30.531 Certificate of title; requirements; exemptions.
(1) Certificate. The owner of a boat subject to registration or certificate of number requirements in this state, whether or not the boat is operated on the waters of this state, shall make application for certificate of title for the boat under the following circumstances:
(a) If the owner has newly acquired the boat, he or she shall make application under s. 30.533.
(b) If the owner applies for registration of a boat without holding a valid certificate of title previously issued to that owner by the department for the boat, he or she shall at the same time apply for a certificate of title.
(2) Prerequisite to registration. Except as provided in sub. (3), an applicant's eligibility for a certificate of title is a prerequisite to registration of the boat. If the applicant for registration holds a valid certificate of title previously issued to the applicant by the department for the boat, that is prima facie evidence of ownership of the boat and the applicant need not apply for a new certificate of title when applying for registration.
(3) Exemption.
(a) Boats exempt from registration requirements. A boat is exempt from both the certificate of origin and certificate of title requirements of this chapter if it is exempt under s. 30.51 (2) (a) from the certificate of number and registration requirements or exempt under s. 30.51 (2) (b) from the certificate of number requirements of this chapter.
(b) Boats under 16 feet. A boat is exempt from both the certificate of origin and certificate of title requirements of this chapter if it is less than 16 feet in length.
(bn) Boats voluntarily registered. A boat issued a registration card pursuant to s. 30.52 (1) (b) 1m. is exempt from both the certificate of origin and certificate of title requirements of this chapter.
(c) Boats purchased by nonresidents. A nonresident who purchases a boat in this state and who intends to title and register the boat in another state is not required to apply for a certificate of title under this chapter. A nonresident who purchases a boat in this state may apply for a certificate of title under this chapter.
History: 1987 a. 397; 1991 a. 39, 269; 1997 a. 198.
Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 30 - Navigable waters, harbors and navigation.
30.025 - Permit procedure for utility facilities.
30.027 - Lower Wisconsin State Riverway.
30.03 - Enforcement of forfeitures; abatement of nuisances; infringement of public rights.
30.05 - Applicability of chapter to municipally-owned submerged shorelands.
30.053 - Applicability of chapter to artificial water bodies and certain impoundments.
30.056 - Exemption from certain permit requirements.
30.06 - Waiver of certain provisions of this chapter.
30.07 - Transportation of aquatic plants and animals; placement of objects in navigable waters.
30.10 - Declarations of navigability.
30.103 - Identification of ordinary high-water mark by town sanitary district.
30.105 - Determining footage of shoreline.
30.11 - Establishment of bulkhead lines.
30.12 - Structures and deposits in navigable waters.
30.121 - Regulation of boathouses and houseboats.
30.122 - Unauthorized structures.
30.123 - Bridges and culverts.
30.124 - Waterfowl habitat management.
30.125 - Shoreline maintenance in outlying waters.
30.1255 - Report on control of aquatic nuisance species.
30.126 - Regulation of fishing rafts.
30.13 - Regulation of wharves, piers and swimming rafts; establishment of pierhead lines.
30.131 - Wharves and piers placed and maintained by persons other than riparian owners.
30.133 - Prohibition against conveyance of riparian rights.
30.1335 - Marina condominiums.
30.134 - Use of exposed shore areas along streams.
30.135 - Regulation of water ski platforms and jumps.
30.14 - Reports of and hearings on violations.
30.15 - Penalty for unlawful obstruction of navigable waters.
30.16 - Removal of obstructions to navigation.
30.18 - Withdrawal of water from lakes and streams.
30.19 - Enlargement and protection of waterways.
30.195 - Changing of stream courses.
30.196 - Enclosure of navigable waters; issuance of permits to municipalities.
30.20 - Removal of material from beds of navigable waters.
30.201 - Financial assurance for nonmetallic mining.
30.2022 - Activities of department of transportation.
30.2023 - Seawalls; Wolf River and Fox River basins.
30.2025 - Lake Koshkonong comprehensive project.
30.2026 - Lake Belle View and Sugar River project.
30.203 - Lake Winnebago comprehensive project.
30.2035 - Shoreline protection study.
30.2037 - Big Silver Lake high-water mark.
30.2038 - Milwaukee shoreline established.
