Laws, Permits, and Licenses

Country and local laws, permits, and licenses may employ to your group. It is your responsibility to know the rules.

  • Maine State Constabulary requires each passenger on board to have a properly fitted personal floatation device (PFD)
  • Children aged 10 and under must wear a PFD at all times while aboard a watercraft
  • PFDs must be type I, Ii, or III, U.Southward. Declension Guard approved, and article of clothing
  • Cushions do non count equally required safety information
  • Boats longer than 16ft must have a throwable PFD
  • Life jackets are not required for anyone over the age of 10 using an open lesser tube, but are still recommended.
  • Floats and inflatables with solid or mesh bottoms do require PFDs.

A valid Maine fishing license is required for anyone aged 16 and older who is fishing or transporting angling equipment on inland Maine waterways. You lot must have your license with y'all at all times while fishing and must exhibit your license for inspection by any warden, law enforcement officer, guide, or landowner upon request. A digital receipt is acceptable proof of license. To obtain your fishing license online, please visit the the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wild fauna.

Whatever boat, including a canoe, that has a motor of any type is required to have a valid registration. Owners of non-Maine registered watercraft are required to purchase and display a nonresident sticker. Click here to obtain your sticker online.

Maine state law prohibits drinking alcoholic beverages in public. Practice not consume alcohol of whatsoever kind while on public landings. In that location is a limit to the corporeality of alcohol transported from out of state. You tin not transport more than ane gallon of wine, one gallon of spirit, and a 30 pack of beer per vehicle into Maine. No kegs are allowed on the river. At that place is NO glass allowed on the river or beaches. Remember to recall earlier you drink, as nigh one-half of boating accidents involve alcohol. It is illegal to operate a motorized watercraft while nether the influence. For more than data, visit the the Gunkhole U.Southward. Foundation.

A fire permit is required for any fire along the Saco River, and tin can be obtained at Swan'southward Falls Company's Center or Jockey Cap Country Store in Fryeburg, or at Woodland Acres Campground in Brownfield. Permits are past donation merely. Fires are to exist built on sandbars and beaches only, non upward in the woods (even if you lot find evidence of campfire rings or remains of previous fires). Delight keep the fire at a reasonable size and burn only locally sourced woods; do non cut any trees for any purpose. Under NO circumstances should you burn down your trash. When fininshed, please completely extinguish your fire with water (NOT sand) and scatter the remains. Fireworks are illegal on the Saco River - strictly enforced!

The town of Fryeburg has passed an ordinance requiring the registration of all manmade "barges" or "flotillas" used for recreational purposes on the Saco River in Fryeburg, Maine. A barge is defined as whatsoever floating device which contains a flat surface, oftentimes (but not limited to) plywood, measuring approximately four x viii ft. or more, and raised from the surface of the river by one or more floating devices. The SRRC has the discretion to make up one's mind whether or non a floating device qualifies as a barge. All manmade barges or flotillas must obtain a refundable $250 allow from Swan's Falls Campground in Fryeburg. Whatsoever barge permitees who do non remove barges from the river or who practise not return their clomp to the Saco River Recreational Council at Swan'due south Falls for inspection will forfeit their deposit. For more information, see full barge permit (right) or contact us.

Barge Let.pdf