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Lake George Boating Rules & Regulations

Boating is a hugely popular activity on pristine Lake George. To ensure you follow the rules, stay safe, and can continue boating on the lake for years to come check out the rules and regulations you'll need to know below.

Jump to: FinesInspections | Boating Certificates | Before Boating | Etiquette | Speed & Right of Way | Restrictions

Village dock parking sign and parking meter

Overtime Fines & Penalties

Responding to numerous complaints, the Village of Lake George announced in 2021 an increase in fines and penalties for boating violations.

Last summer of saw a significant increase in boaters using public docks for extended periods of time both day and night. Some vessels were docked for weeks at a time.

Overtime parking fines at Village public docks are now $50 and overnight parking is $100. In addition, the Village has the right to prohibit certain boats from using the docks, or face a $500 fine.

Public docks are available from 9am to 5am daily. Parking is $3 per hour for any size boat. Contact Mayor Robert M. Blais with any questions at 518.668.5771, extension 8.

Get Your Vessel Inspected

Regulations to prohibit bringing aquatic invasive species into Lake George began with the 2014 boating season and continue today. Vessel inspection technicians must inspect every trailered boat before entry into the water and decontaminate the vessel, if necessary. Once the boat has been inspected, it will receive the vessel inspection control seal (VICS). No boat will be allowed to launch without an intact VICS Seal. These rules apply to all 86 public and private launches, with a $500 fee for violators.

In addition, if a DEC inspection station adjacent to a public waterbody in the Adirondack Park (which includes Lake George) is open for operation, boaters must have either a self-issuing certification or decontamination certificate from a DEC inspection station before launching into the waterbody.

Boat inspections take place at six stations around the lake:

  • Million Dollar Beach Launch: 139 Beach Road, Lake George, NY
  • Dunham's Bay Dock & Launch: 2036 Bay Road, Queensbury, NY
  • Huletts Landing Marina: 6068 Lakeside Way, Huletts Landing, NY
  • Norowal Marina in Bolton: 21 Sagamore Road, Bolton Landing, NY
  • Mossy Point Public Boat Launch: 158 Black Point Road, Ticonderoga, NY
  • Rogers Rock Public Campground: 9894 Lakeshore Drive, Hague, NY

Note: The Transfer Road Inspection Station is now closed.

Everyone knows the phrase, "It is all fun and games until _____". On a populated lake, these sorts of situations can occur, and while everyone also knows the phrase "accidents happen", many unsafe situations can be easily avoided simply by being familiar with the rules.

Lake George is a unique lake, and therefore it has special laws that differ from other lakes in the region and in New York State. These laws are enforced by the Lake George Park Commission (LGPC) and the Warren County Sheriff's Department. A boater should not enter the water without first realizing some of the different rules that Lake George maintains.

Read more about boat inspections from the Lake George Park Commission »

Aquire a Boating Safety Certificate

cover of New York Safe Boating pamphlet

Photo credit: Alan Nudi

Brianna's Law dictates that all operators of motorized boats and personal watercraft need to get a boating safety certificate by 2025. If you're an out-of-state resident New York State recognizes the boating safety certificate issued by your home state. The law has a phased-in approach:

  • Those born on or after January 1, 1993 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2020.
  • Those born on or after January 1, 1988 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2022.
  • Those born on or after January 1, 1983 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2023.
  • Those born on or after January 1, 1978 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2024.
  • All motor boat operators regardless of age will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2025.

Get more info on safety courses and find one near you »

Read Up on Things to Know Before Boating

grandfather and toddler on boat

Before the boat touches the water, be aware of the following:

