The complete version of the Seattle Harbor Code can be read on the city’s website: http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~public/toc/t16.htm

SPEED REGULATIONS

Within the harbor limits of the city it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any watercraft or vessel at a speed in excess of the following maximum limits:

1. Seven nautical miles per hour within one hundred yards of any shoreline, pier, restricted area or shore installation in Lake Washington, or upon the Lake Washington Ship Canal and adjacent waters east of the entrance buoy at Shilshole Bay to 100 yards east of Webster Point light entering the lake and within two hundred yards of any shoreline, pier, restricted area or shore installation in all other waters of the city.
2. Seven nautical miles per hour in Lake Union provided that during daylight hours the seven-knot speed limit shall not apply in a speed test area one hundred yards wide and four hundred yards long, marked by buoys except that in no event shall any watercraft or vessel operate at a speed in excess of seven knots in said area prior to making a U-turn.
3. Four nautical miles per hour from the western end of the west guide pier of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks of the Lake Washington Ship Canal to the eastern end of the east guide pier at said Locks; or
4. Three nautical miles per hour south of the outermost headlands of Andrews Bay (a line drawn due west from the north tangent of Bailey Peninsula).
5. Three nautical miles per hour within one hundred yards of the shoreline of Lake Washington in an area marked by buoys and bounded on the north by a line which is an extension of the center line south Henderson Street and bounded on the south by a line which is an extension of the center line of South Carver Street.
6. Three nautical miles per hour inside of the breakwater at Shilshole Bay Marina, Elliott Bay Marina, or within the confines of any established marina or boat moorage area.
7. Three nautical miles per hour south of the outermost headlands of Wetmore Cove (a line drawn west from the north tangent of Sayres Park).

Vessels operated by only human power are exempt from this section provided they are not operated in a negligent or reckless manner.

16.20.130

ACCIDENTS, ASSISTANCE AND REPORTS

The operator of any vessel involved in an accident resulting in damage to property who knows or should know of the accident shall immediately stop such vessel at the scene of such accident and shall give his name, address, the name and/or number of his vessel, and the name and address of the owner, to the person struck or the operator or occupants of the vessel collided with or property damaged, and shall render to any person injured in such an accident reasonable assistance.

The master, owner or operator of any vessel shall file a report within forty-eight hours with the Chief of Police of any accident involving death or personal injury requiring medical treatment beyond first aid in which such vessel shall have been involved in Seattle Harbor. The master or owner of any vessel shall file a report within ten days of any accident if damage to the vessel and other property totals more than five hundred dollars or there is a complete loss of the vessel.

16.24.010 and 16.24.020

INTOXICATION

1. It shall be unlawful for any person who is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic or habit-forming drugs to operate or be in actual physical control of any vessel or watercraft.
2. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any vessel or watercraft or any person having such in charge or in control to authorize or knowingly permit the same to be operated by any person who is under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic or habit-forming drugs.
3. Whenever it appears reasonably certain to any police or harbor officer that any person under the influence of, or affected by the use, of intoxicating liquor or of any narcotic drug is about to operate a watercraft or vessel in violation of subsection A of this section, the officer may take reasonable measures to prevent any such person from so doing, either by taking from him the keys of such watercraft or vessel and locking the same, or by some other appropriate means. In any such case, the officer shall immediately report the facts to his Commanding Officer of the Harbor Department, and shall, as soon as possible, deposit the keys or other articles, if any, taken from the watercraft or vessel or person with the Commanding Officer. Such keys or other articles may be returned to any person upon his demand and proper identification of himself when it appears that he is no longer under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic.

16.20.110

NEGLIGENT OPERATION

A person shall not operate a vessel or aircraft on the water in a negligent manner. For the purposes of this section, to “operate in a negligent manner” means operating a vessel or aircraft on the water in disregard of careful and prudent operation, or in disregard of careful and prudent speed that are no greater than is reasonable and proper under the conditions existing at the point of operation, taking into account the amount and character of traffic, size of the lake or body of water, freedom from obstruction to view ahead, effects of vessel wake, and so as not to unduly or unreasonably endanger life, limb, property, or other rights of any person entitled to the use of such waters.

16.20.090

SWIMMING

Swimming in the harbor shall be prohibited except:

1. In designated swimming areas; or
2. To within a distance of fifty feet from the shore or a pier unless the swimmer is accompanied by a vessel...no swimming shall be permitted in the US Government Locks, Montlake Cut, Freemont Cut, under any bridge, within the confines of any guidewall or within three hundred feet of a ferry slip or boat launch ramp.

16.28.010

SKIN DIVING OR SCUBA

Skin diving or scuba diving permit – Areas required.

1. It shall be unlawful to engage in skin diving or scuba diving in the following areas of the harbor without a written permit issued by the Chief of Police therefor:
   1. To the east of a line from the northwest corner of Harbor Island to the westernmost corner of the U.S. Naval property located in Smith Cove, in the waters of the Lake Washington Ship Canal from the mid-channel buoy in Shilshole Bay to Webster Point light, including the waters of Lake Union and Portage Bay, all of the inner moorage area of the Port of Seattle moorings at Shilshole Bay Marina, Elliott Bay Marina or any established marina moorage area other than within the confines of the individual slip while working on a specific vessel and within three hundred feet of the perimeter of the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration facility at Sand Point.

16.28.020

WATER SKIING

1. No watercraft which shall have in tow or shall be otherwise assisting a person on waterskis, aquaplane, surfboard or similar contrivances shall be operated or propelled in the harbor unless such watercraft shall be occupied by at least two competent persons; provided, that this subsection shall not apply to watercraft used in duly authorized waterski tournaments…
2. It shall be unlawful to water-ski or to tow or otherwise assist anyone on water skis, aquaplane, surfboard or similar contrivance upon the following waters:
   1. Within two hundred yards of or on the waters of the Lake Washington Ship Canal or within 200 yards of any shoreline, pier, restricted area or shore installation on Lake Union;
   2. Upon the waters of Salmon Bay, Portage Bay, or Shilshole Bay; or to ski parallel within one hundred yards of shore installations on Lake Washington and adjacent waters. Water skiers may start at a shore installation but must head away from shore to a point at least one hundred yards, or two hundred yards, as set forth above, before skiing parallel with the shore. The return to shore must be on a ninety-degree angle to the shoreline.
3. No watercraft shall have in tow or shall otherwise be assisting a person on water skis, aquaplane, surfboard or similar contrivance from sunset to sunrise; provided, that this subsection shall not apply to watercraft used in duly authorized water-ski tournaments, competitions, expositions, or trials thereof.
4. All watercraft having in tow or otherwise assisting a person on water skis, aquaplane, surfboard or similar contrivance, shall be operated in a careful and prudent manner and shall remain at all times at a reasonable and prudent distance from the person and property of others.
5. Any person on water skis, aquaplane, surfboard or similar contrivance shall conduct himself upon the same in a careful and prudent manner and shall remain at all times a reasonable and prudent distance from the person and property of others.

16.28.030

WATER SPORT CRAFT

No person shall engage in the operation of or ride upon a water sport craft that is over fifty feet from shore or a pier without wearing a personal flotation device. No person shall engage in the operation of or ride upon a water sport craft upon the waters of the United States Government Locks, Montlake Cut, Fremont Cut or under any bridge or within the confines of any guidewall or similar structure.

16.28.040

MUFFLERS

It shall be unlawful to use or operate any engine in or on Seattle Harbor that is not in compliance with the Seattle Municipal Code Section 25.08.485.

16.20.040