{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/29.1-703.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/29.1-703.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/29.1-703.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/29.1-703.html"}],"law_id":62216,"edition_id":1,"section_id":62216,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-703","catch_line":"Identification numbers required; decals","history":"1960, c. 500, \u00a7 62-174.4; 1962, c. 626; 1968, c. 659, \u00a7 62.1-169; 1984, c. 3; 1987, c. 488; 1995, c. 241.","full_text":"Every motorboat on the waters of this Commonwealth shall be numbered except those specifically exempt in \u00a7 29.1-710. No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of any motorboat on such waters unless the motorboat is numbered in accordance with this chapter, federal law, or a federally approved numbering system of another state, or has been issued a temporary registration certificate pursuant to the provisions of \u00a7 29.1-703.1. In addition to the numbering requirements, (i) the certificate of number awarded or temporary registration certificate issued to the motorboat must be in effect, (ii) the identifying number set forth in the certificate of number must be displayed on each side of the bow of the motorboat, and (iii) decals signifying the last month and year during which the certificate of number is valid must be displayed on each side of the motorboat within six inches of the registration number so as to be visible while the motorboat is being operated. Decals will be furnished with each certificate of number issued or reissued by the Department. Expired decals must be removed from the vessel. Upon written request and for good cause, the Board may allow exceptions to the requirement to display decals. If a decal becomes defaced, lost or destroyed, application for replacement shall be made to the Board within fifteen days. A fee of one dollar shall be charged for each decal or set of decals replaced. Decals must be displayed upon the watercraft for which they were purchased and are not transferable.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":226907,"text":"Every motorboat on the waters of this Commonwealth shall be numbered except those specifically exempt in \u00a7 29.1-710. No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of any motorboat on such waters unless the motorboat is numbered in accordance with this chapter, federal law, or a federally approved numbering system of another state, or has been issued a temporary registration certificate pursuant to the provisions of \u00a7 29.1-703.1. In addition to the numbering requirements, (i) the certificate of number awarded or temporary registration certificate issued to the motorboat must be in effect, (ii) the identifying number set forth in the certificate of number must be displayed on each side of the bow of the motorboat, and (iii) decals signifying the last month and year during which the certificate of number is valid must be displayed on each side of the motorboat within six inches of the registration number so as to be visible while the motorboat is being operated. Decals will be furnished with each certificate of number issued or reissued by the Department. Expired decals must be removed from the vessel. Upon written request and for good cause, the Board may allow exceptions to the requirement to display decals. If a decal becomes defaced, lost or destroyed, application for replacement shall be made to the Board within fifteen days. A fee of one dollar shall be charged for each decal or set of decals replaced. Decals must be displayed upon the watercraft for which they were purchased and are not transferable.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15481,"edition_id":1,"name":"Boat Registration and Identification","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13227,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:55:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:55:23","permalink":{"id":193455,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15481,"identifier":"1","token":"29.1\/7\/1","url":"\/29.1\/7\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13227,"edition_id":1,"name":"Boating Laws","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12934,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:29","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:29","permalink":{"id":193453,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13227,"identifier":"7","token":"29.1\/7","url":"\/29.1\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12934,"edition_id":1,"name":"Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating","identifier":"29.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":192277,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12934,"identifier":"29.1","token":"29.1","url":"\/29.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":60710,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-700","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/29.1-700\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-700","metadata":false},{"id":58984,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-701","catch_line":"Department to administer chapter; Motorboat Committee; funds for administration; records; rules and regulations","url":"\/29.1-701\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-701","metadata":false},{"id":63668,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-701.1","catch_line":"Authority of Board to set fees","url":"\/29.1-701.1\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-701.1","metadata":false},{"id":82074,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-702","catch_line":"Registration requirements; display of numbers; cancellation of certificate; exemption","url":"\/29.1-702\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-702","metadata":false},{"id":68716,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-702.1","catch_line":"Making false affidavit or swearing falsely, perjury; penalty","url":"\/29.1-702.1\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-702.1","metadata":false},{"id":62216,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-703","catch_line":"Identification numbers required; decals","url":"\/29.1-703\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-703","metadata":false},{"id":60690,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-703.1","catch_line":"Temporary registration certificate; fee; application","url":"\/29.1-703.1\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-703.1","metadata":false},{"id":77420,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-703.2","catch_line":"Designation of agents; compensation to agents; deposit of temporary registration certificate moneys","url":"\/29.1-703.2\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-703.2","metadata":false},{"id":59559,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-704","catch_line":"Recording previously awarded