Wisconsin Statutes
Wis. Stat. § 30.51 (2026)
Certificate of number and registration; requirements; exemptions
✓ current as of July 2026
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30.51(1)(a)(a) Certificate of number. No person may operate, and no owner may give permission for the operation of, any boat on the waters of this state unless the boat is covered by a certificate of number issued under this chapter or is exempt from the certificate of number requirements of this chapter.
30.51(1)(b)(b) Registration. No person may operate, and no owner may give permission for the operation of, any boat on the waters of this state unless the boat is covered by a registration issued under this chapter or is exempt from the registration requirements of this chapter.
30.51(2)(a)(a) Exemptions from both certificate of number and registration requirements. A boat is exempt from both the certificate of number and the registration requirements of this chapter if it is:
30.51(2)(a)2.2. A nonmotorized boat which is a sailboat but which either is 12 feet in length or less or is a sailboard.
30.51(2)(a)3.3. Covered by a valid certificate of number issued under federal law or a federally approved numbering system of another state, with the identification number properly displayed on each side of the forward half, but this exemption does not apply if the boat has been within this state for a period in excess of 60 consecutive days or if this state is the state of principal use of the boat.
30.51(2)(a)3m.3m. Covered by a valid certificate of number issued under a federally approved numbering system under a registration program established by a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band, if all of the following apply:
30.51(2)(a)3m.a.a. The registration program of the tribe or band is covered by an agreement under s. 23.35.
30.51(2)(a)3m.b.b. The boat displays the identification number required by the tribe or band on each side of the forward half.
30.51(2)(a)3m.c.c. The boat has not been, for more than 60 consecutive days, in that portion of this state that is outside the boundaries of the reservation where it is registered.
30.51(2)(a)3m.d.d. The area of this state that is outside of the reservation where it is registered is not the area in which the boat is used or will be used most during the year.
30.51(2)(a)4.4. Operated within a period of 60 days after application for a certificate of number has been made and the required fee has been paid, if proof of application is carried on board.
30.51(2)(a)5.5. From a country other than the United States temporarily using the waters of this state.
30.51(2)(a)6.6. A military or public boat of the United States, except recreational-type public vessels.
30.51(2)(a)7.7. A boat whose owner is a state or subdivision of a state, which is used principally for governmental purposes, and which is clearly identifiable.
30.51(2)(a)9.9. Present in this state, for a period of not to exceed 10 days, for the express purpose of competing in a race conducted under a permit from a municipality or an authorized agency of the U.S. government.
30.51(2)(b)(b) Exemption from certificate of number requirements. A boat is exempt from the certificate of number requirements of this chapter if it is a federally documented vessel.
30.51(2)(c)(c) Exemption from registration requirements. A boat is exempt from the registration requirements of this chapter if it is:
30.51(2)(c)2.2. A federally documented vessel which is a commercial fishing boat operated under a license issued under s. 29.519.
30.51(2)(c)3.3. A federally documented vessel with a home port located outside this state. This exemption does not apply if the boat has been within this state for a period in excess of 60 consecutive days or if this state is the state of principal use of the boat.
30.51(2)(c)4.4. Operated within 60 days after an application for registration is made and the required fee is paid if proof of the application for registration is carried on board the boat.
30.51 HistoryHistory: 1973 c. 302; 1979 c. 275; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 279; 1993 a. 405; 1997 a. 198, 248; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 288.
30.51 AnnotationThe boating registration law does not violate article IX, section 1, of the Wisconsin Constitution. State v. Jackman, 60 Wis. 2d 700, 211 N.W.2d 480 (1973).
30.51 AnnotationThe state has jurisdiction to enforce this section over tribal members operating motorboats on non-reservation waters. Enforcement does not conflict with members’ treaty rights or federal law and is not discriminatory. State v. Big John, 146 Wis. 2d 741, 432 N.W.2d 576 (1988).
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8
cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1979–2025 · leading case: State v. Big John, 432 N.W.2d 576 (Wis. 1988).
State v. Big John, 432 N.W.2d 576 (Wis. 1988). “1 Section 30.51, Stats., provides as follows: "30.”
State v. Whitebird, 329 N.W.2d 218 (Wis. Ct. App. 1982). “Section 30.51 (1) does not purport to regulate fishing rights, and it does not infringe on White- *253 bird’s and Lemieux’s rights to fish where, when, and with what they want.”
State v. Matthews, 2001 WI App 243 (Wis. Ct. App. 2001). “1982), this court concluded that Wis. Stat. § 30.51 (1) (1981), requiring boats operating on Lake Superior to display valid state certificates, could be enforced against enrolled members of an Indian band.”
North Shore Sav. & Loan Ass'n v. Jones (In Re Jones), 88 B.R. 899 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. 1988). “, requires a certificate of title for boats, whereas Wis.Stat. § 30.51 requires the issuance of a number by the Department of Natural Resources for identification purposes only.”
State v. Vill. of Lake Delton, 286 N.W.2d 622 (Wis. Ct. App. 1979). “2d 480 (1973), the supreme court upheld the statewide boat licensing requirements in sec. 30.51, Stats., and modified its holding in Tolzmann as follows: The words “charge” for the use of navigable waters was unfortunately used in Madison v.”
State v. Big John, 409 N.W.2d 455 (Wis. Ct. App. 1987). “Section 30.51 (2) (a)3, Stats. The state’s interest in enforcing sec.”
Heyerholm v. Johnson (Bankr. W.D. Wis. 2025). “See Wis. Stat. § 30.51 (1). No duty to insure has been established.”
Edyta Cullen v. Paul Franecki (Wis. Ct. App. 2025). “Like the demolition derby vehicle in Schleusner, the boat in this case was not designed for use mainly on a public road and was not being used on a public road at the time of the accident. ¶11 The Cullens offer several arguments in favor of coverage, none of which are persuasive.”
— Wis. Stat. § 30.51(1) — 5 cases
State v. Big John, 432 N.W.2d 576 (Wis. 1988). “1 Section 30.51, Stats., provides as follows: "30.”
State v. Whitebird, 329 N.W.2d 218 (Wis. Ct. App. 1982). “Section 30.51 (1) does not purport to regulate fishing rights, and it does not infringe on White- *253 bird’s and Lemieux’s rights to fish where, when, and with what they want.”
State v. Vill. of Lake Delton, 286 N.W.2d 622 (Wis. Ct. App. 1979). “2d 480 (1973), the supreme court upheld the statewide boat licensing requirements in sec. 30.51, Stats., and modified its holding in Tolzmann as follows: The words “charge” for the use of navigable waters was unfortunately used in Madison v.”
State v. Matthews, 2001 WI App 243 (Wis. Ct. App. 2001). “1982), this court concluded that Wis. Stat. § 30.51 (1) (1981), requiring boats operating on Lake Superior to display valid state certificates, could be enforced against enrolled members of an Indian band.”
State v. Big John, 409 N.W.2d 455 (Wis. Ct. App. 1987). “Section 30.51 (2) (a)3, Stats. The state’s interest in enforcing sec.”
— Wis. Stat. § 30.51(2) — 1 case
State v. Vill. of Lake Delton, 286 N.W.2d 622 (Wis. Ct. App. 1979). “2d 480 (1973), the supreme court upheld the statewide boat licensing requirements in sec. 30.51, Stats., and modified its holding in Tolzmann as follows: The words “charge” for the use of navigable waters was unfortunately used in Madison v.”
— Wis. Stat. § 30.51(2)(a) — 1 case
State v. Big John, 432 N.W.2d 576 (Wis. 1988). “1 Section 30.51, Stats., provides as follows: "30.”
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