Operation without personal floatation devices prohibited.
Columbus City Codes § 921.25
in effect921.25 - Operation without personal floatation devices prohibited.
(A) No person shall operate or permit to be operated any watercraft on the waterways of the city:
(1) Sixteen (16) feet or greater in length, without carrying on board one (1) type one, two, or three personal flotation device for each person on board and one (1) type four personal flotation device;
(2) Less than sixteen (16) feet in length, including canoes and kayaks of any length, without carrying on board one (1) type one, two, or three personal flotation device for each person on board.
(B) A type five personal flotation device may be carried in lieu of a type one, two, or three personal flotation device required under subsection (A) of this section.
(C) No person shall operate or permit to be operated any commercial vessel on the waterways of the city:
(1) That is less than forty (40) feet in length and is not carrying persons for hire without carrying aboard at least one (1) type one, two, or three personal flotation device for each person aboard;
(2) That is carrying persons for hire or is forty (40) feet in length or longer and is not carrying persons for hire without carrying aboard at least one (1) type one personal flotation device for each person aboard:
(3) That is twenty-six (26) feet in length or longer without carrying aboard at least one (1) type four ring life buoy in addition to the applicable requirements of subsections (C)(1) and (2) of this section.
(D) Each personal flotation device carried aboard a watercraft or commercial vessel pursuant to this section shall be Coast Guard approved and in good and serviceable condition, of appropriate size for the wearer, and readily accessible to each person aboard the watercraft at all times.
(E) As used in this section, "commercial vessel" means any vessel used in the carriage of any person or property for a valuable consideration whether flowing directly or indirectly from the owner, partner, or agent or any other person interested in the vessel.
"Commercial vessel" does not include any vessel that is manufactured or used primarily for noncommercial use or that is leased, rented, or chartered to another for noncommercial use.
(Ord. 805-05 § 1 (part).)
Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT9STPAPUPRCO_CH921WARE_921.25OPWIPEFLDEPRFetched: 10/27/2026