Title 69, Waters, Waterways, Drains And Levees

(1) As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Board” means the board of water quality, oil and gas established pursuant to § 69-3-104;(2) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of environment and conservation, the commissioner's duly authorized representativ…

(a) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), no person shall withdraw ten thousand (10,000) or more gallons of water per day from a surface water or a groundwater source unless the withdrawal is currently registered with the commissioner. The commissioner shall accept a rec…

(1) The commissioner has the power to:(1) Annually collect and compile water quantity data and other quantity information, including data and information on uses of water and well data, and to develop registration and other forms for these purposes. Additionally, if requested and…

(a) The board has the authority to promulgate the rules, other than rules establishing fees, that it deems reasonable and necessary to effectuate the purposes of this part, in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5. (b) The board…

(a) (1) Whenever the commissioner has reason to believe that a person is withdrawing water without having a valid registration, or has supplied false or materially misleading information to the department or has violated any order or rule promulgated pursuant to this part, the co…

The commissioner and the board shall encourage and support regional water planning whenever possible. In the future, if there is a specific appropriation of state or federal funds for regional water supply planning, the board may require regional water supply planning and may pro…

From time to time, the commissioner may appoint a technical advisory committee that shall advise the commissioner on matters related to the state's water resources. The commissioner may determine the identity and number of committee members and the term during which the committee…

The governor, on behalf of this state, is hereby authorized to execute a compact in substantially the form set forth in this section, with the states of Alabama and Mississippi and/or with states contiguous with either of these states, and the general assembly hereby signifies it…

When the governor has executed this compact on behalf of this state and has caused a verified copy of the compact to be filed with the secretary of state, and when the compact has been ratified as provided in Article II of the compact, and when the general assemblies or the chief…

There is hereby granted to the governor, to the members of the authority of Tennessee, and to the compact administrator, all powers provided for in the compact and in this chapter. All officers of the state of Tennessee are hereby authorized and directed to do all things falling …

(a) It is unlawful for any member of the authority representing the state of Tennessee either to make any agreement or to create any obligation or to commit the state for any funds, moneys, or property in excess of the amounts on hand or the amount of the appropriation for the bi…

Whoever aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces, or procures the commission of a violation of this chapter or title 70 and proclamations and rules and regulations promulgated by the fish and wildlife commission, is punishable as a principal.

(a) Any person, firm, corporation or business entity operating a commercial boating facility, dock or marina that stores or houses vessels equipped with a toilet and sewage collection tank, or when such facilities are operating on waters in this state, shall provide facilities fo…

This chapter is known and may be cited as the “Tennessee Boating Safety Act of 1965.”

(1) It is the policy of the state to:(1) Promote the safety of persons and property in and connected with the use of vessels;(2) Achieve, so far as practicable, uniformity of laws, regulations, requirements, procedures and methods with respect to the numbering, operation and equi…

(a) It is the sole duty and responsibility of the Tennessee wildlife resources agency to enforce and administer this chapter. (b) All expenses required for the administration and enforcement of this chapter shall be paid for with funds collected pursuant to this chapter. All mone…

(1) As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Agency” means the wildlife resources agency;(2) “Anchored” means held in place in the water by an anchor;(3) “Boat” means any vessel:(A) Manufactured or used primarily for noncommercial use;(B) Leased, rented…

(1) The executive director shall:(1) Plan, and submit to the commission, programs for the education of the public in boating safety, for the assignment of identification numbers to motorboats, for the regulation of vessels subject to this chapter, and for the enforcement of this …

(a) Every vessel propelled by sail or machinery, or both, upon the waters of Tennessee shall be numbered for identification in accordance with this chapter and the regulations of the commission except:(1) A vessel that has a valid document issued by the bureau of customs of the U…

(a) No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of any vessel on the waters of Tennessee unless the vessel is numbered in accordance with this chapter. (b) The owner of every vessel required to be numbered by this chapter shall file an application for a number wi…

(a) The agency will issue certificates of number directly or may authorize any official in the state, who is presently authorized to issue automobile license plates, to issue certificates of number. In conformity with this chapter and any rules and regulations that may be validly…

(a) The commission shall establish uniform regulations governing the numbering, the safety equipment, and the operation of the vessels subject to this chapter so that any such vessel complying with the regulations may be operated with equal freedom, or under similar requirements,…

(a) Whenever any vessel operating upon the waters of Tennessee is involved in an accident, it is the duty of the operator, so far as the operator can do so without serious danger to the operator's own passengers, guests, crew, the operator or the operator's vessel, to render to a…

(a) The executive director may authorize the holding of regattas, motorboat or other boat races, marine parades, tournaments, exhibitions, or land-based events that are intended to be viewed from the water by vessel that impact navigation or the safety of vessels on any waters of…

(a) The commission is hereby authorized to establish rules, regulations and procedures for the inspection and approval of motorboats carrying passengers for hire and for the licensing of the operators of such vessels, but this part shall not apply to any vessel that holds a valid…

(a) The owner of a boat livery shall cause to be kept a record of the name and address of the person or persons hiring any vessel that is designed or permitted by the owner of the boat livery to be operated as a motorboat, and the identification number of the vessel. The record s…

Courts shall take judicial notice of all published rules and regulations and proclamations promulgated pursuant to this chapter and the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.

