The department shall license a boat based on the length of the boat and the type of propulsion, provided that a temporary boat license may be issued to a boat if the boat's owner or operator is a participant in a permitted fishing tournament. All boats must be licensed according to the following schedule:

1. (1) Nonmotorized boats over twelve feet and boats propelled solely by electric trolling motors: one year, eighteen dollars. Nonmotorized canoes owned by nonprofit youth organizations are exempt from license requirements when being used for organizational activities;
2. (2) Motorboats under nineteen feet: one year, thirty dollars;
3. (3) Motorboats nineteen feet and over: one year, fifty-five dollars; and
4. (4) Temporary fishing tournament boat license: ten consecutive days, fifty dollars.

Source: 10 SDR 120, effective July 1, 1984; 11 SDR 30, effective August 30, 1984; 14 SDR 57, effective October 21, 1987; 22 SDR 97, effective January 23, 1996; 27 SDR 126, effective June 6, 2001; 35 SDR 223, effective April 6, 2009; 37 SDR 53, effective September 27, 2010; 42 SDR 97, effective January 5, 2016 ; 46 SDR 74, effective December 2, 2019 ; 51 SDR 53, effective November 11, 2024 .

General Authority: SDCL 32-3A- 1 , 32-3A-11 (5).

Law Implemented: SDCL 32-3A-11 (5).

Prior versions effective: 2019-12-02, 2016-01-05, 2010-09-27.