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B.C. watercraft inspection stations

If you are transporting a watercraft in B.C., you must stop and report to all invasive mussel watercraft inspection stations along your travel route.

Watercraft includes:

  • Sailboats
  • Motorboats
  • Car toppers
  • Kayaks
  • Canoes
  • Paddle boards
  • Any inflatable watercraft 

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Watercraft inspection

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS) has a team of specialized inspectors checking and, if necessary, decontaminating watercraft being transported into B.C.

Inspectors are trained in watercraft inspection and decontamination following the standard protocol that is used across the Pacific Northwest. All watercraft owners coming through watercraft inspection stations are asked a series of questions by the inspectors to determine if the watercraft is high or low risk. Two key questions asked by inspectors to determine watercraft risk are:

  1. Where was the watercraft in the last 30 days? 
  2. How long has the watercraft been out of the water? 

Any watercraft or equipment that has been launched in any waters of a province or state known or suspected of having zebra, quagga or golden mussels in the past 30 days is considered high-risk. Any watercraft or equipment that is coming from or is registered to a state or province that is known or suspected of having zebra, quagga or golden mussels and is not clean, and to the extent determined as practical by inspectors has not been drained and dried is considered high-risk, even if it has been out of the water for over 30 days. Any watercraft that is dirty, crusty or slimy with the potential risk of transporting other aquatic invasive species is considered high-risk. Watercraft that have only been used within B.C. or other non-contaminated provinces or states within the last 30 days and are found to be clean, drain, dry and free of mud, debris, plants or any other AIS are considered low-risk.

Fines for failing to stop

It’s mandatory to stop at any open watercraft inspection station along your travel route when transporting a boat in B.C.

Failure to stop at an open inspection station could result in a fine of $690. Watercraft includes sailboats, motorboats, car toppers, kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards (including inflatables) being transported in B.C.

2025 watercraft inspection season

B.C. watercraft inspection stations (consult map below) opened in early April, 2025 to mark the start of the 2025 season. Most stations will be operational until late October. 

The 2025 inspection station locations and hours of operation were selected using data collected from past seasons and lessons learned from other jurisdictions across western Canada and the United States.

The locations are assessed for suitability based on:

  • Volume of boater traffic
  • Public and staff safety and communication
  • Direction of traffic targeted
  • Number of high-risk and mussel infested watercraft intercepted

Mandatory inspection ahead, All watercraft. Invasive mussel inspection station, all watercraft must report. Watercraft inspection ahead, Keep invasive mussels out! Failure to stop = $690 fine.

Image above provides examples of inspection station signs. Failure to stop at an inspection station can result in a $690 fine. 

Map of inspection stations for watercraft entering and exiting B.C.

This map provides the locations for 2025 Watercraft Inspection Stations. Light blue indicates permanent stations, yellow indicates part-time stations, and purple indicates roving inspection crews.

For further questions or clarification about inspection station locations, contact:

B.C. - Alberta Passport Program 

In 2017 B.C. and Alberta launched a joint watercraft passport program. The passport is available for boaters who travel between B.C. and Alberta and those who only travel within B.C. Boaters can voluntarily sign up for a passport at any provincial watercraft inspection station. Provincial inspectors will ask the boater a series of questions to determine if they qualify for a passport.  When passports are issued, boaters will be asked to sign a commitment to practice Clean, Drain, Dry and stop at all inspection stations.

It is still mandatory for all passport holders to stop at inspection stations, but the inspection process is quicker. The passport is stamped each time a boater goes through an inspection station in B.C. or Alberta.

Invasive passport.

Program funders

Th Columbia Basin Trust, The Columbia Power Corporation, BC Hydro Power smart, Fortis BC.

This work is funded with support by: 

  • The Columbia Basin Trust
  • The Columbia Power Corporation
  • BC Hydro
  • Fortis BC

To learn more about the invasive Golden Mussel, consult:

To learn more about invasive freshwater zebra and quagga mussels: 

For more information about whirling disease, visit:

Aquatic invasive species resources from other jurisdictions:

COS crest