Updated July 2026
Rhode Island Wakesurfing Rules
What the rule says
Rhode Island has no statewide wakesurfing-specific law. General law prohibits reckless operation of vessels or towed devices and caps speed in confined waters (45 mph daytime / 25 mph at night). Speed and no-wake limits are set by local municipalities. No wake-surf-specific distance/depth/acreage thresholds exist statewide.
Source: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Division of Law Enforcement. 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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