The Tennessee Wildlife and Resources Agency (TWRA) is poised to start requiring permits for canoe, SUP, tube, and kayak livery operations (businesses renting paddlecraft) and fees for each craft launched on waters in the State outside the boundaries of federal lands.  

Draft rules proposed by TWRA and presented at an August 23rd meeting include proposals to:

• regulate all aspects of commercial paddlecraft rentals (canoes, kayaks, SUP's, rafts and tubes) to non commercial customers on state rivers and private waters except for those in State Parks and those in National Forests and National Parks;
• require fees for permits and for each vessel launched;
• require each craft to show a registration number as well as the company name; 
• maintain records of the name of the individual renting each vessel and the date of the trip, which will be subject to a TWRA audit.

TWRA is in the process of writing proposed rules now which they want to finalize in December before presenting to the state legislature next year.  
 

Additional regulations may be required in the future such as restrictions on access. This regulation is authorized by an ill-conceived bill, which snuck through the Tennessee General Assembly.   

The TN Paddlesports Access Coaltion (TPAC) has been created and is being coordinated out of the America Outdoors office in Knoxville.  The Coalition is fighting these unreasonable proposals to restrict access by the outfitted public.  We are open to addressing legitimate issues, but we are not going to accept overbearing regulations.