Maximizing your time surfing can lead to afternoons that quickly turn to dusk. Depending on what US state you live in, this can be the difference between stopping your surf session or getting in a few more. But when do you need to stop surfing? And more importantly, at what time is it legal to wakesurf in your state?
We searched the web and couldn’t find a source of truth that detailed each state’s law on what time surfing, or towing someone, needs to cease. In response to that, we scoured each state’s boating pamphlet, or in some cases online state legislature, to make a comprehensive list to answer the question: Is wakesurfing legal at night?
Like with any rule, there are some exceptions. Both Alaska nor Mississippi don’t have any laws against towing surfers after dusk. While it might be legal, we definitely suggest stopping when you can’t see. Night surfing might seem cool, but without the correct equipment, it can be incredibly dangerous.
If you want all of the below information in a nice infographic, check out one of our other blogs!
Alabama
Prohibited period: Between sundown to sunrise
Alaska
There are no prohibited periods in Alaska
Does your state prohibit water skiing during any specific time of the day/night? No
https://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/state-boating-laws-details.php?id=52&state=Alaska#:~:text=Alaska%20%20%20Question%20%20%20Data%20,%20No%20one%20%2041%20more%20rows%20
Arizona
Prohibited period: Between sunset and sunrise
Arizona Laws 5-346. Water skiing, Article D
D. No watercraft operator shall have in tow a person or persons on water skis, a surfboard or similar contrivance during the hours between sunset and sunrise.
https://www.lawserver.com/law/state/arizona/az-laws/arizona_laws_5-346
Arkansas
Prohibited period: 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise.
California
Prohibited period: From sunset to sunrise
The towing of water skiers from sunset to sunrise is prohibited by state law. Local laws
http://dbw.parks.ca.gov/pages/28702/files/DBW_ABCs_of_Boating_2017.pdf#TOC
may also restrict skiing at specific times during the day and in certain areas. For more
information, please visit: www.dbw.ca.gov/Pubs/Watski/TowingSports.pdf.
Colorado
Prohibited period: From sunset to sunrise
The towing of water skiers, aquaplanes, surfboards, inner tubes, and
https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Boating/BoatingRegulations.pdf
similar devices from sunset to sunrise is prohibited by state law.
Connecticut
Prohibited Period: 30 minutes after sunset until sunrise or when visibility is restricted to less than 100 yards
The operator of the vessel and the waterskier are responsible for
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/Boating/boating_guide/part3pdf.pdf
operating in a manner which does not harm or strike another person or
vessel. Waterskiing is forbidden between 30 minutes after sunset until
sunrise or when visibility is restricted to less than 100 yards
Delaware
Prohibited period: Between sunset and sunrise
5.1.5 No person shall engage in water skiing and no person shall operate a vessel towing a person so engaged between sunset and sunrise.
https://regulations.delaware.gov/AdminCode/title7/3000/3100%20Boating%20Regulations/3100.shtml
Florida
Prohibited period: 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise
Georgia
Prohibited period: Between sunset and sunrise
Hawai’i
Prohibited Period: From sunset to sunrise
Idaho
Prohibited period: One hour after sunset to one hour prior to sunrise
Illinois
Prohibited period: Half-hour after sunset to half-hour before sunrise
A person may not be towed from half-hour after sunset to half-hour before sunrise
https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/boating/Documents/BoatDigest.pdf
Indiana
Prohibited period: Sunset to sunrise
Iowa
Prohibited period: 30 minutes after sunset to sunrise
Kansas
Prohibited period: One-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise
(a) No person shall operate a vessel on any waters of this state towing a person or persons on water skis, a surfboard, or similar device, nor shall any person engage in water skiing, surfboarding, or similar activity at any time between the hours from one-half hour after sunset to one- half hour before sunrise.
https://ksoutdoors.com/content/download/18067/124092/file/complete%20statute%20section%20for%20web.pdf
Kentucky
Prohibited period: Between sunrise and sunset
While this section is titled waterskiing, it applies to persons being towed on any device such as knee boards, inner tubes, etc. Water-skiing is only allowed between sunrise and sunset.
https://fw.ky.gov/FishBoatGuide/Pages/Boating.aspx#1
Louisiana
Prohibited period: One hour after sunset to one hour prior to sunrise
B. No motorboat shall have in tow or shall be otherwise assisting a person on water skis, surfboard, or similar contrivance from the period of one hour after sunset to one hour prior to sunrise; however, this Subsection shall not apply to motorboats used in duly authorized water ski tournaments, competitions, expositions, or trials therefor.
https://law.justia.com/codes/louisiana/2012/rs/title34/rs34-851-15/
Maine
Prohibited period: Sunset to sunrise
Maryland
Prohibited period: Sunset to sunrise
Massachusetts
Prohibited period: Nighttime
Operating a motorboat during the nighttime while towing waterskiers, tubers, etc.
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/massachusetts-boating-law-summary#:~:text=Massachusetts%20Boating%20Law%20Summary%201%20Minimum%20Age%20Restrictions.,and%20observe%20all%20local%2C%20state%2C%20and%20federal%20laws.
