Updated July 2026
California Wakesurfing Rules
What the rule says
California has no statewide wakesurfing-specific law. General rules require slow/no-wake (max 5 mph) within 200 feet of swimmers, docks, ramps, swim floats and shore, and prohibit wake jumping within 100 feet of another vessel. Wake-surf-specific limits are set locally (e.g., Lake Tahoe's 600-foot no-wake buffer under TRPA), not statewide.
Source: California Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW). 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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