California’s Regulations For Marine Outboard Engine Emissions

In December 1998, the California Air Resources Board adopted standards to reduce exhaust emissions from outboard motors and personal watercraft.

California’s New Standards:

• Require cleaner engines. Beginning with 2001 models, new outboard engines, personal watercraft, and jet boats must be 75 percent cleaner. By 2008, they must be 90 percent cleaner. Some of today’s four-stroke and direct-injected two-stroke engines already meet the 2001 standards.
• Include labeling on new engines based on emission levels (beginning with 2001 models). The labels will help local water districts identify engines clean enough for use on their lakes and rivers.
• Do not ban the use or sale of any existing outboard engines or personal watercraft. The standards are based on exhaust emission levels and do not ban any engine type or technology.
• Do not restrict boating on any lakes or rivers. Only water agencies can manage access to lakes, rivers, and reservoirs to protect or improve drinking water supplies.
• Do not apply to stern drive, inboard, or diesel engines.