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LakeQuality

Updated July 2026

Georgia Wakesurfing Rules

Statewide wake-surf rule
Status
Statewide wake-surf rule
Enforcing agency
Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Law Enforcement Division
Distance from shore
200 ft
Minimum depth
Not specified in statute
Minimum lake size
Not specified in statute
Effective
2023-07-01

What the rule says

Georgia HB 121 (O.C.G.A. 52-7-13.1), effective July 1, 2023, prohibits wakeboarding and wakesurfing within 200 feet of any moored vessel, wharf, dock, pier, piling, bridge structure, or any shoreline adjacent to a residence, public park, beach, swimming area, marina, restaurant or other public-use area; bans the activity between sunset and sunrise; and requires a USCG-approved PFD. It does not apply to permitted marine events, intracoastal waterways, rivers, or private lakes. No statewide depth or acreage threshold.

Source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Law Enforcement 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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