New, renewed pleasure craft licences will only be valid for five years

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Posted January 6, 2026

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The federal government has announced amendments to the Small Vessel Regulations that will change Canada's pleasure craft licensing program and database.

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The Pleasure Craft Licence (PCL) is a unique identification number for recreational boats that have one or more engines whose combined power is at least 10 horsepower- similar to a car's license plate. It allows emergency responders and law enforcement to quickly identify the owner of a boat, which improves response times in urgent situations and supports efforts to address unsafe or abandoned boats.

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The following changes have taken effect as of December 31, 2025: 

• new and renewed pleasure craft licences will only be valid for five years

• current lifetime licences will be gradually replaced with licences that must be renewed every five years.

• a $24 service fee will apply to issuing, renewing, transferring, or replacing a Pleasure Craft Licence. This fee will be updated annually for inflation

• licence holders must now update their information within 30 days of a change in their name or address, instead of the previous 90 days.

• Beginning two years after the regulations take effect, wind-powered pleasure craft over six metres in length will be required to hold a licence.

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