Apply for FWC’s livery permit. A livery may not offer a livery vessel for lease or rent without possessing a valid no-cost permit from the Commission (subsection 327.54(2), F.S.) The forms and required documents can be e-mailed to [email protected]; if you choose to utilize regular mail, please send them to: FWC Boating&Waterways Livery permits will be renewed annually, the expiration date will be set to the business creation date or birthdate of the individual named on the permit. Yes, you may submit the proper paperwork and apply for a renewal permit before the expiration of your current permit. However, the permit will not be active until after the previous permit expiration date. No, the livery permit and permit request forms are free. If you add or remove vessels or if your information changes, you will need to contact FWC of any changes within 10 days of the change. You can contact them by phone 850-488-5600 or email [email protected]. You are not required to display your permit, however if you like you can print your permit and display at your business location. You should also have your digital version of your livery permit saved to your mobile or business devices to easily locate it, when requested by a law enforcement officer or customer. Any staff or operators providing the pre-rental instruction must have a completed FL boating safety education course approved by NASBLA. Any employee of a company that is contracted with FWC in the Temporary Certificate Program must also have a completed the FWC Online Livery Operator’s Course. Employees providing the Pre-Rental/Pre-Ride instruction must have completed a Florida Boater Safety Education Course. Proof of completion must be maintained at the rental/business location. Approved Boater Safety Courses can be found on the FWC Boating Safety Courses page. In order to operate a motorboat of 10 horsepower or greater, Florida law requires anyone who was born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, to successfully complete an approved boating safety course and obtain a Boating Safety Education Identification Card issued by the FWC. Florida does not have a “boating license.” The Boating Safety Education Identification Card is proof of successful completion of the educational requirements and is valid for life. Yes, there are some exemptions. The exemptions are listed below. 18 years of age. A livery may not knowingly lease, hire or rent a personal watercraft to any person who is under 18 years of age. (This refers to the agreement/contract for the rental – not the operation of the personal watercraft. The minimum operation age is 14 years of age.) Visitors from other states (who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988) who want to rent a vessel of 10 horsepower or greater are required to have certification of completion of an approved boating safety education course. Florida law allows a visitor from another state to use proof of completion (in the form of a card, certificate or something similar) from another state as long as it meets the standards established by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). Most states (or their contractors) issue certification cards to students who successfully complete an approved course. (The card or certificate should have a statement or logo that identifies the course as having met NASBLA standards.) This applies only to visitors from other states; Florida residents must present proof of completion of a Florida boating safety course (approved by NASBLA and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission). Table of Contents
General Info
What type of vessels makes my business require a livery permit?
What is required of the livery?
Where do I send the forms to request a livery permit?
Attn: Livery Permit
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600Which documents do I need to send to FWC to obtain a livery permit?
What type of vessels require me to have liability insurance and what is the amount of coverage I need?
How long is my permit active for?
Can I apply for a renewal permit before the permit’s due date?
Is there any cost associated with the livery permit?
Do I have to display my permit anywhere?
Who needs to take a livery operator’s course or boating education course?
What are the boating safety education requirements for livery staff?
Who needs a boating safety education ID card to operate a vessel legally?
Are some people born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, exempt from the above requirements?
How old must a person be for a livery to rent them a personal watercraft?
What type of certification of completion of boating safety education (for people who are renting a boat) can a livery accept for an out-of-state visitor?
Florida Boating Safety Act of 2022 FAQ
05/03/2023