CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Including changes that expand boating access on several small state lakes, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has announced updated boating regulations for 2026.
Approved during the 2026 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature and effective immediately, the new regulations remove horsepower restrictions on several lakes while maintaining no-wake requirements.
Under the updated rules, motorboats with engines larger than 10 horsepower are now permitted to operate at no-wake speed on Elk Fork Lake, North Bend Lake, O’Brien Lake, Stonecoal Lake, and Woodrum Lake. The same regulation will remain in effect at Upper Mud River Lake.
The division in a press release noted that no special permits are required for boaters operating under the new regulations.
Additionally, any vessel equipped with an electric motor on electric motor-only impoundments must continue to operate at no wake speed.
West Virginia offers extensive public boating opportunities across the state, with more than 2,000 miles of navigable and fishable streams covering more than 19,000 surface acres of water. The state is also home to 21 lakes larger than 100 acres, totaling more than 20,000 acres of fishable and boatable waters, along with dozens of smaller impoundments and ponds open to recreation.
State officials said boating remains one of West Virginia’s most popular outdoor activities, offering opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and motorized water sports for residents and visitors alike.
Boating safety on West Virginia lakes
Officials also remind boaters to follow all safety laws and regulations while on the water.
Under West Virginia law, anyone born after Dec. 31, 1986, must successfully complete a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators-approved boater education course before operating a motorboat.
Officials also emphasized the importance of personal flotation devices (PFDs), commonly known as life jackets. State law requires a properly sized and accessible life jacket for every person aboard a vessel.
Children younger than 13 must wear a life jacket while the vessel is underway, and boats measuring 16 feet or longer must also carry a throwable Type IV flotation device.
According to boating safety data, nearly 80 percent of people who die in boating accidents were not wearing life jackets.
For more information about boating regulations, boating education courses, and boating safety in West Virginia, visit the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources website.