Deadline To Register Iowa Boats Is Approaching

Here's a reminder that 2016 is a boat registration year. Iowans are expected to register about 235,000 boats before the April 30 deadline.

According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), boat registrations are handled by county recorders in the state. Boat owners should bring their current registration to the recorder’s office in the county where they live at the time of renewal.

Non-residents who register their boat in Iowa should go to the county where the boat is primarily used.

Owners who purchased a boat from a private seller and are registering it in their name, should bring the signed registration and make sure the title is signed over to them (if applicable).

Boat registrations are good for three years. The fees go to support water trails, navigation enforcement, aquatic invasive species, boater education and safety, and the registration system.