Locations and Hours
All three regional inspection stations are now open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Boaters can drop in to an inspection station or book an appointment. Please follow @TahoeBoating for updates throughout the season.
NOTE: Services end at 5:30 p.m. Inspectors do their best to serve all boaters in the queue but will not begin an inspection after 4:30 p.m.
The appointment system is now live for the 2025 boating season! The first slot available is May 15, 2025. As of March 2025, all motorized watercraft will be decontaminated following inspection, thus all appointments are now one hour. We recommend making an appointment at the link below. Walk-ins are still permitted.
2175 Keetak St, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
April 17 – Sept 30 – Open from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily
255 Alpine Meadows Rd, Alpine Meadows, CA 96146
May 3 – Sept. 30 – Open from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily
NV-28 &, US-50, Carson City, NV 89703
May 1 – Sept. 30 – Open from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
* Spooner will be closed on June 1 for America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride.
* Spooner will delay opening to 9 am on June 22 for the Rock Tahoe Half Marathon
Do I need an inspection?
In all other cases:
- If you are heading to Fallen Leaf Lake or Echo Lakes, and you don’t have an intact (yellow or green) seal from the respective lake, you must get a decontamination before you can launch.
- All motorized vessels, including electric, require an inspection and decontamination. New boats and engines are tested in water prior to leaving the factory and are still required to be inspected and decontaminated.
- Trailered non-motorized vessels are required to be inspected and decontaminated.
- There are no inspection or decontamination fees for hand-launched electric watercraft or hand-launched non-motorized watercraft.
- If you own a simple non-motorized vessel, like a canoe, kayak or paddleboard, please visit Tahoe Keepers to learn how to self-inspect and Clean, Drain, & Dry your vessel. If you would like an inspection, please visit any of our inspection locations, and we will provide one free of charge.
Do I need a decontamination?
If your vessel has an intact inspection seal from the last time it was hauled out of Lake Tahoe, you do not need an inspection or decontamination and can proceed straight to your preferred launch site on Lake Tahoe. If you are heading to Fallen Leaf Lake or Echo Lakes, and you don’t have an intact (yellow or green) seal from the respective lake, you must get a decontamination.
Following inspection, all other motorized and/or trailered watercraft will be subject to decontamination. Clean, Drain, and Dry your vessel to avoid additional decontamination fees.