Dont Get Pulled Over! Know the Rules.
The last thing anyone wants on their stay here on the Lake is to get pulled over by Lake Patrol for some rule they didn't even know existed. Check out the lake rules below to stay informed.
I am a: Boat
Renter Jetski
Renter Other
Rules for Boat Renters:
•LAKE PATROL officers are
authorized to enforce all laws,
ordinances
and regulations in effect on the waters of Big Bear Lake.
•SANITATION: No refuse shall be thrown into or left on the
shoreline of
the lake; no person shall deposit any type of fish, amphibian
or plant
into the lake.
•ANIMALS must be on a leash no more than 7 feet long while on
District
property.
•RECKLESS OPERATION: No person shall operate a boat, waterski,
or
similar device in a reckless or negligent manner. The owner and or
operator are responsible for any damage caused by their boat, its wake
or its tow.
•BOATING ACCIDENTS must be reported immediately to the Lake
Patrol.
•SPEED LIMIT: 35 MPH maximum; 10 MPH from sunset to 7:00 a.m.;
5 MPH
between buoys indicating same and the shoreline; 3 MPH in Papoose Bay,
Canvasback Cove and Mallard Lagoon.
•MOORING or tying to navigational markers is prohibited.
Overnight
mooring or beaching of boats along the shoreline is
prohibited.
•CHILDREN under the age of 13 are required to wear a personal
flotation
device while on board a vessel that is underway.
•ANGLERS 16 YEARS OR OLDER must have a current fishing license
properly
displayed.
•ALL FISHING REGULATIONS are strictly enforced.
•BE A SOBER BOATER - Alcohol and boating are a deadly mix and illegal.
ALSO CHECK OUT PINE KNOT MARINA RENTAL RULES AND POLICIES HERE
Rules for Jetski Renters:
•LAKE PATROL
officers are authorized to enforce all
laws, ordinances
and regulations in effect on the waters of Big Bear Lake.
•RECKLESS OPERATION: No person shall operate a boat, waterski,
or
similar device in a reckless or negligent manner. The owner and or
operator are responsible for any damage caused by their boat, its wake
or its tow.
•BOATING ACCIDENTS must be reported immediately to the Lake
Patrol.
•SPEED LIMIT: 35 MPH maximum; 10 MPH from sunset to 7:00 a.m.;
5 MPH
between buoys indicating same and the shoreline; 3 MPH in Papoose Bay,
Canvasback Cove and Mallard Lagoon.
•SAFETY EQUIPMENT: All boats must be equipped according to
California
Boating Law safety requirements.
•PERSONAL WATERCRAFT hours of operation are between 7:00 a.m.
and
sunset.
•PERSONAL WATERCRAFT shall maintain a 100 foot distance from
all other
boats while operating above wakeless speeds.
•PERSONAL WATERCRAFT operators are prohibited from spraying
down any
person or vessel in the water.
•PERSONAL WATERCRAFT riders shall wear personal flotation
devices.
•BE A SOBER BOATER - Alcohol and boating are a deadly mix and illegal.
A complete list of all the Big Bear Mountain Water Dispatch Rules:
GENERAL REGULATIONS
•LAKE PATROL officers
are authorized to enforce all laws,
ordinances
and regulations in effect on the waters of Big Bear Lake.
•BOAT PERMITS must be properly displayed on all
boats.
•BOAT PERMITS may be suspended or revoked when the permittee,
owner or
operator violates the terms and conditions of the permit, this Code or
other requirements of the law.
•BOAT SIZE REQUIREMENTS: Maximum boat length is 26 feet.
Manually
propelled boats less than 12 feet in length and float-tubes are
required to operate between the 5 MPH buoys and the shore.
•PADDLE BOARDS are considered a vessel and required to meet
state and
local regulations.
•PUBLIC DOCKS located at the boat launch facilities are for
loading and
unloading only; do not leave a boat unattended.
•SANITATION: No refuse shall be thrown into or left on the
shoreline of
the lake; no oil from a bilge pump shall be allowed to discharge into
the lake; no person shall deposit any type of fish, amphibian or plant
into the lake.
