Generous up to 30 kW: electric boat rules in Italy

Italy has a long coastline, some of the most famous lakes in Europe and, by European standards, a relaxed attitude to boat licences. You can drive quite a lot of boat here before anyone asks for a certificate.

For electric boaters, the main number is 30 kW. Up to that, within 6 nautical miles of the coast, no licence. That leaves a lot of room for electric outboards and day boats.

The strict parts are elsewhere: jet skis, beaches in summer, and a handful of lakes that want no engines at all. We went through them so you know where the line-up starts.

Paddle out under 30 kW: the licence

A patente nautica, the Italian boat licence, is not needed if all of these apply:

• you stay within 6 nautical miles of the coast,
• the motor is 30 kW (40.8 hp) or less,
• the boat is up to 24 m.

Combustion engines also have displacement limits. Electric motors are judged on power. Beyond 6 miles, or above 30 kW, you need a licence.

Without a licence, the driver must be at least 16 for boats up to 10 m and 18 for boats over 10 m. Driving without a required licence costs 2,755 to 11,017 euros.

The new D1 licence

Italy has added an entry-level licence, the D1. It is available from 16 and covers:

• motor boats up to 85 kW,
• within 6 nautical miles and by day only,
• boats up to 10 m for drivers under 18, and up to 12 m from 18,
• jet skis within 1 nautical mile of shore.

It needs a course with at least 5 hours at the helm and a short theory exam, with no practical test. Holders who got it at 16 must take a supplementary exam after turning 18 to move up.

Jet skis: always a licence

Jet skis are the exception to Italy's generosity. A licence is required whatever the power and wherever you ride. Riders and passengers wear a lifejacket of at least 50 N at all times.

The D1 limits jet skis to 1 nautical mile from shore. Local orders often keep them further out from beaches. In the Catania area, for example, the Coast Guard requires jet skis to stay at least 400 m from the coast.

The rules do not separate petrol and electric jet skis. If it is a moto d'acqua, the licence applies.

Beaches: every harbour office sets its own locals

Distances from beaches are set by local Coast Guard orders, usually for the bathing season. The details vary, but the pattern is similar. Using the Catania area in August 2026 as an example:

• From 09:00 to 19:00, the first 200 m off the coast and 100 m off cliffs are reserved for swimmers.
• Sailing and motor boats keep at least 300 m from the coast and 150 m from cliffs.
• Jet skis keep at least 400 m from the coast.

Boats reach the shore through marked corridors. Check the order of the harbour office where you launch. A rule that holds in Sicily may not hold in Liguria.

Lakes: some want no engines at all

Italian lakes are regulated by regions and provinces. Some of the quietest have closed to combustion engines:

• Lago di Bracciano and Lago di Martignano, Lazio. Combustion engines banned. Electric motors allowed with no power limit.
• Lago Albano and Lago di Nemi, Lazio. Combustion banned, electric allowed with no power limit, with narrow exceptions for professional fishers.
• Trentino. On lakes under 1 km², recreational boats with combustion engines are banned. On larger lakes, motors over 3 kW need a permit, which is issued only for professional use, support boats and rescue. Lake Garda is regulated separately.

Every lake with a source is in our register of electric-only waters in Italy. For a dawn patrol on Bracciano, an electric boat is the only motorboat you can bring.

Registration, alcohol and equipment: avoid the wipeout

Registration

Boats up to 10 m, called natanti, do not have to be registered, although owners may do so. Boats over 10 m must be registered.

Alcohol

The limit is 0.5 g/l. Above it:

Penalties double if you cause an accident, and rise by a third to a half between 22:00 and 07:00.

Lifejackets

There must be a lifejacket for every person on board. They must be worn when sailing alone at night or when conditions require it, and children must wear one sized for them when conditions require. Required equipment depends on how far from the coast you go.

Charging after the session

Italy's public boat chargers cluster on the northern lakes, around Venice and along the Ligurian coast. See the charging map for Italy and our guide on fast charging for boats.

Our verdict: the generous one, with summer manners

So, how does Italy treat electric boaters? Generously. Up to 30 kW within 6 miles, there is no licence to get, and lakes like Bracciano are reserved for boats like yours.

The catches are seasonal and local. Beach distances change from one harbour office to the next, and jet skis always need a licence, electric or not. Read the local order before you paddle out, and keep the 200 m line in mind on any summer beach.

For the same rules elsewhere, see boat licence rules across Europe and personal watercraft rules in Europe.