  • All vessels that are 18ft or longer, or are mechanically propelled by motors of 10hp or greater, must register with the LGPC and display a registration decal.
  • If the boat was painted with anti-fouling paint containing TBT, or Tributylin, it is not allowed in the lake, unless it was applied in New York State by a registered Commercial Pesticides Applicator (for more information, see the New York State Department of Environmental Convservation website, listed below).
  • Remember to be prepared for sudden weather changes. The shape of Lake George, 32 miles long and 3 miles wide at its breadth, makes it oblong and narrow and ripe for furious winds.
  • Make sure there is a life-preserver onboard for every passenger.
  • Powerboats in Classes A and I must carry a fire extinguisher, navigation lights by its length, a horn or whistle that is audible from a distance of at least a half mile, distress signals such as flares, an anchor of sufficient strength and a line of sufficient length.
  • Lake George does not have an open container law for boating. While the operator of a vessel can legally consume alcohol, if they are stopped and found to be 0.08 BAC or higher, then he/she will be arrested for boating while intoxicated. If their level is found to be .04 to .07 BAC, he/she can be arrested for boating while ability impaired by alcohol. Passengers may drink on private boats, and it is recommended you have a designated captain on board who has not consumed alcohol.
  • Clean the boat onshore to prevent "aquatic exotics" and other invasive species from overpopulating the lake. (See boat inspection policies above)

Respect Other Users of the Water

kids swimming and playing by the shore

Because the lake is not exclusively used for boating, vessels must respect less powerful users of the water.

  • Vessels should avoid red scuba divers' flags, swimmers, paddle boats, and other small objects in the water by a distance of at least 100 feet.
  • Personal water craft (PWC) may not be operated within 500 feet of the outer boundary of a designated swimming or mooring area.
  • Vessels cannot be anchored, moored, or recreated from within 200 feet of private property shoreline without the express permission of the property owner or lessee.
  • Canoe paddlers should be warned that canoes are better for shoreline boating than use in the main lake.

Be Aware of Speed Limits & Right-of-Way Rules

no wake zone slow down sign

Here's what to know about speed limits:

  • The speed limit is 5mph when within 100 feet of shore, dock, or stationary vessels such as boats, rafts, floats, etc.
  • In the main lake, the limit for daytime hours from 6:00am to 9:00pm is 45 mph.
  • In the nighttime, the limit drops to 25mph until 6:00am.
  • Buoys throughout the lake alert boaters of speed restrictions in certain areas.

And these are the right-of-way rules:

  • In crossing situations, the boat on the starboard (right) side has the right of way.
  • A boat being overtaken by another also has the right of way.
  • Powerboats must yield to sailboats that are under sail alone and windsurfers, except when the powerboat is slower.
  • Remember that weather is unpredictable and sudden, and wind gusts can change speed and direction.
  • Do not cut in front of the bow of any wind-powered vessel.
  • If two powerboats are meeting head-on or nearly so, they should pass port-to-port (left side facing left side).

Boats with a water ski, waterboard, or tube attached are required to have an observing passenger age 10 or older. Skiers and related personnel must wear life-saving devices. This activity is prohibited from dusk 'til dawn.

Adhere to These Restrictions

view from the water of the shoreline

Because Lake George is a residential and protected area, a few other restrictions apply:

  • No dumping is allowed, and boats are required to have sealed heads and holding tanks for showers and sinks. This prevents pollution to the water which many residents of Lake George use for drinking, and many wildlife species call home.
  • The steep mountains on each bank amplify noise that disturbs locals and visitors alike, so there is a decibel limit of 86 from 50 feet away, and no more than 80 if recorded from 100 or more feet away.
  • Noisy Personal Watercrafts, such as water bikes or jet skis, are only permitted on the lake from 8:00am to 7:00pm, or sunset, whichever is earlier. There are also several Restricted Use Zones on Lake George - including Sandy Bay and Paradise Bay - that are detailed on the LGPC website, listed below.
  • A hydrographic map may be obtained at marinas on the lake.
  • Keep checking the wake of the boat regularly to ensure that it does not become a hazard for populous on the shore, or for other vessels.

Though it looks like a lot of rules, an experienced and courteous boater will know that most of these are common sense safety laws. Each is easily observable and hardly a sinker on the amount of fun there is to be had while visiting Lake George and sailing on the unforgettably stunning waters.

For more information, please visit the Lake George Park Commission website at https://lgpc.ny.gov/ or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation site at https://www.dec.ny.gov/.

See where you can rent a boat on Lake George »

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