Saturday’s forecasted warm spell may prompt Iowans to set out on the water, but the Washington County Recorder’s Office urges watercraft owners to first check an item off their to-do list.

County Recorder Jo Greiner recommends checking that your boat registration is up to date, as all boats registered with her office require renewal by April 30th. New registration is valid for three years, and boat fees are regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and are based on the length of the boat. Vessels registered in Iowa must display their current registration decals and the Iowa-issued registration numbers provided by the county recorder. Operators must also carry their registration certificate on board. A $5 penalty is added to the renewal cost for an expired registration, and there is no grace period. For questions, contact your respective county recorder’s office.