Compliance Guides

Michigan Regulatory Guide

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulates boating to ensure safety and responsible practices. They enforce rules on boat registrations, safety equipment, and speed limits. The DNR also focuses on educating boaters about responsible behavior and navigation rules, contributing to the balance between recreational boating and the protection of Michigan's water ecosystems. On this page, we navigate you through everything you need to have in place in order to ensure that your boat rental business is compliant with Michigan’s regulations, along with some other important things to keep in mind.

Boxes you need to tick

These are requirements as defined by law:

Age Requirement

No person under the age of 14 may operate a personal watercraft.

Those less than 12 years of age:

May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 horsepower without restrictions.

May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 horsepower, but no more than 35 horsepower, only if they:

have been issued a boating safety certificate and have it on board and are directly supervised on board by a person at least 16 years of age.

May not legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 35 horsepower legally under any conditions.

Those less than 14 years of age may not legally operate a personal watercraft (PWC) (i.e., jet ski, wave runner).

Those 14 and 15 years of age may legally operate a PWC if they have obtained a boating safety certificate and are:

Accompanied on board by their parent, legal guardian or by a person who has been designated by the parent or legal guardian and is at least 21 years of age; or

Operating or riding the PWC at a distance of not more than 100 feet from their parent legal guardian or by a person who has been designated by the parent or legal guardian and is at least 21 years of age.

License Requirement

Those born on or after July 1, 1996 may legally operate a motorboat over 6 horsepower only if they have been issued a boating safety card.

Rental Agreement

The owner of a boat livery shall not rent a livery boat except pursuant to a written rental contract.

The owner of a boat livery shall not rent a livery boat more than 20 feet in length to be used on navigable water except pursuant to a written rental contract between the boat livery owner and the renter.

Registration Requirement

All watercraft, unless exempted, must be registered.

All watercraft, unless exempted, must be registered. All registrations expire on March 31 in the third year of issuance.

Permits

The owner of a boat livery shall submit an application for a boat livery permit.

The owner of a boat livery shall submit an application for a boat livery permit to the sheriff’s department of the county where the boat livery is located.

Insurance

Charter Boats must have minimum public liability insurance.

Boat Rental Accident Reporting

The report required by section 53 of the act shall be made by the operator of a vessel when, as a result of an occurrence that involves the vessel or its equipment, any of the following occur:

(a) A person dies.

(b) A person loses consciousness or receives medical treatment or is disabled for more than 24 hours.

(d) A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury.

A report required by section 53 of the act and this rule shall be made as follows:

(a) Within 48 hours of the occurrence if a person dies within 24 hours of the occurrence.

(b) Within 48 hours of the occurrence if a person loses consciousness or receives medical treatment or is disabled for more than 24 hours or disappears from a vessel.

If the operator of a vessel cannot make the report required by section 53 of the act and this rule, then the owner shall make the report.

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Rental Boat Accident Reporting Form

Report Accident

Michigan Regulatory Guide

Boxes you need to tick

Keep in mind when renting out boats

Required

Recommended

Not required

Boat Rental Accident Reporting

Federal Regulation

Compliance by State

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