Lake Tahoe Boat Ramps & Inspections: 2026 Status and Fees

Every motorized or trailered boat needs a Tahoe watercraft inspection before it can launch on Lake Tahoe, and as of October 2026 the only open station is Meyers in South Lake Tahoe. Fall walk-in days end October 12, 2026; from October 14 the station switches to winter appointments on select Wednesdays through March 2027. Kayaks and paddleboards are inspected free.

This page is checked against the official Tahoe inspection program each season. Fees and dates below are the 2026 program; the next full update is due before the spring 2027 opening.

Status right now (October 2026)

• Inspection station: Meyers Inspection Station, 2175 Keetak St, South Lake Tahoe.
• Fall walk-in days: October 9–12, 2026, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (no new inspections start after 4:30 p.m.).
• Winter: appointment only, select Wednesdays from October 14, 2026 through March 2027, weather permitting. The program says booking opens later on its website.
• Spring: the summer station network and dates for 2027 had not been announced when this page was checked.

Who needs an inspection

• All motorized boats, including hand-launched electric craft, and new boats straight from the dealer.
• Trailered non-motorized boats (sailboats on trailers, for example).
• Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards can be inspected and decontaminated free at any station. Paddlers can also join the Tahoe Keepers program.

Arrive clean, drained and dry: drain the drive unit, sea strainers, bilge, ballast tanks, live wells and storage compartments, and dry your gear. It saves 50% on decontamination.

2026 sticker fees

• Tahoe In & Out: $70 for PWC and boats up to 17 ft, $115 for 17 ft 1 in and up. Unlimited Tahoe Basin inspections for the calendar year.
• Tahoe Only: $50. For boats with an intact Tahoe, Fallen Leaf or Echo seal from a previous season that launch only in those lakes.
• Single inspection: $65 or $95 by length. One inspection plus 7 days of sealing and unsealing.
• Hand-launched electric craft: free sticker; inspection at least once a year.
• Kayaks and paddleboards: free inspection and decontamination.

2026 decontamination fees

• Simple (1–2 water intake systems): $60
• Complex (3+ intakes or ballast): $100
• Attached mussels found: $350 (no discount)

Since 2025, every motorized and trailered boat without a valid Tahoe seal is decontaminated, a step the program added for golden mussels.

Seals: keep yours intact

After inspection your boat is sealed to its trailer. A seal inspector at the ramp removes it when you launch and puts a new one on when you leave. Launch anywhere else and you need a new inspection and decontamination before returning. Launching with a tampered seal violates TRPA Code 63.4, with a minimum $5,000 penalty.

Engines

TRPA prohibits most carbureted two-stroke engines. Direct fuel injected engines and engines certified to 2001 CARB or 2006 EPA standards are allowed.

Where to launch on the California side

Our guides with current details:

• Lake Forest Boat Ramp, Tahoe City
• Kings Beach State Recreation Area, Kings Beach
• Tahoe Keys Marina, South Lake Tahoe
• Camp Richardson Marina, South Lake Tahoe
• Tahoe City Marina, Tahoe City

California's Division of Boating and Waterways also lists public launches at El Dorado Beach (South Lake Tahoe), Lakeside Marina, Meeks Bay Resort & Marina, Homewood High & Dry Marina, Obexer's (Homewood), Sunnyside Marina Resort, Sierra Boat Company (Carnelian Bay), North Tahoe Marina and Tahoe Vista Recreation Area. Season dates and fees are set by each operator, so check before you tow up.

See all ranked launches on our Lake Tahoe boat ramps list, and the full Lake Tahoe boating guide for speed and no-wake rules.