Official fees
North Dakota boat registration fee chart
Under 16 ft (includes motorized canoes)
$30
3-year registration
16 ft to under 20 ft
$45
3-year registration
20 ft and over
$60
3-year registration
Aquatic nuisance species (ANS) fee
$15
per registration, all motorized watercraft
Non-motorized canoes/kayaks/paddleboards
Exempt
Figures verified July 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your county's NDDOT motor vehicle branch office - counties can add small local fees.
Step by step
How to register a boat in North Dakota
- 1
Have your bill of sale or manufacturer's statement of origin ready - there's no title to transfer.
- 2
Register online at the ND Game and Fish Department's watercraft portal, or at a licensed vendor.
- 3
Pick the length class and pay the 3-year fee plus the $15 ANS fee.
- 4
Display your registration numbers and validation decal on the bow as instructed.
- 5
Fees are prorated if you're registering partway through the current 3-year cycle.
- Register with
- ND Game and Fish Dept.
- Term
- 3 years (2026–2028 cycle)
- Fee range
- $30–$60
- ANS fee
- $15, all motorized craft
- Boat titles
- None - ND doesn't title boats
Overview
The other thing that surprises new boat owners: North Dakota doesn't title boats at all. Your registration certificate and a bill of sale are the whole proof of ownership - there's no separate title document or title fee to budget for, unlike titling a car or an outboard motor in some other states. Non-motorized canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards don't need to register at all.
Same state, other costs
More North Dakota vehicle costs
Common questions
North Dakota boat registration FAQ
- How much does it cost to register a boat in North Dakota?
- $30 under 16 feet, $45 for 16 to under 20 feet, $60 for 20 feet and over - for the entire three-year cycle, not per year - plus a $15 aquatic nuisance species fee on every motorized registration.
- Do I need a title for my boat in North Dakota?
- No. North Dakota doesn't issue boat titles at all - your registration certificate combined with a bill of sale is the accepted proof of ownership, which is simpler (and cheaper) than states that title boats and outboard motors separately.
- Do canoes and kayaks need to register?
- Not if they're non-motorized - canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards without a motor are exempt regardless of length. Add a trolling motor to a canoe and it falls into the under-16-foot registration category at $30.
- Why is registration valid for three years instead of one?
- North Dakota moved watercraft registration to a three-year cycle; the current cycle runs 2026 through 2028. Fees are prorated for anyone registering partway through, so you're not overpaying for a partial term.
- What's the aquatic nuisance species fee for?
- It's a dedicated $15 charge on every motorized watercraft registration that funds North Dakota's invasive-species prevention programs - it applies alongside the length-based fee, not instead of it.
- Does my boat trailer register separately?
- Yes - the trailer is a vehicle and registers with NDDOT like any other trailer, at the flat $20/year trailer rate, completely separate from the boat's Game and Fish paperwork.
Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.
