Maryland life jacket laws require every vessel on state waters to carry one Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person aboard, and in several situations the jacket has to be worn, not just stored. Children under 13, everyone on a personal watercraft, and anyone being towed behind a boat must have one on and fastened. On the Upper Potomac and its tributaries, a seasonal rule requires every person aboard to wear one. Fines start at $85 and climb to $1,000 for repeat violations.
What Every Boat Must Carry
Under COMAR 08.18.04.02, the operator of every vessel on Maryland waters that is not subject to Coast Guard inspection must carry one Coast Guard-approved lifesaving device for each person aboard. The regulation defines “vessel” broadly: sailboats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats, paddle boats, rafts, ice boats, sailboards, and any other device used for transportation on water or ice.1Cornell Law Institute. Maryland Code Regs. 08.18.04.02 – Life Saving Equipment If you float on it, Maryland treats it as a vessel.
Each jacket must be the right size for the person who would wear it, based on the weight and chest measurements shown on the manufacturer’s label. It also has to be in serviceable condition: no tears, no rot, no punctured bladders, and all zippers and buckles working. A jacket with a broken zipper or a missing strap will not pass inspection. Wearable jackets must be readily accessible, not locked in a compartment or buried under gear.
Boats 16 feet and longer, other than canoes and kayaks, must also carry at least one Type IV throwable device such as a ring buoy or throwable cushion, kept within arm’s reach.2Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Maryland Recreational Vessels
Which Life Jackets Count
Maryland accepts Coast Guard-approved Type I, Type II, Type III, and Type V life jackets. Type V jackets count only when used for the specific activity printed on the label, such as whitewater paddling or boardsailing. Any approved type satisfies the carriage rule as long as it fits and is in good condition.3U.S. Coast Guard. PFD Selection, Use, Wear and Care
Inflatable life jackets carry one extra limit: they do not count for anyone under 16. If you have younger teenagers aboard, check the label before assuming an inflatable model qualifies.
When Children Must Wear a Life Jacket
Every child under 13 must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket whenever they are on a recreational vessel under 21 feet that is underway. The rule took effect April 1, 2010 and applies to motorboats, sailboats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and any other watercraft used for non-commercial purposes. The jacket must be properly sized and in serviceable condition.4Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Life Jackets for Kids
“Underway” means any time the vessel is not anchored, moored, or made fast to shore. A boat drifting with the engine off is still underway, and the jacket stays on. The requirement does not apply when the vessel is anchored or moored, or when the child is below deck or inside an enclosed cabin.
Extra Features Required for Children Under 4
For children under 4, the jacket itself has to include specific features designed for small children:
- A crotch strap that fastens the front and back together to hold the child securely.
- An inflatable headrest or high collar that keeps the head above water.
- A web handle so a rescuer can quickly pull the child from the water.
A standard adult or youth jacket that lacks these features does not meet the requirement for a child under 4, even if it technically fits.4Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Life Jackets for Kids
Personal Watercraft
Everyone on a personal watercraft must wear a Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, III, or V life jacket at all times. Under COMAR 08.18.02.05, both the operator and any passenger need a jacket on and fastened. Storing one in a compartment does not satisfy the rule, and the requirement applies regardless of age, swimming ability, or water conditions.5Library of Maryland Regulations. COMAR 08.18.02 – Chapter 02 Personal Watercraft – Section .05 Restrictions
Water Skiing, Tubing, and Other Towed Riders
Anyone being towed behind any vessel on Maryland waters must wear a personal flotation device. That covers water skiers, tubers, wakeboarders, and aquaplane riders. Maryland Natural Resources Code Section 8-725 defines “personal flotation device” for towing to include not only traditional life jackets but also barefoot wetsuits and trick skiing wetsuits.6Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Natural Resources 8-725
The same statute requires the towing vessel to carry an observer who is at least 12, in addition to the operator (also at least 12). Towing is prohibited between sunset and sunrise. These rules apply to any towing vessel, not just personal watercraft.
Cold-Weather Wearing Rule on the Upper Potomac
From November 15 through May 15, every person on a vessel, raft, or tube on the Upper Potomac River and its tributaries must wear a Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, III, or V life jacket at all times while underway. Age, vessel size, and swimming ability do not matter. The only exception is a vessel operating under a current Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection.7Cornell Law Institute. Maryland Code Regs. 08.18.04.04 – Upper Potomac River Life Saving Equipment
Outside that window on the Upper Potomac, the standard carriage rule takes over: one jacket per person aboard, but adults do not have to wear theirs. Whitewater stream segments carry their own year-round wearing requirement for everyone underway.
Sailboard Alternative
Sailboard operators have a narrow alternative to carrying a traditional life jacket. They can meet the requirement by wearing a neoprene wetsuit, drysuit, or a closed-cell foam padded harness that provides positive buoyancy. From October 15 through May 15, the standard tightens: the wetsuit or drysuit must cover the entire torso.1Cornell Law Institute. Maryland Code Regs. 08.18.04.02 – Life Saving Equipment
Fines and Penalties
Maryland’s District Court publishes a prepayable fine schedule for life jacket offenses. Prepayable means you can pay without appearing in court, though you can always contest the citation instead.
- Operating a vessel under 21 feet while a child fails to wear an approved life jacket: $125 prepayable fine. A separate $125 fine applies when a child under 4 is not in a jacket with the required features.
- Failing to wear a life jacket while being towed behind a vessel: $85 prepayable fine.
A first conviction can bring a fine of up to $500. A second or subsequent violation raises the maximum to $1,000 and can carry jail time, up to one year for towing violations and up to 30 days for child PFD violations.8District Court of Maryland. Fine or Penalty Deposit Schedule for Natural Resources Laws A repeat-offense citation requires a court appearance; you cannot prepay it.
Natural Resources Police conduct routine inspections on the water and check for proper carriage, condition, and wear. A single stop can produce multiple citations if more than one person aboard lacks proper equipment, because the fines stack with each missing device.