Madison City Lake Rules and Regulations
Boats and Motorboating
(Water skiing, jet skis, and other similar vessels)
1. The public shall be permitted to lawful, sanitary, and orderly use of the lake as herein provided.
All persons maintaining, operating or riding in boats, skis, crafts, or other similar personal vessels
do so entirely at their own risk. Such persons are warned that the City does not maintain the lake
for such purposes, nor does the City represent that the lake is safe for such purposes.
2. No boat, vessel, etc. shall be rented or offered for rent, nor shall any person carry passengers for
hire.
3. Jet skis, power crafts, and other similar person vessels, or any other vessel or motorboat,
whether rated as horsepower or cc (cubic centimeters), will be permitted on the lake except
during the hours between sunset and sunrise.
A. The operator must have a current KA number and identification showing the current owner.
B. Owner/operator to have purchased permit.
Annual fee - Residents: $20.00 Non-Residents: $40.00. Valid from the date of issuance
to December 31st.
C. Must be at least 16 years of age and submit proof of age upon request.
D. Water skiing shall be permitted only during the hours of sunrise to sunset.
4. Before using a boat on the lake, the owner/operator must first obtain a City boat permit and
display the decal issued on the right rear corner of the boat. Must have a current KA registration
to obtain a City permit.
Boating licenses:
Residents Non-residents
0-18 mph $5.00 $10.00
19-50 $10.00 $20.00
51-80 $15.00 $30.00
Over 80 $20.00 $40.00
No person under 16 years of age shall operate a boat unless accompanied by an adult. No person
under 18 years of age will be issued or permitted to hold a boat license.
5. The designated boat dock area is on the southwest side of the lake.
6. Each boat must carry at least one approved life jacket for each passenger at all times, and all
occupants 14 years of age and under shall wear a life jacket at all times.
7. No motor boat, jet ski, or personal craft shall approach closer than 200 feet to any boat which is
anchored, except to give aide or assistance.
8. No motor boat, jet ski, or personal craft shall enter the designated swimming area under any
circumstances nor approach closer than 75 feet from any such area.
9. No motor boat, jet ski, or personal craft shall be allowed closer than 200 feet of any pier or man
made structure except to load or unload passengers at the boat dock.
10. All motors used on the lake and/or lake property, must have a factory equipped exhaust and
muffler system in proper working order, or the exhaust must be vented under water.
11. Maximum speed limit on the lake is 35 mph, except in marked areas of no-wake zones and the
south cove, commonly called the boat ramp and dock area, where the maximum speed is to be
5 mph.
12. No racing of any type shall be permitted on the lake with special permission of the City Council.
13. The no-wake zones are as follows:
A. The South Cove, commonly known as the boat ramp and dock area, point north where the
easterly and westerly area of the main body of the lake begins.
B. 200 feet in front of, and sides of, the east floating fishing dock/pier.
C. Areas indicated as no-wake zones on the official city lake map, or as marked on the lake by
buoys.
