Michigan life jacket laws require every recreational vessel on state waters to carry a U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable personal flotation device for each person on board, and some passengers and activities also require that the device actually be worn. Fines for most violations reach $100.1Michigan Courts. State Civil Infractions What you need depends on the length of your boat, the ages of your passengers, and what you’re doing on the water.
What Your Boat Must Carry
Every vessel on Michigan waters needs at least one Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board.2Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Life Jacket Rules The type depends on how long your boat is.
For vessels under 16 feet, and for canoes and kayaks of any length, you can carry either a wearable PFD (Type I, II, or III) or a throwable Type IV device for each person on board.2Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Life Jacket Rules A throwable cushion technically satisfies the requirement on a small boat, though a wearable jacket is the safer choice.
Boats 16 feet or longer face a stricter rule. You need a wearable PFD for every person on board and one throwable Type IV device that is readily accessible.2Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Life Jacket Rules The throwable, usually a ring buoy or cushion, is rescue equipment for someone who has fallen overboard. Conservation officers check for it during safety inspections, and a missing one can result in a citation even if everyone aboard has a wearable jacket.
Who Has to Wear One
Children Under Six
Any child younger than six must wear a Type I or Type II PFD while in an open deck area of a vessel operating on Michigan waters.3Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 324.80142 – Wearing of Personal Flotation Device by Child Required; Exception; Charter Boat and Class C Vessel Defined; Violation; Fine The vessel operator is legally responsible for making sure this happens, and a parent or guardian on board shares that obligation independently.
The statute references “open deck area,” so a child inside an enclosed cabin is not covered. Most recreational boats have no enclosed cabin, which means the rule effectively applies whenever a young child is aboard. Violations carry a maximum fine of $100.3Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 324.80142 – Wearing of Personal Flotation Device by Child Required; Exception; Charter Boat and Class C Vessel Defined; Violation; Fine The requirement does not apply on charter boats holding a valid U.S. Coast Guard certificate of inspection or on a state-certified Class C vessel longer than 45 feet.
Personal Watercraft Riders
Jet skis and other personal watercraft carry the strictest rule. Everyone riding on or being towed behind a PWC must wear a Coast Guard-approved PFD at all times; having one stowed on board does not satisfy the law.4Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 324.80205 – Operation of Personal Watercraft; Requirements; Violation; Fine; Exception
Riders 12 or older can wear a Type I, II, or III. Children under 12 must wear a Type I or Type II, which offer more buoyancy and are more likely to turn an unconscious child face-up.4Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 324.80205 – Operation of Personal Watercraft; Requirements; Violation; Fine; Exception Inflatable PFDs are never allowed on personal watercraft at any age.2Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Life Jacket Rules Wearing one on a jet ski draws the same citation as wearing nothing.
Water Skiers, Tubers, and Wakeboarders
Anyone being towed behind a vessel must wear a Type I, II, or III life jacket. Inflatables do not count for towed activities. The law also requires an observer on the towing vessel who can watch the person being towed and communicate their condition to the operator, so you cannot legally tow a skier or tuber by yourself.5Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 324.80152 – Operation of Vessel While Towing or Assisting Person Maximum fine is $100.1Michigan Courts. State Civil Infractions The rule applies regardless of swimming ability or distance from shore, because the concern is being knocked unconscious on impact with the water.
Stand-Up Paddleboards
The U.S. Coast Guard classifies a stand-up paddleboard as a vessel when it is used outside a designated swimming, surfing, or bathing area. Once it counts as a vessel, the paddler must carry a Coast Guard-approved PFD on board, the same way a kayaker would.6U.S. Coast Guard. Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) FAQs Inside a marked swimming area, no PFD is required by federal law. Outside it, you need at least one Type I, II, or III. A belt-pack inflatable satisfies the rule on a paddleboard, unlike on a personal watercraft.
Condition, Fit, and Accessibility
A torn, waterlogged, or broken PFD is legally equivalent to no PFD. Every device on board must be in serviceable condition with all straps, buckles, and closures working.7United States Coast Guard. Life Jacket Wear / Wearing Your Life Jacket A conservation officer will treat a deteriorated jacket the same as a missing one.
Fit matters too. PFDs are sized by weight and chest measurement. A jacket too large can slip off on entry; one too small will not provide enough buoyancy. An adult PFD on a child does not satisfy the law even if the child is technically wearing it.7United States Coast Guard. Life Jacket Wear / Wearing Your Life Jacket
Wearable PFDs have to be readily accessible, meaning reachable without unlocking compartments or digging through gear. Throwable Type IV devices need to be immediately available, typically within arm’s reach of someone who could deploy one in an emergency.2Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Life Jacket Rules Burying a throwable cushion under other equipment exposes you to the same citation as not having one.
The New Coast Guard Labeling System
Starting in January 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard began moving from the Type I through V classification to a new performance-level system aligned with international standards. New devices carry a performance level number indicating buoyancy in newtons. Level 70 suits calm inland waters; Level 150 is designed for offshore conditions with delayed rescue. Existing Type I through III labels remain valid during the transition, so you do not need to replace what you own. A newly purchased jacket with a performance level number instead of a type designation still meets Coast Guard standards as long as the approval marking is present.
Michigan statutes still reference Type I, II, and III. Until the state administrative code updates its language, any Coast Guard-approved device that meets or exceeds the performance requirements of the type named in state law satisfies your legal obligation.