How to register a boat in Arizona
Register your motorized watercraft before use
Only motorized watercraft — anything propelled by machinery powered by electricity, fuel, or steam, including a sailboat with an auxiliary motor — must be registered before operating on Arizona waters. AZGFD issues the registration within 30 days of receiving a valid application.
Apply to AZGFD
Register through the AZGFD online watercraft portal, in person at any Game and Fish office, or by mail using the Application for Arizona Watercraft Certificate of Number (Form 1532). The application captures length, manufacturer, model, year, HIN, propulsion and fuel type, and residency.
Provide proof of ownership and the HIN
Bring proof of ownership — a bill of sale, manufacturer's certificate of origin, out-of-state registration from a non-titling state, or a USCG Certificate of Documentation — plus the hull identification number. AZGFD will not register a watercraft without a HIN.
Display your AZ number and decal
Paint or attach the AZ number to each side of the forward half of the hull, reading left to right, in block characters at least three inches high in a contrasting color. Affix the validation decal three inches forward of the "AZ" on both sides.
Arizona registration fees
Arizona's base watercraft registration fee is set by length, per Arizona Administrative Code R12-4-504. On top of the base fee, Arizona charges a Boating Safety Infrastructure Fee — a resident amount bundled into annual registration, and a higher Nonresident Boating Safety Infrastructure Fee for out-of-state boats principally operated in Arizona.
| Class | Vessel length | Base fee |
|---|---|---|
| 12 ft and less | 12 ft and less | $20.00 |
| Over 12 to 16 ft | 12 ft 1 in to 16 ft | $22.00 |
| Over 16 to 20 ft | 16 ft 1 in to 20 ft | $30.00 |
| Over 20 to 26 ft | 20 ft 1 in to 26 ft | $35.00 |
| Over 26 to 39 ft | 26 ft 1 in to 39 ft | $39.00 |
| Over 39 to 64 ft | 39 ft 1 in to 64 ft | $44.00 |
| 64 ft and over | 64 ft 1 in and over | $66.00 |
Base registration fees from R12-4-504. A separate Boating Safety Infrastructure Fee is added (a higher Nonresident version applies to out-of-state boats principally operated in Arizona); confirm the current combined total on the AZGFD fees schedule. A late-registration penalty of $5 applies unless the renewal is postmarked before expiration.
Titling in Arizona
Arizona does not title boats. It is a registration-only state: AZGFD issues a Certificate of Number and does not record liens or security interests, so proof of ownership rests on the bill of sale and the registration record rather than a state title.
Because there is no state title, a federally documented vessel is handled through registration only. If a documented, motorized vessel is principally operated in Arizona, it must still meet Arizona's requirements — the AZ number and decal and the boating-safety fee — even though its ownership is recorded federally on the USCG Certificate of Documentation. The distinction between the two systems is explained in state registration vs USCG documentation. AZGFD accepts a Certificate of Documentation or a USCG letter of deletion as ownership documentation when a documented vessel joins the Arizona rolls.
HIN requirements
Arizona will not register a watercraft that has no hull identification number (HIN). For a watercraft built after November 1, 1972, AZGFD verifies that the HIN complies with federal standards under 33 C.F.R. Part 181 and may assign a replacement number.
A state-assigned HIN is issued only in narrow cases — when the missing number resulted from a manufacturer error, a governmental mistake, or the watercraft is homemade. When no ownership documentation exists, a Statement of Facts form is accepted. Affixed hull characters must be at least a quarter-inch high, on the starboard side of the transom within two inches of the top (or, on a non-transom hull, on the starboard outboard side within a foot of the stern).
Before you apply, decode any existing hull number with the HIN decoder to confirm the manufacturer and model year match your ownership paperwork.
Renewal
Arizona registration runs 12 months but expiration is staggered across the calendar based on the last two digits of the AZ number — not a single December 31 date. During transition, a renewal may run 7 to 18 months with the fee prorated. Dealer and government registrations expire October 31, and livery and commercial registrations expire November 30. There is no penalty if the renewal is postmarked before expiration; otherwise the full fee plus a $5 late penalty applies.
Exemptions
Non-motorized watercraft — canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, rowboats, and non-motorized sailboats — are fully exempt from registration; add a trolling motor and the craft becomes motorized and must be registered. A nonresident may operate on Arizona waters using a valid home-state registration for up to 90 days per year before Arizona registration and the nonresident boating-safety fee are required. Military and public vessels of the United States (other than recreational-type public vessels) and foreign watercraft temporarily on Arizona waterways are exempt.
Frequently asked questions
Does Arizona title boats?
No. Arizona is a registration-only state — the Game and Fish Department issues a Certificate of Number, never a certificate of title, and does not record liens. Proof of ownership is your bill of sale plus the registration record.
Do I have to register a kayak or canoe in Arizona?
No — non-motorized craft such as kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and non-motorized sailboats are exempt. Adding any motor, including a trolling motor, makes it a motorized watercraft that must be registered.
Do I register a USCG-documented boat in Arizona?
Yes, if it is motorized and principally operated in Arizona. AZGFD accepts the Certificate of Documentation as ownership proof; the boat still needs the AZ number and decal and must pay the boating-safety fee, even though there is no state title.
When does my Arizona watercraft registration expire?
On a staggered month set by the last two digits of your AZ number over a 12-month cycle — not a universal December 31 date. Dealer and government boats expire October 31, and livery and commercial boats November 30.
I'm visiting from another state — can I use my out-of-state registration?
Yes, for up to 90 days per year. After that, or if Arizona becomes the state of principal operation, you must register in Arizona and pay the Nonresident Boating Safety Infrastructure Fee.
Primary sources
Last verified .
- AZGFD — Register and Renew Your Registration (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- AZGFD — Boating Registration Frequently Asked Questions (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- AZGFD — Fees and Forms (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Arizona Administrative Code R12-4-504 (registration fees) and R12-4-505 (HIN) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
Independent reference tool — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard or the National Maritime Center. Vessel data is derived from public USCG sources and may lag official records; always verify with the issuing authority.
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