Where to Buy an Invasive Species Sticker in Idaho?

You can buy an Idaho Invasive Species Sticker online through the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation’s permit portal at getoutside.idaho.gov, in person at any Idaho State Park or authorized retailer, or by mail from the department. Non-motorized vessels cost $7, and motorized vessels registered outside Idaho cost $30.¹ If your motorboat is already registered in Idaho, the $10 fee is built into your registration and you don’t buy a separate sticker.

The Three Ways to Buy

Online

The fastest route is the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation’s permit portal at getoutside.idaho.gov. Pick your sticker type, enter the vessel information, and pay electronically. You can print a temporary proof of purchase to carry on the water until the physical sticker arrives in the mail.²

In Person

Stickers are sold at every Idaho State Park, at regional Parks and Recreation service centers, and at selected retailers that handle licenses or boating supplies. Some watercraft inspection stations also sell them. Bring your vessel details and a form of payment.

By Mail

Parks and Recreation accepts mail-in orders. Allow enough time for processing and return postage; this isn’t the option to use the week before a launch.

What to Have Ready Before You Pay

For a motorized vessel, you’ll need the Hull Identification Number (HIN), the vessel type, and its overall length. For a non-motorized vessel, just the type (canoe, kayak, raft, paddleboard, and so on) and length. Both require your name, address, and phone number. Pulling this together in advance keeps the transaction short, especially at a busy counter in peak season.

Who Actually Needs One

Nearly every vessel launched on Idaho waters needs a current sticker, including boats, canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and rafts. Any watercraft entering Idaho from another state that isn’t registered here needs one before launching.³

Two groups don’t need to buy anything:

Idaho-registered motorized vessels. The $10 invasive species fee is collected with your boat registration, and your validation sticker counts as your invasive species sticker.¹
Small inflatables. Non-motorized inflatable craft under 10 feet are exempt, but only if they meet all three conditions: inflatable, non-motorized, and under 10 feet.³

Group Rates for Outfitters

Licensed outfitters running non-motorized fleets of more than five vessels pay prorated group rates instead of $7 per boat:

6 to 10 vessels: $32 total
11 to 20 vessels: $57 total
21 to 100 vessels: $102 total
Each vessel beyond 100: $1 per vessel

Groups exempt from outfitter licensing also qualify for the group pricing. Contact the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation for details on how the proration works.¹

After You Buy

The sticker must be visible on the watercraft so law enforcement and inspection staff can check compliance without boarding.⁴ On a rigid hull, most people place it near the bow on the port side, above the waterline. For an inflatable raft or similar craft that won’t take adhesive, you can zip-tie the sticker through a D-ring or laminate it onto a small placard tied to the rigging. Stickers are assigned to one vessel and are non-transferable.

A sticker alone doesn’t make you legal to launch. Idaho operates roughly 29 roadside watercraft inspection stations, and anyone towing, carrying, or transporting a watercraft must stop at every open station they pass, every trip.⁵ If you’re coming from out of state, your watercraft must be inspected and, if needed, decontaminated at a station before it touches Idaho water.⁶

1
Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 67-7008A – Additional Fees
2
Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. Registration and Permits
3
Invasive Species of Idaho. Invasive Species Sticker FAQs
4
Idaho Fish and Game. Invasive Species Boat Stickers
5
Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 22-1908 – Authority to Conduct Inspections
6
Invasive Species of Idaho. Watercraft Inspection Stations