numbers","url":"\/29.1-704\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-704","metadata":false},{"id":77500,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-705","catch_line":"Change of ownership of motorboat; lost certificates","url":"\/29.1-705\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-705","metadata":false},{"id":74187,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-706","catch_line":"Agents awarding numbers","url":"\/29.1-706\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-706","metadata":false},{"id":66251,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-707","catch_line":"Records","url":"\/29.1-707\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-707","metadata":false},{"id":73391,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-708","catch_line":"Transfer, destruction or abandonment of motorboat","url":"\/29.1-708\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-708","metadata":false},{"id":81488,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-709","catch_line":"Change of address of certificate holder","url":"\/29.1-709\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-709","metadata":false},{"id":65019,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-710","catch_line":"Exemption from numbering requirements","url":"\/29.1-710\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-710","metadata":false},{"id":64507,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-711","catch_line":"Dealers and manufacturers of motorboats","url":"\/29.1-711\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-711","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":68716,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-702.1","catch_line":"Making false affidavit or swearing falsely, perjury; penalty","url":"\/29.1-702.1\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-702.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":60690,"structure_id":15481,"section_number":"29.1-703.1","catch_line":"Temporary registration certificate; fee; application","url":"\/29.1-703.1\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-703.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/29.1-703\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1960. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 500 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1960 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1962, chapter 626; in 1968, chapter 659; in 1984, chapter 3; in 1987, chapter 488; in 1995, chapter 241<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":68953,"section_number":"29.1-733.7","catch_line":"Application for certificate of title","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-733.7\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":60690,"section_number":"29.1-703.1","catch_line":"Temporary registration certificate; fee; application","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-703.1\/"},{"id":65019,"section_number":"29.1-710","catch_line":"Exemption from numbering requirements","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-710\/"}],"permalink":{"id":193477,"object_type":"law","relational_id":62216,"identifier":"29.1-703","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-703","url":"\/29.1-703\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/29.1-703\/","token":"29.1\/7\/1\/29.1-703","dublin_core":{"Title":"Identification numbers required; decals","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 29.1-703","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Every motorboat<\/span> on the waters of this Commonwealth shall be numbered except those specifically exempt in \u00a7 29.1-710<\/a>. No person shall operate<\/span> or give permission for the operation of any motorboat<\/span> on such waters unless the motorboat<\/span> is numbered in accordance with this chapter, federal law<\/span>, or a federally approved numbering system of another state, or has been issued a temporary registration certificate pursuant to the provisions of \u00a7 29.1-703.1<\/a>. In addition to the numbering requirements, (i) the certificate of number awarded or temporary registration certificate issued to the motorboat<\/span> must be in effect, (ii) the identifying number set forth in the certificate of number must be displayed on each side of the bow of the motorboat<\/span>, and (iii) decals signifying the last month and year during which the certificate of number is valid must be displayed on each side of the motorboat<\/span> within six inches of the registration number so as to be visible while the motorboat<\/span> is being operated. Decals will be furnished with each certificate of number issued or reissued by the Department<\/span>. Expired decals must be removed from the vessel<\/span>. Upon written request and for good cause, the Board<\/span> may allow exceptions to the requirement to display decals. If a decal becomes defaced, lost or destroyed, application for replacement shall be made to the Board<\/span> within fifteen days. A fee of one dollar shall be charged for each decal or set of decals replaced. Decals must be displayed upon the watercraft for which they were purchased and are not transferable.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nIDENTIFICATION NUMBERS REQUIRED; DECALS (\u00a7 29.1-703)\n\nEvery motorboat on the waters of this Commonwealth shall be numbered except\nthose specifically exempt in \u00a7 29.1-710. No person shall operate or give\npermission for the operation of any motorboat on such waters unless the\nmotorboat is numbered in accordance with this chapter, federal law, or a\nfederally approved numbering system of another state, or has been issued a\ntemporary registration certificate pursuant to the provisions of \u00a7 29.1-703.1.\nIn addition to the numbering requirements, (i) the certificate of number awarded\nor temporary registration certificate issued to the motorboat must be in effect,\n(ii) the identifying number set forth in the certificate of number must be\ndisplayed on each side of the bow of the motorboat, and (iii) decals signifying\nthe last month and year during which the certificate of number is valid must be\ndisplayed on each side of the motorboat within six inches of the registration\nnumber so as to be visible while the motorboat is being operated. Decals will be\nfurnished with each certificate of number issued or reissued by the Department.\nExpired decals must be removed from the vessel. Upon written request and for\ngood cause, the Board may allow exceptions to the requirement to display decals.\nIf a decal becomes defaced, lost or destroyed, application for replacement shall\nbe made to the Board within fifteen days. A fee of one dollar shall be charged\nfor each decal or set of decals replaced. Decals must be displayed upon the\nwatercraft for which they were purchased and are not transferable.\n\nHISTORY: 1960, c. 500, \u00a7 62-174.4; 1962, c. 626; 1968, c. 659, \u00a7 62.1-169;\n1984, c. 3; 1987, c. 488; 1995, c. 241.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}