Division of Boating and Waterways Local Assistance: Floating Restroom Grant Program

Division of Boating and Waterways Local Assistance: Floating Restroom Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: California Department of Parks and Recreation
Amount: Unspecified amount in in-kind support
Last Updated: November 10, 2025

Summary

The Floating Restroom Grant Program, coordinated by the California Department of Boating and Waterways, aims to enhance recreational boating by providing floating restroom units at lakes and reservoirs statewide. This initiative, rooted in the Clean Vessel Act, ensures the preservation of water quality by preventing sewage discharge. Eligible government entities can access funding for the development and maintenance of these restrooms, which must be kept operational for at least ten years, thus supporting both public health and environmental integrity.

Overview

Background As part of its commitment to provide clean, safe, and enjoyable recreational boating in California, DBW partners with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Clean Vessel Act program to provide floating restrooms for boater's use on lakes and reservoirs to prevent sewage from entering our valuable waterways. In 1992, Congress passed the Clean Vessel Act to help reduce pollution from vessel sewage discharges into U.S. waters. The grant program established by the Act and funded by the Sport Fish Restoration Program helps fund the development, construction, deployment, operation, and maintenance of floating restrooms. The Division of Boating and Waterways, the state grant coordinator for this federal program, provides the required 25% federal match from the Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund. Floating Restroom Grant Program The Floating Restroom Grant Program provides floating restroom units to lakes and reservoirs across California. The Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) procures, delivers, and grants the DBW-designed and developed floating restroom to the recipient. The grant recipient then places the floating restrooms at on-water locations convenient to boaters and maintains the units for a minimum of 10 years. The Clean Vessel Act grant program also offers maintenance and rehabilitation funds for the floating restrooms.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The Floating Restroom Grant is available to government entities who operate lakes and reservoirs that are open to the public.Grantees are required to operate and maintain the floating restrooms for 10 years.A sign must be installed on the floating restroom that acknowledges the facility was constructed with funds from the Sport Fish Restoration Program, through DBW.As a grant recipient, you will not incur any fees for the development, construction or deployment of the floating restroom. You are responsible to operate, maintain and provide access to the floating restroom for the full period of its useful life, which is 10 years.