Byelaws and speed limits

Learn about the various byelaws and speed limits enforceable throughout the Broads waterways on this page.

Byelaws

The Broads Authority has certain byelaws enforceable within the Broads navigation area and some affect adjacent waters. These are made under the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988 (which was amended by the Broads Authority Act 2009).

• Navigation Byelaws 1995 (PDF)
• Speed Limit Byelaws 1992 (PDF)
• Vessel Dimension Byelaws 1995 (PDF)
• Vessel Registration Byelaws 1997 (PDF)

These Navigation Byelaws are in force throughout the Broads Authority navigation area and are the principal code of navigational conduct in the Broads. They are based on the International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea with amendments which reflect conditions of Broads navigation.

The byelaws also contain measures relating to public moorings, obstructions, navigation by minors, conduct following an incident, navigating under the influence, firearms and weapons in the navigation area, and safe speed and navigating with care.

Please be aware that subsequent legislation has amended the effect of the Broads Authority Vessel Registration Byelaws 1997. Section 11 of the Broads Authority Act 2009 provides as follows:

“The Broads Authority Vessel Registration Byelaws 1997 (other than byelaws 23 and 28) shall be deemed to have been made under this section, and shall have effect as though the references in those byelaws to the “navigation area” included adjacent waters.”

Speed limits

Speed limits are in force throughout the Broads. The limits are 3, 4, 5, or 6 mph, clearly signed on riverbanks and are in statute miles per hour measured 'over the ground'.

The Speed Limit Byelaws 1992 booklet, as well as detailing speed limits, areas and their application, also contains information on waterskiing, coaching vessels, boatyard vessels, and wash speed restrictions.

The byelaws were made by the Broads Authority under Section 10(3) and Section 10(5) and paragraph 4 of Schedule 5 of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988. The Speed Limit Byelaws came into operation on 1 November 1992.

Some sections of the byelaws have been amended by the Broads Authority Act 2009 and the two should be read together.