O.C.G.A. § 52-7-6 (2019)

A vessel shall not be required to be numbered under Code Sections 52-7-4 and 52-7-5 if it is:

(1) Not motor propelled; provided, however, that sailboats 12 feet or more in length shall require registration;

(2) Covered by a certificate of number in full force and effect which has been issued to it pursuant to federal law or a federally approved numbering system of another state, provided that such vessel shall

WATERS OF STATE, PORTS & WATERCRAFT not be used on the waters of this state for a period in excess of 60 consecutive days;

(3) From a country other than the United States, provided that such vessel shall not be used on the waters of this state for a period in excess of 60 consecutive days;

(4) A vessel whose owner is the United States, a state, or a subdivision thereof, which vessel is used exclusively in the nonrecreation public service and which is clearly identifiable as such;

(5) A vessel’s lifeboat if the boat is used solely for lifesaving purposes; this exemption does not include dinghies, tenders, speedboats, or other types of craft carried aboard vessels and used for other than lifesaving purposes;

(6) A vessel that is used exclusively for racing;

(7) A vessel belonging to a class of boats which has been exempted from numbering by the department after the department has found that:

(A) The numbering of vessels of such class will not materially aid in their identification;

(B) An agency of the federal government has a numbering system applicable to the class of vessel to which the vessel in question belongs; and

(C) The vessel would also be exempt from numbering if it were subject to the federal law;

(8) Operating temporarily by virtue of evidence that an application for a certificate of number has been submitted within the previous 60 days; or

(9) Used exclusively on privately owned ponds or lakes, except for those licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.