 miles per hour. [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

No motorboat shall be operated at a speed greater than 5 miles per hour within the zoned area marked by the regulatory buoys. The zoned area shall be the area commonly known as Town Bay on the northwest corner of Black Hawk Lake. Areas may be specifically designated for swimming …

Unrestricted-horsepower vessels may be operated at a speed not greater than 5 miles per hour. [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

Vessels may be operated at a speed not greater than 5 miles per hour within the two zoned areas designated by regulatory buoys or other approved uniform waterway markers. Areas may be specifically designated for swimming by the use of regulatory buoys. 37.38(1) Zone 1 shall exten…

All vessels operated in a designated zone known as Shoal Pointe Canal shall be operated at a speed not greater than 5 miles per hour. The City of Carter Lake shall designate and maintain the 5-mile-per-hour speed zone with marker buoys approved by the commission. [ARC 9219C, IAB …

All motorboat engines, except outboard engines, shall be equipped with an efficient flame arrestor, backfire trap or other similar device. An acceptable flame arrestor shall have evidence of compliance with UL Standard 1111 (October 31, 2008) or the revised 2020-02 Society of Aut…

37.40(1) Black Hawk County waters. All vessels shall be operated at a speed not greater than 5 miles per hour when within 600 feet of the Franklin Street bridge. This 600-foot zone shall be designated by buoys, signs, or other approved uniform waterway marking devices. No vessel …

Areas may be specifically designated for swimming with the use of regulatory buoys. Areas within close proximity of dredging operations may be designated as areas where the speed of vessels is restricted to not greater than 5 miles per hour. [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/1…

Areas may be specifically designated for swimming, wading, and restricted speed areas. [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

Unrestricted-horsepower vessels may be operated at a speed not greater than 5 miles per hour. [ARC 9219C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]