Updated July 2026
Alabama Wakesurfing Rules
What the rule says
Alabama Code 33-5-26.1 (2024, HB209) bans wakeboarding/wakesurfing between sunset and sunrise, on portions of water less than 400 feet wide, and within 200 feet of any shoreline, dock, pier, boathouse or other structure, and requires a USCG-approved PFD. The statute is statewide in form but currently applies to specific impounded waters: Lewis Smith Lake, Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris Reservoir), Lake Martin, Weiss Lake, and Shoal Creek (Lauderdale County north of Hwy 72). No statewide minimum-acreage or depth requirement was enacted.
Source: Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Marine Patrol Division. The linked statute or agency page is the authority — wake-sport law is changing quickly in many states, so confirm there before you ride.
Statewide rules are the floor, not the whole picture
Individual lakes routinely add stricter limits on top of the state rule — no-wake zones, time-of-day windows, horsepower caps, and wider shoreline setbacks are all set locally by counties, lake districts, and land managers. Check the local authority for the specific water before launching.
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