California boating rule changes
Changes to California boating rules that affect boat owners and marine service providers, newest first. Each entry says what changed, where it applies, what to do, what we could not confirm, and the date we last re-read its sources.
Mussel Fee Sticker now $21 or $42, and covers all invasive mussels
Assembly Bill 149 (2025) revised the mussel sticker program to cover all species of invasive mussels, not only quagga and zebra mussels. From October 22, 2026 the sticker costs $21 when first bought in an even-numbered year or $42 when first bought in an odd-numbered year; the $42 sticker covers the full two-year cycle. California-registered recreational boats used only in saltwater are exempt.[1]
What to do: If you take your boat into freshwater, including the Delta east of Chipps Island, buy a current sticker before you go: online through the DMV, at a DMV field office, or at participating AAA offices for members. Many websites still quote the old price.
Port of San Diego is reviewing its in-water hull cleaning rules
Every business that cleans hulls in San Diego Bay needs the Port's bay-wide In-Water Hull Cleaning Permit ($250). The Port says it is "currently reviewing and seeking to update existing policies related to in-water hull cleaning" and asks permit questions to go to hullcleaning@portofsandiego.org until the review is complete. It gives no completion date. Separately, the San Diego Regional Water Board held a staff workshop on Shelter Island Yacht Basin water quality on May 7, 2026 and took comments on the workshop summary until September 10, 2026, the latest step we found.[2][3][4]
What to do: Hull cleaners: keep your permit and diver records current and watch the Port's page for changes. Owners in San Diego Bay: ask your diver whether they hold the Port permit; the ordinance requires marinas to check it.
Not confirmed: We found no public date for the end of the Port's review and no new Water Board order following the May 2026 workshop.
Marina del Rey copper limit revision awaits final approval
The Los Angeles Regional Water Board adopted a reconsideration of the Marina del Rey Harbor Toxics TMDL (Resolution R24-003) on June 27, 2024. It sets a site-specific copper water effects ratio and a 57% cut in dissolved copper from boats, to be met by March 22, 2026 (one way to show compliance: 57% of boats in the harbor using non-biocide hull paint). The latest step listed on the Regional Board's pages is a State Water Board public comment notice posted August 20, 2025. The Regional Board's project page (updated November 2, 2026) shows no State Board, state Office of Administrative Law or U.S. EPA approval yet.[5][6][7][8]
What to do: Copper rules for Marina del Rey are not settled. Hull cleaning rules that apply now still stand: LA County requires in-water hull cleaners to hold BMP certification and a Commercial Services ID and to fly the County burgee. Owners can be cited for using an uncertified cleaner.
Not confirmed: The 57% figure is the one the Regional Board adopted; we did not find State Water Board, Office of Administrative Law or U.S. EPA approval, so it may not be in effect yet, and the approval step could change it. Check the LA Water Board page before relying on it.
California Boater Card now required at every age
The Boater Card requirement was phased in by age from 2018 (operators 20 and under) to January 1, 2025, when it began to apply to all persons, regardless of age, who operate a motorized vessel on California waters. The law lists exemptions, including operators supervised on board by a card holder aged 18 or older, rental boat operators, and holders of a U.S. Coast Guard marine operator license for those waters. The card is valid for life.[9][10]
What to do: Anyone who runs a motorized boat needs a card or an exemption, and exempt operators must carry proof. Providers who move customer boats (sea trials, trips to the pump-out or fuel dock) need one too, unless an exemption such as a USCG license applies.
Newport Beach Marine Activities Permit rules: revision status unclear
Anyone providing a commercial service in Newport Harbor needs a Marine Activities Permit from the city. The city’s harbor fee schedule lists service provider fees of $424 to apply and $95 to renew starting July 1, 2026 (the permit page itself still shows the 2025 fees of $398 and $386). The city has been revising this chapter of its harbor code (Title 17, chapter 17.10) for several years: in October 2020 the Harbor Commission sent proposed changes to the City Council, including higher fines ($1,000 to $3,000, up from $100 to $500) and a requirement that harbor businesses carry insurance naming the city as additional insured.[11][12][13]
What to do: If you work in Newport Harbor, apply or renew through the city's online permit system and confirm the current insurance and fee requirements with the Harbor Department before you start work.
Not confirmed: We could not confirm from a public source whether a revised chapter 17.10 has been adopted, or what it requires. The city's permit page does not mention a revision.
How we track changes
We read agency, harbor and Water Board pages directly and add an entry when a fee, permit or rule changes, or when a change is formally proposed. An entry’s “sources last re-read” date changes only when someone re-reads its sources. Read more in our editorial standards. Spotted a change we missed? See corrections.
Sources
- California State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways. Strengthened Mussel Sticker Program (news release) (October 23, 2026).
- Port of San Diego. Copper Reduction Program (In-Water Hull Cleaning Permit).
- Port of San Diego. Ordinance 3025, amending District Code §4.14 (Regulation of In-Water Hull Cleaning) (October 12, 2021).
- San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. Shelter Island Yacht Basin dissolved copper TMDL (July 8, 2026).
- Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. Reconsideration of Marina del Rey Harbor Toxics TMDL (Resolution R24-003) (November 2, 2026).
- Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. Marina del Rey Harbor Toxics TMDL (R24-003) technical documents.
- Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. Resolution R24-003, Attachment B (Marina del Rey Harbor toxics TMDL reconsideration) (June 27, 2024).
- Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors. Hull Cleaning (Marina del Rey).
- State of California (via public.law). Harbors and Navigation Code §678.11 (vessel operator card phase-in and exemptions).
- California State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways. California Boater Card FAQ (January 2017).
- City of Newport Beach, Harbor Department. Marine Activities Permit.
- City of Newport Beach, Harbor Department. Harbor Fees (fees starting July 1, 2026) (July 1, 2026).
- The Log. Newport Beach Harbor Commission sends revised Marine Activities Permits section of Title 17 to council (October 29, 2020).