Are Lifejackets Required for Adults When Kayaking? (State by State Breakdown)
When kayaking safety always comes first, and personal floatation devices (PDFs or life jackets) are one of the best ways to keep you safe on the water. But, what about if you’re kayaking in extremely calm water, or in a small body of water like a pond. Are life jackets really necessary?
Each state has its own laws regulating the use of life jackets when kayaking. Most states do not require adults to wear life jackets, but every state requires adults to carry a life jacket inside their kayak. There are a few states that do require adults wear PDFs at all times or at specific dates during the year.
We’ll review each state’s rules in the table below before going over the benefits of life jackets, even for adults, when kayaking.
Disclaimer: The table below only summarizes my understanding of the laws as of January 2022. This is not meant to take the place of your own investigation into the laws for your state. We highly recommend you confirm the information below with your state’s legal authority setting and updating these laws and requirements.
State by State Breakdown of Life Jacket Requirements for Adults
| State | Law/Guideline as of January 2022 |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Alaska | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Arizona | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Arkansas | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| California | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Colorado | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Connecticut | All adults must wear a life jacket in a kayak from October 1st – May 31st each year. At other times of the year adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Delaware | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Florida | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Georgia | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Hawaii | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Idaho | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Illinois | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Indiana | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Iowa | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Kansas | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Kentucky | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Louisiana | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak. If the boat has a motor steered by hand tiller or steering arm, then adults are required to wear life jackets. |
| Maine | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Maryland | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Massachusetts | Adults must wear life jackets between September 15th – May 15th. Outside of that time adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Michigan | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD or a Type IV throwable PFD inside the kayak |
| Minnesota | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Mississippi | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Missouri | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Montana | If two or more people are in the kayak, then each person must wear a PFD. If only one person is in the kayak then adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Nebraska | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Nevada | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| New Hampshire | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| New Jersey | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| New Mexico | Adults must always wear a PFD the entire time they are in the kayak |
| New York | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| North Carolina | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| North Dakota | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Ohio | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Oklahoma | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Oregon | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Pennsylvania | Adults must wear PFDs between November 1st – April 30th. Outside of these dates adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Rhode Island | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| South Carolina | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| South Dakota | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Tennessee | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Texas | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Utah | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Vermont | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Virginia | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Washington | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| West Virginia | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Wisconsin | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
| Wyoming | Adults are not required to wear life jackets but must have an approved PFD for them inside the kayak |
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What Type of Life Jacket Should I Bring Kayaking?
All 50 states require at least having a life jacket in your kayak while you’re on the water. So, even if you don’t plan to wear it, you’ll need to carry it with you. Plus, you never know, you may actually need to use it one day.
If so, you’ll want to have the right type of life jacket for you. So lets review the four types so you’re prepared to choose one for your next kayaking trip.
Type I PFD
Type 1 PFDs are the most buoyant of all the life jacket types. They’re designed so that if you’re unconscious, they’ll flip you over into a face-up position. So, these are pretty heavy-duty life jackets.
Because of this they can be bulky. But if you’re unable to swim, or you’re purchasing one for a child this may be your best bet.
Type II PFD
Type 2 PFDs are created for rough water conditions and for those participating in fairly active water sports. These will give you the best range of motion, but are slightly less buoyant and bulky than the Type 1 PFDs.
You’ll often see sailers, jet skiers, water skiers wearing these types of PFDs. If you plan to do any white-water kayaking, or a lot of sea kayaking, then you’ll probably want to choose a type 2 vest.
Type III PFD
Type 3 PFDs have a similar buoyancy as Type 2s, but these are designed for calmer water conditions where you can always see land. This isn’t because they’re less buoyant, but just because they can’t take the same beating as the Type 2 versions.
If you’ll only ever kayak in small, calm, bodies of water then this should work for you.
Type IV PFD
Type 4 PFDs are actually not wearable at all. These are designed to be thrown to a person in the water who is conscious and able to grab ahold of it. Michigan is currently the only state that allows these in place of a standard Type I-III wearable life jacket.
But, even if it’s allowed I wouldn’t recommend this as your primary PFD in any kayak. I always recommend a wearable PFD anytime you’re out on the water.
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