If you own a boat in Canada, pleasure craft licensing matters. It is the licence number displayed on both sides of your bow, and it links your boat to you in Transport Canada’s system.

In a recent interview, Rick Layzell (CEO of Boating Ontario) and Jesse Davis (Vice President of Legend Boats) talked about why these updates are important for boaters and for the boating industry. The goal is simple: make sure licensing information stays accurate, so it helps when it matters most.

Why this is changing

Transport Canada’s Pleasure Craft Electronic Licensing System (PCELS) has a lot of old and outdated information. Boats get sold, contact details change, and some licences never expired. That creates gaps in the database.

This is a real issue for search and rescue, marine enforcement, and emergency response. If a boat is found adrift, wrecked, or abandoned, accurate licence information helps responders quickly contact the right person and confirm if someone is missing or needs help.

What’s changing for pleasure craft licences

Your licence now expires every 5 years

All new, transferred, and renewed pleasure craft licences are now valid for 5 years. If your licence used to have no expiry date, it will now have one based on when it was originally issued.

Older licence expiry dates (if your licence had no expiry date)

• December 31, 1974 or earlier: March 31, 2026
• January 1, 1975 to December 31, 1985: December 31, 2026
• January 1, 1986 to December 31, 1995: December 31, 2027
• January 1, 1996 to December 31, 1999: December 31, 2028
• January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2005: December 31, 2029
• January 1, 2006 to April 28, 2010: December 31, 2030

There is now a $24 service fee, which works out to only $4.80 per year.

A $24 fee applies to:

• New licences
• Renewals
• Transfers
• Replacement licences

You will not be charged to update personal information like your address or phone number, and you will not be charged to cancel your licence.

Important note: Indigenous persons who declare they are using their pleasure craft to exercise their rights recognized and affirmed under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 (such as hunting, fishing, and trapping) do not have to pay the $24 fee.

You must update your info within 30 days

If your name, address, phone number, or other licence details change, you must update your pleasure craft licence information within 30 days.

This matters for your safety. If something goes wrong on the water, accurate information helps search and rescue connect the boat to the right owner faster.

Transfer rules are clearer when you buy or sell a boat

If you purchase a used boat, you need to transfer the pleasure craft licence into your name within 30 days.

You can operate the boat for up to 30 days after the transfer, as long as you carry documents on board that show:

• Your name and address
• The date the boat changed ownership

Cancellation rules have expanded

A licence must be cancelled if the vessel is no longer seaworthy, along with other reasons outlined by the Minister of Transport.

This helps remove inactive boats from the system, which makes the database more reliable.

Wind-powered boats over 6 metres will need licensing

Starting December 31, 2027, wind-powered pleasure craft over 6 metres long will need a pleasure craft licence.

This does not apply to human-powered boats like kayaks, canoes, or dragon boats.

How to update your pleasure craft licence

As of January 6, 2026, you can update your information online for free. This is the fastest way to keep your licence accurate.

If your boat does not have a valid licence (including up-to-date information), you may be liable to a fine.

Link: https://www.pcl-pep.snbservices.ca/1001/PubWeb/Default.aspx?lang=en-CA

Our take as boaters

As boaters, we want more time on the water and fewer headaches. These changes are a good reminder to check your licence, confirm your contact info is correct, and stay ahead of renewal dates.

It also helps protect boaters across Canada. When licensing info is accurate, emergency response teams can act faster, enforcement can work more effectively, and abandoned or unsafe vessels can be handled properly.

Create Memories, and stay safe out there.

Learn more
You can learn more about the new regulations by reading the Regulations Amending the Small Vessel Regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part II.