Boston, MA Environmental Rules: Boat Dock Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual permit fee (resident)
- $1 per foot of boat length
- Annual permit fee (non-resident)
- $5 per foot of boat length
- Application deadline
- April 1 each year
- Late renewal fee
- $25 (Apr 1 - Jun 1)
- Permit expiration
- February 15 following year
- Standard daily fine
- $25 per day violation continues
- Unpermitted mooring
- Deemed public nuisance, subject to removal
Summary
Mooring, docking, or anchoring a boat anywhere in Boston's city waterways, other than a transient boat staying 14 days or fewer, requires Harbormaster authorization and an annual permit under Code of Ordinances § 16-48.3-.4. Fees run $1 per foot of boat length for city residents and $5 per foot for non-residents, per § 16-48.6.
16-48.3 Harbormaster Authorization. No boat in any city waterway, other than a transient boat, may be moored, docked or anchored at any private dock, marina, boat club, boatyard, yacht club, commercial group mooring company and/or any other public recreational boating facility, without obtaining authorization from the Harbormaster. ... 16-48.4 Permits. (A) No mooring may be placed in city waterways without a permit, and a permit may be issued only by the Harbormaster upon a written application in accordance with the dates in Subsection 16-48.9. ... 16-48.6 Fees. All boats that are moored in city waterways, tied at slips or seasonally rack-stored on waterfront property with launching capacity, shall be assessed an annual fee ... the fee shall be assessed at the rate of $1 per foot of boat length for residents of the city and $5 per foot of boat length for non-residents.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-2: Current through Ordinance 2025 C. 14, passed 11-5-2025).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 16-48, adopted in 2004 to fund the Harbormaster's office and Harbor Patrol, requires a permit before any mooring is placed in city waterways; applications open January 1 and are due to the Harbormaster by April 1 each year, with renewals filed between April 1 and June 1 drawing a $25 late fee. The Harbormaster issues a small decal, no larger than 3 by 3 inches, that must be affixed near the transom on the boat's port side to prove the fee is paid; boats exempt from the mooring fee, transient boats, and dinghies under 12 feet don't need one.
Permits are non-transferable except to immediate family with written Harbormaster approval, and every permitted mooring must be visibly marked with its permit number in lettering at least 1 inch tall. All mooring permits expire February 15 of the year after issuance. L. Chapter 91.
Violations & Fines
The Harbormaster enforces Chapter 16-48. Unless a specific fine is listed elsewhere in the chapter, any violation carries a $25-per-day fine for as long as the violation continues, under § 16-48.13(A). Some violations, most notably mooring without a permit, trigger immediate removal of the mooring rather than, or in addition to, the daily fine, with the boat owner responsible for removal and storage costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to moor my boat in Boston Harbor?
How much does a Boston mooring permit cost?
What happens if I moor without a permit?
When do Boston mooring permits expire?
Sources & Official References
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