# Kayaking in NY State, do I need a launch permit? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 31, 2015, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kayaking-in-ny-state-do-i-need-a-launch-permit/726691 "2015-07-31T23:37:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kayaking-in-ny-state-do-i-need-a-launch-permit/726691/1 "2015-07-31T23:37:42Z")
I am going to be going on a day trip down the Delaware River. I’ll be entering the river at the 10 mile river boat launch on the NY side. Do I need a NY launch permit? I tried googling it, but my google-fu failed me. I usually Kayak entering on private land and exit on private land, so I never needed a permit. Thanks for any help. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kayaking-in-ny-state-do-i-need-a-launch-permit/726691/2 "2015-07-31T23:44:37Z")
Tried to edit but missed it. I live in PA. So would a PA permit work? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kayaking-in-ny-state-do-i-need-a-launch-permit/726691/3 "2015-08-01T11:12:49Z")
You don’t need to register kayaks: > **[New York Boat Registration Instructions | DMV.ORG](https://www.dmv.org/ny-new-york/boat-registration.php)** > > Information regarding New York boat registration, operating licenses, boating safety courses, and insurance. This site lists launch sites: > **[Boat Launch Sites - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation](https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7832.html)** > > A list of New York State Boat Launching Sites by county. This may be applicable: [http://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/kayak/rules](http://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/kayak/rules) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kayaking-in-ny-state-do-i-need-a-launch-permit/726691/4 "2015-08-01T13:21:45Z")
most states only require licenses if your boat has a motor. I saw a canoe once with a license number and the guy told me he had a small motor he used sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kayaking-in-ny-state-do-i-need-a-launch-permit/726691/5 "2015-08-01T13:42:34Z")
FWIW Minnesota requires registration of kayaks (it is ~$15 for three years) [http://dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/watercraft/index.html](http://dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/watercraft/index.html) (I had great fun registering my home built kayak) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kayaking-in-ny-state-do-i-need-a-launch-permit/726691/6 "2015-08-01T14:29:25Z")
I do a lot of kayaking in NY State and have never paid a launch fee, except in cases where there’s a fee to get into the park where the put-in point is. Maybe I’ve just avoided it all these years, and it’s true that all the paddling I’ve done on the Delaware has been from the PA side, but I wouldn’t think you’d have an issue. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kayaking-in-ny-state-do-i-need-a-launch-permit/726691/7 "2015-08-01T18:58:54Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > I do a lot of kayaking in NY State and have never paid a launch fee, except in cases where there’s a fee to get into the park where the put-in point is. Maybe I’ve just avoided it all these years, and it’s true that all the paddling I’ve done on the Delaware has been from the PA side, but I wouldn’t think you’d have an issue. Well, I now that PA does require a launch permit to use public boat launches. So I guess you were just lucky. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kayaking-in-ny-state-do-i-need-a-launch-permit/726691/8 "2015-08-01T22:26:50Z")
> [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](#): > > Well, I now that PA does require a launch permit to use public boat launches. So I guess you were just lucky. No, no, in PA I paid! I believe it was at Milford; might have been Dingmans. Maybe both, at different times. There were large signs threatening me with death or worse if I did not stuff the envelope with $$ and deposit it in the right place. So, I did. In NY, on the other hand…