Kentucky: Boat Motor Rules by Lake
6 electric-only · 3 no-motor · 2 all-lake no-wake lakes in our database
Quick answer
Kentucky sets motor rules lake by lake, not statewide. Boating on Kentucky lakes is regulated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), whose water patrol authority and boat/motor rules are codified in Title 301 of the Kentucky Administrative Regulations (Chapter 6, Water Patrol). By default, public lakes have no horsepower cap and motorboats may operate subject only to statewide safety rules (registration, idle speed near docks and ramps, etc.). Lake-specific motor restrictions — no-motor lakes, electric-trolling-motor-only lakes, 10-horsepower idle-speed lakes, and whole-lake idle-speed lakes — are enumerated in 301 KAR 6:015, "Boat and motor restrictions." Every lake below links to the official rule it summarizes, with a verification date.
Who regulates Kentucky lakes
- Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
- Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Administrative Regulations)
- Kentucky State Parks
Kentucky's lake-specific motor restrictions were long codified at 301 KAR 1:015 but were recodified to 301 KAR 6:015 on August 19, 2025; the current version is effective June 2, 2026. The 2026 amendment extended the 10-horsepower idle-speed rule to also cover electric motors exceeding 10 hp and 6 kW input power. On the 10-hp lakes, larger motors are not banned outright — boats may keep them mounted but must not exceed idle speed. Many of these small lakes (e.g., Beaver, Boltz, Bullock Pen, Corinth, Elmer Davis, Kincaid, Greenbo, Pan Bowl, Wilgreen) additionally require underwater exhaust and idle speed when passing boats with occupants actively fishing (301 KAR 6:015 Section 3). Several restricted lakes lie in state parks (Kingdom Come, Carter Caves, Lincoln Homestead, Greenbo), but the motor rules are promulgated by KDFWR, not the parks department. The KDFWR Fishing & Boating Guide page (fw.ky.gov/FishBoatGuide/Pages/Boating.aspx) republishes the same restricted-waters lists.
Motor restrictions on Kentucky lakes
Click a column header to sort. Every row links to a full rules page with the official source.
| Lake | Motor rule | HP limit | County | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bert Combs Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | Clay | |
| Carpenter Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | Daviess | |
| Carter Caves Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | Carter | |
| Dennie Gooch Lake | No Motors Allowed | — | Pulaski | |
| Fishpond Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | Letcher | |
| Greenbo Lake | Slow-No-Wake Entire Lake | — | Greenup | |
| Kingdom Come Lake | No Motors Allowed | — | Harlan | |
| Lake Chumley | No Motors Allowed | — | Lincoln | |
| Lake Reba | Electric Motors Only | — | Madison | |
| McNeely Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | Jefferson | |
| Pan Bowl Lake | Slow-No-Wake Entire Lake | — | Breathitt |
Browse by restriction type
Frequently asked questions
Who sets lake motor rules in Kentucky?
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Administrative Regulations) and Kentucky State Parks set and publish boating restrictions for Kentucky waters, and counties or cities can layer local ordinances on top. In short: Boating on Kentucky lakes is regulated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), whose water patrol authority and boat/motor rules are codified in Title 301 of the Kentucky Administrative Regulations (Chapter 6, Water Patrol). By default, public lakes have no horsepower cap and motorboats may operate subject only to statewide safety rules (registration, idle speed near docks and ramps, etc.). Lake-specific motor restrictions — no-motor lakes, electric-trolling-motor-only lakes, 10-horsepower idle-speed lakes, and whole-lake idle-speed lakes — are enumerated in 301 KAR 6:015, "Boat and motor restrictions."
Are lakes electric-only by default in Kentucky?
Not statewide, but many managed lakes are. Our Kentucky database currently lists 6 electric-only lakes. Agency-owned fishing lakes are the most common electric-only waters; large reservoirs usually allow gas motors. Each lake page cites the exact rule.
How do I find rules for a lake not listed here?
Go straight to the agency: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (https://fw.ky.gov/FishBoatGuide/Pages/Boating.aspx); Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Administrative Regulations) (https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/301/006/015/); Kentucky State Parks (https://parks.ky.gov/). Search the lake name plus "boating regulations", or call the district office for the county. Our guide on who regulates your lake explains which agency to try first.
About this data
Each lake page cites the official regulation it summarizes (agency link and document type) and shows its own verification date. Data vintage: oldest verification .