Electric-Only and No-Gas-Motor Lakes in California

Only a few California lakes in Dockya's directory ban gas motors outright, but many more limit what you can bring. Some waters allow only hand, sail or electric power, some city lakes allow only their own rental boats, and some set engine-type or noise rules. Every lake below has a page that states a motor restriction.

Electric, hand or sail power only

• Castaic Lagoon: vessels on the Lagoon must be powered by hand, sail or an electric trolling motor. Gasoline engines are prohibited on Lagoon waters, and a boat that carries one must keep it tilted up. The East Side two-lane ramp is for non-gasoline vessels, and LA County lists daily launch fees of $13 for motorized and $9 for non-motorized vessels. The upper lake, Castaic Lake, is where powerboats go.
• Lake Gregory: gas motors are prohibited and private power boats aren't allowed. You can launch your own kayak, canoe or SUP with a launch pass and the current-year sticker. The motorized boats on the lake, such as Duffy boats and fishing boats with electric motors, are rentals.

Rental boats only, or no private boats

• Dixon Lake: the City of Escondido bans private watercraft of any kind to keep invasive mussels out, so all boating is in City rental rowboats, motorboats, bass boats and pedal boats. Trolling motors are on the restricted-equipment list.
• Lake Wohlford: private watercraft of any kind are prohibited to prevent quagga mussel contamination. The dock rents rowboats, motorboats and bass boats for up to four adults.
• Lake Poway: private motors, anchors and float tubes are prohibited. Motorboats and pedal boats are rented first-come, first-served at the concession, and you must be 16 to rent a motorboat.
• Lake Hodges: as of October 2026 the City lists "No Boat Launch" for private boats, because state dam-safety rules cap the water level. Rentals are available at the concession.

Non-motorized waters and ramps

• Folsom Lake: below the dam, Lake Natoma allows only hand-launched, non-motorized boats, with a 5 mph limit across the lake.
• Lake Oroville: the Thermalito North Forebay ramp is for non-motorized boats only; power boats use the South Forebay.
• Silverwood Lake: the seven-lane main ramp is the only launch for gas-powered boats; the Cleghorn car-top ramp is for non-motorized craft.

Engine-type and noise rules

• Lake Skinner: engines must be four-stroke or direct-injection two-stroke, meeting the 2001 or later California Air Resources Board marine standard, and run on MTBE-free gasoline.
• Diamond Valley Lake: four-stroke engines, or two-strokes that meet the emission standard in Metropolitan's rules; stock engines only, no louder than 75 dBA at 50 feet.
• Lake Tahoe: carbureted two-stroke engines have been banned since 1999; direct-injection two-strokes and four-strokes are allowed.
• Lake Cuyamaca: jet boats and jet skis are prohibited on this no-wake reservoir.
• Collins Lake: no boats with unmuffled or excessively noisy exhausts.

Electric motors and other rules

An electric motor can still count as "motorized" in a lake's rules:

• Lopez Lake and Santa Margarita Lake charge the motorized boat fee for battery and electric boats.
• Lake Berryessa requires inspection of hand-launched craft with electric motors, such as fishing kayaks.
• New Melones Lake exempts hand-launched kayaks, paddleboards and canoes with only paddles or electric trolling motors from its seal program, though they may be inspected.

DMV says any vessel with a motor, no matter how big, must be registered, so check registration and the lake's own rules before adding a trolling motor.

This guide is general information, not legal advice; rules change, so check the linked pages and posted signs.