The state line runs down the middle of Lake Hartwell, and Georgia and South Carolina don't have identical rules. Paddle as if the stricter rule applies and you're covered on either side.
| Rule | Georgia | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Life jackets on board | One USCG-approved wearable (Type I, II, III or V) per person | One USCG-approved wearable per person |
| Kids must wear one | Under 13, on any moving vessel | Under 12, on boats under 16 ft |
| Paddleboards | Coast Guard treats a SUP outside a swim area as a vessel | Coast Guard treats a SUP as a vessel; needs a PFD, whistle and light at night |
| Light after dark | White light ready; a flashlight or lantern works under 16 ft | Light required between sunset and sunrise |
| Registration | Not required for kayaks, canoes or rafts with no motor | Not required for human-powered craft |
| Boater education (motorboats) | Born on or after Jan 1, 1998 | Born after July 1, 2007, for 10 hp or more; rental safety certificate allowed |
| Boating under the influence | 0.08 (21+), 0.02 (under 21) | Check SC DNR; not confirmed for paddlecraft |
Fishing licenses: the reciprocity deal
Georgia and South Carolina honor each other's freshwater fishing licenses on Hartwell, Russell, Thurmond, Yonah, Tugaloo and Stevens Creek reservoirs and on the Savannah River up to where the Tugaloo and Seneca meet. It does not cover tributary streams. Paddle up a creek and you need that state's license. Hartwell's striped and hybrid bass limit is 10 a day combined, only 3 over 26 inches.
Corps of Engineers park rules
- No swimming at launch ramps, mooring points or public docks. No diving or jumping from bridges or trees.
- Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Alcohol rules are set and posted park by park, so read the sign.
- Stay outside posted buoys and signs near the dam and powerhouse.
- Loaner life jacket stands have been set up at the designated swim areas.
Fish advisory
There's a PCB fish-consumption advisory for the Twelve Mile and upper Lake Hartwell. Check SC DNR before you keep fish from that arm.
Sources
- Georgia DNR: required equipment
- Georgia DNR: boating laws
- Georgia DNR: BUI
- SC DNR: boating tips
- SC DNR: boater education
- SC regulations summary: boating
- boat-ed.com: SC paddleboard requirements
- S.C. Code Regs. 123-124: GA–SC reciprocal licenses
- SC DNR: Hartwell regulations
- 36 CFR 327.5 (swimming)
- 36 CFR 327.12 (quiet hours, alcohol)
- Paddle SC: Twelve Mile (PCB advisory)
Checked November 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.