Where You Can Ride a Jet Ski (PWC) in California
California lets operators 16 and older ride a personal watercraft (PWC), but not between sunset and sunrise, and each lake or harbor adds its own rules. Here are the places Dockya's pages say allow PWC, and the ones that ban or restrict them.
Updated October 8, 2026
Personal watercraft (PWC), or jet skis, are allowed on many California lakes and bays, but often only in set zones, on set days or with limits on towing. A good number of lakes ban them outright. Start with the state rules, then check the place you plan to ride.
State PWC rules
According to the Division of Boating and Waterways:
- Operators must be 16 or older. Ages 12 to 15 may operate only if supervised on board by an adult at least 18.
- No PWC operation from sunset to sunrise.
- Everyone on a PWC must wear a Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, III or V life jacket.
- Attach the lanyard (engine cutoff) to your person if the PWC has one.
- Since January 1, 2025, all motorized vessel operators need a California Boater Card. Operating a rental vessel is one of the exemptions.
Lakes that allow PWC, with conditions
- Big Bear Lake: PWC only from 7 a.m. to sunset, traveling counter-clockwise. Big Bear Marina rents them.
- Castaic Lake: PWC are limited to the designated area near the dam, may not tow, and must go 5 mph on launching.
- Pyramid Lake: the concessionaire limits the lake to 50 jet skis at once.
- Lake Piru: weekdays only (Monday to Friday), no more than 20 at a time, with an $8 daily PWC permit.
- Puddingstone Lake: from April to September, PWC use the lake on odd calendar days and power boats on even days.
- San Vicente Reservoir: only three-seat PWC, used only to tow a skier, wakeboard or tube, with operators 16 or older.
- Bass Lake: two white-buoyed PWC areas, one across from Millers Landing, and no towing from PWC. The Sheriff's Pollution Control Permit is $50 for a PWC.
- New Hogan Lake: jet skiing is allowed. Modesto Reservoir and Shaver Lake are also used for PWC.
- Millerton Lake: PWC operators must be 16 or older and wear a life jacket.
- Rentals: Silverwood Lake, Lake Sonoma, and on Tahoe at Kings Beach and Camp Richardson Marina. Every motorized craft on Lake Tahoe, jet skis included, must be inspected first.
Coast and Colorado River
- Mission Bay: PWC use designated areas; the south end of North Pacific Passage needs a Lifeguard Services permit on days set by season. Launch at De Anza Cove, Ski Beach or Fiesta Island (not the north tip).
- Pepper Park: a free Port ramp for boats and PWC on San Diego Bay.
- Granada Launch Ramp: a Long Beach sand launch for small vessels and PWC.
- Monterey Harbor: in the marine sanctuary, PWC may launch only from identified harbors and must go directly to the designated zone.
- Colorado River: Moabi Regional Park welcomes PWC; at Mayflower Regional Park wake-zone limits apply to jet skis.
Where PWC are banned or restricted
- Lakes: Whiskeytown (completely prohibited), Lake Del Valle (hydrofoils and e-foils banned too), El Capitan, Lake Jennings, Lake Skinner, Diamond Valley, Lake Hemet, Lake Cuyamaca, Lake Amador, Lake Murray and Lake Gregory.
- Collins Lake: no PWC, defined in its rules as motorized craft under 13 feet and over 25 hp.
- Tomales Bay, including from Miller Boat Launch: not allowed.
- Santa Cruz Main Beach and Wharf: no motorized PWC, including e-foils.
- Clipper Cove: PWC prohibited.
- Huntington Harbour: PWC can't run through the Anaheim Bay restricted area and must be towed through, including from Sunset Aquatic Park.
This guide is general information, not legal advice; rules change, so check the linked pages and posted signs.