Washington: Boat Motor Rules by Lake
3 electric-only · 3 no-motor · 1 hp-limit · 1 all-lake no-wake · 2 zoned lakes in our database
Quick answer
Washington sets motor rules lake by lake, not statewide. Recreational boating in Washington is governed statewide by chapter 79A.60 RCW (Regulation of Recreational Vessels), with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission directed to adopt implementing boating rules under RCW 79A.60.595. Counties and cities adopt their own lake-specific vessel ordinances (e.g., King County Code ch. 12.44, Whatcom County Code Title 11, Seattle Municipal Code 16.44.020), and WDFW restricts motor use on some lakes it manages for fishing. Where no lake-specific rule exists, only the general statewide operation, equipment and registration rules apply and motorized boating is allowed by default. Every lake below links to the official rule it summarizes, with a verification date.
How Washington's restricted lakes split
- No motors 3
- Electric only 3
- HP limit 1
- No wake 1
- Zoned 2
Who regulates Washington lakes
Chapter 79A.60 RCW sets statewide vessel-operation rules, and RCW 79A.60.640 requires boater education certification to operate vessels of 15 or more horsepower. The chapter preserves local authority: RCW 79A.60.130(11) states nothing in that section preempts more stringent local regulation, and RCW 79A.60.045(2) preserves local vessel-impoundment ordinances. Lake-specific motor limits are therefore mostly local: King County Code ch. 12.44 bans internal combustion engines on roughly two dozen named lakes (e.g., K.C.C. 12.44.340 for Cottage Lake) and sets an 8 mph lake speed limit (K.C.C. 12.44.070). Whatcom County Code ch. 11.32 imposes engine-type, horsepower and no-wake rules on Lake Whatcom, Silver Lake, Cain, Toad, Reed and Wiser lakes, and Snohomish County Code 12.44.030 zones its water-ski lakes (Lake Roesiger, Flowing Lake, Lake Shoecraft). WDFW prohibits motors entirely on some fishing lakes such as Pass Lake, and Washington State Parks bans gas motors on park lakes such as Battle Ground Lake and holds Deep Lake at Millersylvania to 5 mph with no wake.
Motor restrictions on Washington lakes
Click a column header to sort. Every row links to a full rules page with the official source.
| Lake | Motor rule | HP limit | Acres | County | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Ground Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | — | Clark | |
| Cottage Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | — | King | |
| Deep Lake | Slow-No-Wake Entire Lake | — | — | Thurston | |
| Green Lake | No Motors Allowed | — | — | King | |
| Lake Leota | No Motors Allowed | — | — | King | |
| Lake Padden | Electric Motors Only | — | — | Whatcom | |
| Lake Roesiger | Zoned Restrictions | — | — | Snohomish | |
| Lake Whatcom | Zoned Restrictions | — | — | Whatcom | |
| Pass Lake | No Motors Allowed | — | 95 | Skagit | |
| Silver Lake | 10 HP limit | 10 | — | Whatcom |
Browse by restriction type
Frequently asked questions
Who sets lake motor rules in Washington?
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife set and publish boating restrictions for Washington waters, and counties or cities can layer local ordinances on top. In short: Recreational boating in Washington is governed statewide by chapter 79A.60 RCW (Regulation of Recreational Vessels), with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission directed to adopt implementing boating rules under RCW 79A.60.595. Counties and cities adopt their own lake-specific vessel ordinances (e.g., King County Code ch. 12.44, Whatcom County Code Title 11, Seattle Municipal Code 16.44.020), and WDFW restricts motor use on some lakes it manages for fishing. Where no lake-specific rule exists, only the general statewide operation, equipment and registration rules apply and motorized boating is allowed by default.
Are lakes electric-only by default in Washington?
Not statewide, but many managed lakes are. Our Washington database currently lists 3 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: Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (https://parks.wa.gov); Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (https://wdfw.wa.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 .
Boating across state lines? Neighboring pages in our coverage loop: Virginia lake motor rules and Wisconsin lake motor rules — same format, same official-source standard.