(a) (1) The owner of a vessel, other than a bona fide person engaged in the business of renting boats or a person engaged in the business of selling, repairing or manufacturing boats, that loans a boat to a consumer or potential consumer on a temporary basis, shall be liable for …

(a) No person shall operate or interfere with the safe operation of any motorboat or vessel, or manipulate any water skis, surfboard, tube, specialty recreational device or similar device in a reckless or negligent manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any perso…

(a) It is unlawful for any person or persons to operate any vessel subject to registration or any commercial vessel as defined in this section on the waters of Tennessee, as defined in § 69-9-204, while under the influence of any intoxicant, marijuana, narcotic drug, or drug prod…

(a) Jet boats that carry passengers for hire shall:(1) Only operate during the hours between ten o'clock a.m. (10:00 a.m.) and five o'clock p.m. (5:00 p.m.) on Monday through Friday;(2) Only operate during the hours between ten o'clock a.m. (10:00 a.m.) and seven o'clock p.m. (7:…

(a) Any person who violates any of this chapter, except § 69-9-216(a) or § 69-9-217, including any rules and regulations adopted by the commission, commits a Class C misdemeanor. (b) Any person who violates § 69-9-216(a) commits a Class A misdemeanor. (c) (1) (A) Except as otherw…

(a) Every wildlife officer and any additional enforcement officers who may be specified by the executive director have the authority to enforce this chapter and, in the exercise of the authority, have the authority to stop and board any vessel subject to this chapter. They may ar…

(a) Except as provided in subsection (c), a person shall not engage in wakeboarding or wakesurfing in the waters of Tennessee:(1) Between sunset and sunrise;(2) On a body of water that is less than fifty (50) acres in size;(3) On a portion of a body of water with a width, measure…

On or before the fifteenth day of each month, magistrates or clerks of general sessions courts and other courts shall make a detailed report of all fines and forfeitures collected during the previous calendar month, this report to be made on forms provided by the commission, and …

The executive director, or the executive director's designees or officers, upon observing a boat being used without sufficient lifesaving or firefighting devices, or in an overloaded or other unsafe condition, which in such person's judgment creates an especially hazardous condit…

(a) All persons twelve (12) years of age and under in an open boat or on an open deck of a vessel being used for recreational purposes on the waters of this state shall wear a United States coast guard approved wearable personal flotation device while such vessel is underway. Any…

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), it is unlawful for any person born after January 1, 1989, to operate any vessel subject to registration on any waters of this state unless the operator:(1) Has successfully completed a National Association of State Boating Law Administrat…

(a) As used in this section:(1) “In the aggregate” means the number of nonmotorized vessels by type rented in each water body;(2) “Nonmotorized vessels” means canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, tubes, and any other vessels powered only by their occupants and propelled by man…

(a) Upon the approach of an authorized emergency vessel making use of flashing lights, the operator of every other vessel shall yield the right-of-way and shall slow to a no wake speed or immediately move over at least one hundred feet (100′) to a position of safety from the emer…

(a) The operator of a recreational vessel shall not:(1) Moor the vessel for more than fourteen (14) consecutive days at any one (1) place along the water's edge of a reservoir or at any place within one (1) mile thereof;(2) Establish temporary moorage within the limits of primary…

The exhaust of every internal combustion engine used on any vessel shall be effectively muffled by a muffling device or system to muffle the noise of the exhaust.

(a) No person shall operate any vessel in or upon the waters of Tennessee in such a manner as to exceed 86 bdA measured at a distance of fifty feet (50′) from the vessel. (b) Testing procedures employed to determine such noise levels shall be in accordance with the exterior sound…

(a) Vessel motors manufactured after January 1, 1977, and offered for sale in Tennessee shall be certified to the agency by the motor manufacturer as having been tested and found not to exceed the noise levels prescribed in § 69-9-302. (b) Testing procedures employed to determine…

(a) No person shall remove or alter any part of an engine, its propulsion unit, or its enclosure, or modify the mounting of an engine in or upon a vessel in such a manner as to exceed the noise levels prescribed in § 69-9-302. (b) The use of cutouts is prohibited.