•VEHICLES are prohibited from driving on the lake bottom.
Vehicles on
District property must obey posted speed signs and operate in
accordance with the Vehicle Code.
•ANIMALS must be on a leash no more than 7 feet long while on
District
property.
AGE LIMITATIONS
•PERSONS 12 THROUGH 15 years of age are prohibited from operating a vessel with more than 15 horsepower unless supervised on board by a person at least 18 years of age.
OPERATIONS
•RECKLESS OPERATION: No
person shall operate a boat, waterski,
or
similar device in a reckless or negligent manner. The owner and or
operator are responsible for any damage caused by their boat, its wake
or its tow.
•BOATING ACCIDENTS must be reported immediately to the Lake
Patrol.
•SPEED LIMIT: 35 MPH
maximum; 10 MPH from sunset to 7:00 a.m.;
5 MPH
between buoys indicating same and the shoreline; 3 MPH in Papoose Bay,
Canvasback Cove and Mallard Lagoon.
•SAFETY EQUIPMENT: All boats must be equipped according to
California
Boating Law safety requirements.
•LAUNCHING: Boats requiring trailers may be launched only from
designated launch ramps. All other boats may be carried and launched at
designated recreational or public access points after obtaining a Boat
Permit.
•MOORING or tying to navigational markers is prohibited.
Overnight
mooring or beaching of boats along the shoreline is
prohibited.
•CHILDREN under the age of 13 are required to wear a personal
flotation
device while on board a vessel that is underway.
•OPERATORS should maneuver boats slowly and carefully in
unfamiliar
waters since fluctuating lake levels can cause unmarked natural or
manmade hazards to occur.
•ALL SAILING CRAFT have the right of way over motorized boats,
except
in an overtaking situation.
PERSONAL WATERCRAFT
•PERSONAL WATERCRAFT hours
of operation are between 7:00 a.m.
and
sunset.
•PERSONAL WATERCRAFT shall maintain a 100 foot distance from
all other
boats while operating above wakeless speeds.
•PERSONAL WATERCRAFT operators are prohibited from spraying
down any
person or vessel in the water.
•PERSONAL WATERCRAFT riders shall wear personal flotation
devices.
WATERSKIING
•HOURS OF WATERSKIING
(wakeboarding, tubing, etc.) are between
7:00
a.m. and sunset.
•AN OBSERVER at least 12 years of age is required to be on
board the
boat to monitor the progress of the skier.
•A RED FLAG must be displayed whenever a skier or equipment is
in the
water.
•ALL BOATS engaged in waterskiing shall maintain a counter
clockwise
direction.
•NO PERSON shall operate waterskis or similar device so as to
endanger
the life of any person.
•AERIAL DEVICES are prohibited to be towed by a boat.
•WATERSKIERS shall wear personal flotation devices.
FISHING
•FISHING is prohibited
from the Dam or from within posted No
Fishing
areas.
•ANGLERS 16 YEARS OR OLDER must have a current fishing license
properly
displayed.
•ALL FISHING REGULATIONS are strictly enforced.
•TROLLING ANGLERS should display a white trolling flag to
indicate to
other boaters that they are trailing a line.
•FISHING BOATS should not impede safe access for waterskiers
entering
or exiting a designated ski beach.
SWIMMING
•SWIMMING is allowed
within 50 feet of the shore, within a
designated
swimming area, within 20 feet of a private dock, or as incidental or
necessary to waterskiing, jetskiing, sailboarding or in an
emergency.
•SCUBA DIVING is prohibited.
•SWIMMERS swim at your own risk, NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY, and
always swim
with a partner.
OTHER
•LIGHTNING STORMS can
develop quickly in the mountains and
lightning
frequently strikes the lake’s surface. Boaters are advised to quickly
seek shelter and safety.
•BE A SOBER BOATER - Alcohol and boating are a deadly
mix and illegal.
•ICE COVERING BIG BEAR LAKE during the winter months is
extremely
dangerous, unstable and deceptive. STAY OFF LAKE ICE!