Boat PermitS


All public watercrafts require a Tempe Town Lake boat permit prior to use on the lake. Permits are available at the Rio Salado Operations Center, open Monday thru Friday 7:30 am to 5:30 pm and Saturday 8 am to 1 pm. Closed Sundays and major holidays. For more information click on Town Lake boating regulations and A Guide to Tempe Town Lake or call the Rio Salado Operations Center at (480) 350-8625. 

  All watercraft equipped with a electric motor (gas motors not allowed) must be registered through the Arizona State Boat Registration with valid number and current annual decal displayed on the watercraft. This registration is available at the Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. Phone: (602) 942-3000. Non-motorized boats do not require an Arizona State boating registration.

Non-Arizona, resident-owned watercraft currently numbered/registered in another state may be operated in Arizona for a period of 90 days.

All watercrafts require a current Tempe Town Lake annual or daily watercraft permit affixed to the left stern. Owners of watercraft equipped with a single electric motor must present a valid Arizona State Boat Registration in order to be issued a Town Lake watercraft permit. Tempe Town Lake permits are available at the City of Tempe Town Lake Operations Center, 620 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281. Phone: (480) 350-8625.
 

WATERCRAFT PERMIT CATEGORIES:

  • Category I: Tempe resident-owned watercraft – Requires a Tempe resident (individual or family) watercraft owner to present a valid Arizona State Boat Registration, if required, with a Tempe address or a valid Arizona Driver License issued to a Tempe address. Two forms of identification proving Tempe residency are required. Permit fee of $5 per year per boat.
  • Category II: Tempe-based non profit organization watercraft – Must present documentation of current nonprofit status. Permit fee of $15 per year per boat.
  • Category III: Other nonprofit organization watercraft – Must present documentation of current nonprofit status. Permit fee of $15 per year per boat.
  • Category IV: Educational/training/intercollegiate athletic use – Permit fee of $15 per year per boat plus an educational programming use fee of $5 per student (less than six classes per session) or $10 per student per semester/quarter year.
  • Category V: Non-Tempe resident-owned watercraft and all other watercraft – Permit fee of $5 per day or $30 per year per boat.

Click on TOWN LAKE BOAT PERMIT HOLDERS to subscribe to a listserv alerting you to lake events, restrictions, closures, and updated lake information of special interest to you as a boat permit holder at Town Lake.