Federal gov’t says pleasure boaters will have to renew licence every 5 years

The federal government has introduced rules that mean pleasure boaters will have to renew their pleasure craft licences (PCLs) every five years.

PCLs are similar to a licence plate number printed along the side of vessels, and are different from a pleasure craft operator card (PCOC) that functions similarly to a driver’s licence and allows boaters to be on the water.

The updates to the PCL rules are part of an effort to help authorities crack down on owners of derelict vessels, and sees the introduction of a $24 fee for licence-related services.

West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country MP Patrick Weiler announced the changes in Sechelt, B.C., on Thursday, arguing that it wasn’t bureaucracy for its own sake.

“Modernizing this database helps emergency responders get critical information on boaters fast, helps law enforcement trace unsafe or abandoned boats, and it helps us collectively prevent hazards before they become disasters,” he told reporters.

Weiler said that abandoned vessels can sit for years, releasing pollutants into sensitive ecosystems and creating extra costs for neighbouring communities.

WATCH | Derelict vessels are a growing problem:

Derelict boats in False Creek a growing problem, residents say

Numerous boats at Vancouver’s False Creek have been left derelict for a long time, with some sinking and others washing ashore. As Belle Puri reports, the cost of removing the vessels is high, and often relies on taxpayer dollars.

Under the rules, which went into effect on Dec. 31, 2025, PCL holders will be required to update their information within 30 days of any change.

The rules apply to all pleasure craft with one or more motors, which output 7.5 kilowatts of power or more.

Starting Dec. 31, 2027, the rules will also apply to wind-powered pleasure craft over six metres in length.

Boating association in favour

Bruce Hayne, the executive director of the Boating B.C. Association, said that PCLs would previously be issued for the lifetime of the vessel or had to be renewed every 10 years.

He said that those rules presented challenges if a boat was abandoned — a growing problem in B.C. waters, particularly given that a number of agencies are responsible for enforcement and create jurisdictional overlap.

“What Transport Canada has found is that it becomes more and more difficult to track down the most current owner, should a boat be stolen or … abandoned,” Hayne said.

Hayne argued that the general public would be supportive of the new rules, particularly given what he said was a reasonable licence fee of $24 every five years.

“We need, as consumers and as boaters, to look after our boats while we own them and we need to look after our boats when it’s time to retire them,” Hayne said.

“And that is just the the right thing to do both from an environmental perspective, and just from a good neighbour perspective.”

John Roe, who has been with the Dead Boats Disposal Society in Victoria for three decades, said the new rules were a good start in helping with the issue of abandoned vessels.

But he questioned whether the new licence fees — which the government has said would go to supporting derelict boat cleanup efforts — are enough to cover the increasing costs of that work.

“The prices when we started dealing with derelict boats were $2,000 to $3,000. Now we’re up to average of $14,000 a boat,” he said.

In his news conference, Weiler pointed to proposed legislation that he says would close loopholes that have allowed derelict vessels to persist, and also increase the liability for boat owners when damage is caused to marine areas.

“I’ve heard clearly from the frustrations of coastal residents — from local governments, from First Nations, harbour authorities, environmental groups, and everyday citizens,” he said.

“And I want you to know that your voices matter.”