HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania boaters, anglers, and hunters using small boats and paddlecraft must wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets beginning Sunday, November 1, 2026, under a statewide seasonal safety requirement intended to reduce fatalities from cold-water immersion.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced that the annual requirement will remain in effect through April 30, 2027, covering all Pennsylvania rivers, lakes, streams and other waterways.
The regulation applies to anyone aboard a boat less than 16 feet long, as well as anyone using a kayak, canoe or paddleboard, regardless of the craft’s length. Life jackets must be worn while the vessel is underway or at anchor.
The requirement applies even when air temperatures are relatively warm, because water temperatures can remain dangerously low throughout late fall, winter and early spring.
Cold-water immersion can trigger an involuntary gasp reflex, potentially causing a person to inhale water immediately after falling overboard. The reaction can also produce rapid breathing, panic and an impaired ability to swim.
According to the commission, wearing a life jacket substantially improves the likelihood that someone unexpectedly immersed in cold water can remain afloat until reaching safety or receiving assistance.
Pennsylvania boating accident reports indicate that nearly 80% of boating fatalities involved people who were not wearing life jackets, the agency reported.
The commission also reported a significant reduction in the percentage of cold-weather boating incidents resulting in fatalities since Pennsylvania enacted its seasonal mandatory life jacket requirement in 2012.
The regulation is particularly relevant to anglers and hunters who continue using smaller vessels during colder months, when an unexpected fall into the water can quickly become life-threatening.
The commission additionally recommends that people participating in ice fishing wear life jackets as a precaution against falling through the ice.
The seasonal mandate remains in place through April 30, after which Pennsylvania’s regular boating life jacket requirements continue to apply.
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