Structural and Exhaust Requirements.

Austin City Code tit. 8, ch. 8-5, art. 4, div. 1

in effect

Austin City Code § 8-5-61 WATERCRAFT TO BE IN SOUND STRUCTURAL CONDITION.

§ 8-5-61 - WATERCRAFT TO BE IN SOUND STRUCTURAL CONDITION. (A) The owner of a watercraft that is operated, moored, or otherwise used on the Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, or Lake Long shall maintain the watercraft in sound structural condition. (B) A designated official who becomes aware of a watercraft that may not be in sound structural condition shall notify the building official. (C) The building official shall conduct a public hearing in accordance with Section 8-5-102 (Public Hearing For Certain Violations) to determine whether the watercraft is in sound structural condition and whether it should be repaired or removed from the water. (D) Pending a hearing under Section 8-5-102 (Public Hearing For Certain Violations), a designated official may remove a watercraft from the water after determining that the watercraft is in unsound condition and poses an immediate threat to the health or safety of any person. Source: 1992 Code Section 14-2-8; Ord. 031009-11; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. No. 20190307-014, Pt. 9, 3-18-19.

Austin City Code § 8-5-62 INBOARD MOTORBOAT EXHAUST REQUIREMENTS.

§ 8-5-62 - INBOARD MOTORBOAT EXHAUST REQUIREMENTS. (A) Except as provided in Section 8-5-64 (Motorboat Exhaust Systems During Special Events), this section prescribes requirements for a motorboat with an inboard internal combustion engine that is operated on Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, or Lake Long. (B) Except as provided in Subsection (C), a motorboat must have a muffler installed in the exhaust system. (C) A motorboat with an exhaust water manifold: (1) may have baffle installed in the exhaust system instead of a muffler; or (2) if the exhaust pipe goes through an original factory-designed transom, a riser may be installed in the exhaust system instead of a muffler or baffle. (D) A muffler, riser, baffle, or exhaust water manifold required by this section must be: (1) designed for marine use; (2) a commercially made, over-the-counter stock item; (3) kept in good working order; and (4) capable of reducing exhaust noise. Source: 1992 Code Section 14-2-3; Ord. 031009-11; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. No. 20190307-014, Pt. 9, 3-18-19.

Austin City Code § 8-5-63 OUTBOARD MOTORBOAT EXHAUST REQUIREMENTS.

§ 8-5-63 - OUTBOARD MOTORBOAT EXHAUST REQUIREMENTS. Except as provided in Section 8-5-64 (Motorboat Exhaust Systems During Special Events), a motorboat with an outboard internal combustion engine that is operated on Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, or Lake Long must have the major portion of the motor exhaust expelled below the surface of the water. Source: 1992 Code Section 14-2-4; Ord. 031009-11; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. No. 20190307-014, Pt. 9, 3-18-19.

Austin City Code § 8-5-64 MOTORBOAT EXHAUST SYSTEMS DURING SPECIAL EVENTS.

§ 8-5-64 - MOTORBOAT EXHAUST SYSTEMS DURING SPECIAL EVENTS. The city council may issue a permit for a special event, including a boat race, on Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, or Lake Long. During the event, a participant may operate a motorboat with any type of exhaust system. Source: 1992 Code Section 14-2-5; Ord. 031009-11; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. No. 20190307-014, Pt. 9, 3-18-19.

Source: City of Austin, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT8PARE_CH8-5WAACUS_ART4WA_DIV1STEXREFetched: 10/27/2026