30.204 - Lake acidification experiment.
30.205 - Water resources development projects.
30.2065 - General permit for certain wetland restoration activities.
30.207 - General permit pilot program.
30.208 - Applications for individual permits and contracts; department determinations.
30.209 - Contracts and individual permits; administrative and judicial review.
30.2095 - Limits and conditions for permits and contracts.
30.21 - Use of beds of Great Lakes by public utilities.
30.25 - Wolf River protection.
30.255 - Florence Wild Rivers Interpretive Center.
30.265 - Adopt a river program.
30.27 - Lower St. Croix River preservation.
30.275 - Scenic urban waterways.
30.277 - Urban rivers grant program.
30.28 - Fees for permits, other approvals, and determinations.
30.285 - Records of exemptions and permitted activities.
30.29 - Operation of motor vehicles in waters prohibited.
30.291 - Inspections for certain exemptions and permitted activities.
30.292 - Parties to a violation.
30.294 - Nuisances, abatement.
30.30 - Municipal authority to make harbor improvements.
30.31 - Procedural and other requirements to be followed in making harbor improvements.
30.32 - Contracts; competitive bidding; exceptions.
30.33 - Harbor railway belt lines.
30.34 - Financing harbor improvements and operations generally.
30.35 - Financing harbor improvements through bonds or notes.
30.37 - Boards of harbor commissioners authorized.
30.38 - Powers and duties of boards of harbor commissioners.
30.42 - Departmental duties, powers, prohibitions.
30.44 - Permits and waivers; board procedures.
30.443 - Erosion prevention and control.
30.45 - Prohibited and restricted activities in the riverway.
30.452 - Prohibited activities in the river.
30.455 - Department of transportation activities.
30.47 - Restrictions on recreational use.
30.501 - Capacity plates on boats.
30.505 - Certificate of number system to conform to federal system.
30.51 - Certificate of number and registration; requirements; exemptions.
30.525 - Voluntary contributions for nonmotorized boats.
30.53 - Certificate of origin; requirements; contents; guaranteed asset protection waivers.
30.531 - Certificate of title; requirements; exemptions.
30.533 - Application for certificate of title; hull and engine identification numbers.
30.535 - Department to examine records.
30.537 - Certificate of title; issuance, records, fees.
30.539 - Contents of certificate of title.
30.54 - Lost, stolen or mutilated certificates.
30.541 - Transfers of boat titles.
30.543 - Report of stolen or abandoned boats.
30.544 - Inspection of boats purchased out-of-state.
30.547 - Alterations and falsifications prohibited.
30.55 - Notice of abandonment or destruction of boat or change of address.
30.553 - Sharing boat title records.
30.57 - Perfection of security interests.
30.571 - Notification of person who has perfected security interest.
30.572 - Duties on creation of security interest.
30.573 - Assignment of security interest.
30.574 - Release of security interest.
30.575 - Secured party's and owner's duties.
30.576 - Method of perfecting exclusive.
30.577 - Suspension or revocation of certificate of title, certificate of number, or registration.
30.578 - Grounds for refusing issuance of certificate of title.
30.60 - Classification of motorboats.
30.625 - Rental of motorboats.
30.63 - Sale and use of certain outboard motors restricted.
30.635 - Motorboat prohibition.
30.67 - Accidents and accident reports.
30.675 - Distress signal flag.
30.678 - Boating safety certificates; requirements; exemptions; operation by minors.
30.682 - Preliminary breath screening test.
30.686 - Report arrest to department.
30.687 - Officer's action after arrest for violating intoxicated boating law.
30.71 - Disposal of waste from boats equipped with toilets.
30.72 - Watercraft use rules, Lower St. Croix River.
30.73 - Use regulations, Brule River.
30.74 - Additional functions of department.
30.742 - Water exhibitions and races; rules.
30.75 - Service of process on nonresident.
30.77 - Local regulation of boating.
30.772 - Placement and use of moorings; restrictions; permits.
30.773 - Designated mooring areas.
30.78 - Local regulation of seaplanes.
30.79 - Local water safety patrols; state aids.
30.81 - Local regulations on icebound inland waters.
30.90 - Public access to Lake Lions.