Michigan
Prohibited period: When towing behind a boat it’s prohibited one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise. When towing behind a PWC it’s prohibited between 8:00 am and one hours after sunset.
Towing a Person With a Vessel (boat-ed.com)
- One hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise if towed behind a boat
- One hour before sunset and 8:00 a.m. if towed behind a PWC
Minnesota
Prohibited period: 30 minutes past sunset to sunrise
Water-skiing, tubing, wake-surfing and similar acts are prohibited between one half hour after sunset to sunrise of the following day.
https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/boatwater/boatingguide.pdf
Mississippi
No prohibited periods, but it is strongly recommended that you only surf during daylight hours
In addition, it is also strongly recommended that: Persons be towed behind a vessel on water skis or any other device only during daylight hours
https://assets.kalkomey.com/boater/pdfs/handbook/mississippi-handbook-entire.pdf
Missouri
Prohibited period: Legal sunset to legal sunrise
Montana
Prohibited period: Sunset to sunrise
Does your state prohibit water skiing during any specific time of the day/night? Sunset & sunrise
https://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/state-boating-laws-details.php?id=80&state=Montana#:~:text=Montana%20%20%20Question%20%20%20Data%20,must%20either%20…%20%2034%20more%20rows%20
Nebraska
Prohibited period: Nighttime
Does your state prohibit water skiing during any specific time of the day/night? Nighttime
https://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/state-boating-laws-details.php?id=81&state=Nebraska
Nevada
Prohibited period: No water sports at night
New Hampshire
Prohibited period: Sunset to sunrise
“Ski craft” may be operated on any lake, pond, river, or coastal water during the daylight hours (sunrise to sunset) only
https://assets.kalkomey.com/boater/pdfs/handbook/newhampshire-handbook-entire.pdf
New Jersey
Prohibited period: Sunset to sunrise
Does your state prohibit water skiing during any specific time of the day/night? Sunset to sunrise
https://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/state-boating-laws-details.php?id=84&state=New%20Jersey
New Mexico
Prohibited period: One hour after sunset to one hour prior to sunrise
New York
Prohibited period: Sunset to sunrise
North Carolina
Prohibited period: 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise
Does your state prohibit water skiing during any specific time of the day/night? From 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise.
https://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/state-boating-laws-details.php?id=87&state=North%20Carolina#:~:text=North%20Carolina%20%20%20Question%20%20%20Data,%20%20No%20%2041%20more%20rows%20
North Dakota
Prohibited period: One hour after sunset to one hour prior to sunrise
Ohio
Prohibited period: Sunset to sunrise unless given special permit
ORC 1547.16: No person shall water-ski or be towed on any device, or operate a vessel towing a person between sunset and sunrise except upon special permit. Consult an official sunrise-sunset table of the local area for exact times.
https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/rules-and-regulations/rules-and-regulations-by-division/state-parks-and-watercraft/boating-rules/ohio-operating-laws
Oklahoma
Prohibited period: Sunset to sunrise
Oregon
Prohibited period: Sunset and sunrise
Pennsylvania
Prohibited period: Dusk to dawn
Rhode Island
Prohibited period: 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise
http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/enforce/pdfs/riboat-laws.pdf
http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/enforce/pdfs/riboat-laws.pdf
South Carolina
Prohibited period: From sunset to sunrise
No person shall operate a vessel on any waters of this State towing a person or persons on water skis, aquaplane, a surfboard, or similar devices, nor shall any person be engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning, surfboarding, or similar activity at any time between the hours from sunset to sunrise.
https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t50c021.php
South Dakota
Prohibitied period: 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise
Does your state prohibit water skiing during any specific time of the day/night? 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 before sunrise
https://uscgboating.org/regulations/state-boating-laws-details.php?id=17&title=%5B4.1%5DWater%20Skiing
Tennessee
Prohibited period: Sunset to sunrise
Texas
Prohibited period: 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes prior to sunrise
Utah
Prohibited period: Sunset to sunrise
Vermont
Prohibited period: Sunset to sunrise
Does your state prohibit water skiing during any specific time of the day/night? No skiing between sunset and sunrise.
https://uscgboating.org/regulations/state-boating-laws-details.php?id=17&title=%5B4.1%5DWater%20Skiing
Virginia
Prohibited period: Sunset to sunrise
Water skiing behind a PWC (or towing of people on other devices) is allowed only between sunrise to sunset. Check the official sunrise and sunset times for your area.
https://dwr.virginia.gov/boating/wog/water-skiing-safety/
Washington
Prohibited period: 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise
Waterskiing from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise is not permitted.
https://www.boaterexam.com/usa/washington/washington_state_boating_rules_and_regulations.pdf
West Virginia
Prohibited periods: 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise
Water skiing is not permitted between the hours of one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise.
https://www.boatsafe.com/west-virginia-boating-regulations/
Wisconsin
Prohibited period: Sunset to sunrise
Wyoming
Prohibited period: One hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise