| Rule | What it means for a paddler |
|---|---|
| Life jackets | One USCG-approved life jacket on board for every person. |
| Kids under 13 | Must wear a life jacket on any vessel that's moving. |
| Throwable device | Not required on canoes and kayaks. |
| Registration | Not required for canoes and kayaks without a motor. |
| After dark | Have a white light ready at hand. Under 16 feet, a flashlight is fine. |
| Young paddlers | Children under 12 may operate a non-motorized Class A vessel. |
| Alcohol | Boating-under-the-influence limit is 0.08, or 0.02 under 21. |
What about paddleboards? The handbook doesn't name stand-up paddleboards specifically. Play it safe and follow the same life jacket rules, and wear a leash.
Renting? Ask about life jackets, including kids' sizes, when you book.
Don't own a boat? Rent a kayak or paddleboard from Murphs Surf Shop at Little River Marina or Glade Marina, with live prices and booking online.
See rental locationsPaddle Allatoona · Dodge logs, geese and jet skis across 10 levels of the lake. Free, works on your phone.
Play the gameQuestions
Do you have to wear a life jacket in a kayak in Georgia?
Adults must have a USCG-approved life jacket on board for each person. Children under 13 must wear one while the vessel is moving.
Do kayaks need to be registered in Georgia?
Not if they have no motor. Canoes and kayaks without motors don't need registration.
Can you kayak at night on Lake Allatoona?
Georgia allows it with a white light ready at hand to show in time to prevent a collision; for boats under 16 feet, a flashlight works. Corps park gates close at night, so plan where you'll take out.
Can you get a BUI on a kayak?
Georgia's boating-under-the-influence limit is a 0.08 blood alcohol level, and 0.02 for operators under 21.
Sources
Checked October 16, 2026. Fees and hours change; confirm with the operator before you go.