Legal frame
Governing: ΓΚΛ 38 art. 1–4; ΓΚΛ 20 art. 22, 35, 36; ΚΥΑ 2131.4/64444/2021 art. 1–2. Builds on: Renting a Boat or Jet Ski in Greece (the hirer's side).
Two rulebooks, two kinds of permission
Greece regulates paid rental of small craft through two Coast Guard regimes. They differ in what they cover, in the kind of permission and in who decides.
| ΓΚΛ 38 (rent-a-boat) | ΓΚΛ 20 + ΚΥΑ 64444/2021 (water sports) | |
|---|---|---|
| Craft | Motor boats (μηχανοκίνητες λέμβοι) and speedboats, 4.30–12 m | Jet skis, towed inflatables, water-ski, parasail, pedalos, canoes, kayaks, SUP, windsurf, beach cats, sea playgrounds, approved "novel" craft |
| Permission | Notification (αναγγελία); a certificate of fulfilment of legal requirements (βεβαίωση συνδρομής νομίμων προϋποθέσεων) | Approval (έγκριση εκμίσθωσης θαλάσσιων μέσων αναψυχής) |
| Who decides | The Port Authority, which may forbid within 50 days | The Port Authority, after the local three-member committee fixes the position, types and numbers |
| Where you trade | Any Port Authority area, after telling that Authority (art. 4(2)) | One beach pitch or one sea point, by geographic position |
| Fleet rule | At least 3 boats owned 100 % | Whatever the committee writes into the approval, and no more (ΚΥΑ art. 8(1)) |
The ΚΥΑ lists the tax activity codes it covers: water-sports equipment, pleasure craft and boats without crew, and pedalo and canoe hire (art. 1). The authority is the Port Authority of the place where you trade (art. 2).
Where the line falls
- A fleet of self-drive boats rented from a harbour for trips is the classic ΓΚΛ 38 business.
- Jet skis and hovercraft are never ΓΚΛ 38 craft. Art. 2(3) excludes them expressly; they can be rented only under a water-sports approval (ΓΚΛ 20 art. 9).
- A beach station with pedalos, SUPs, a banana boat or parasailing needs the ΚΥΑ approval.
- Boats on a beach. ΓΚΛ 20 also has rules for rented speedboats and motor boats launched through a beach channel (art. 4(5), 19(4)), and the ΚΥΑ's activity codes include boat hire without crew. The boundary is not drawn cleanly. Ask the local Port Authority before you buy boats.
CAUTION — The approval lists the craft A water-sports approval covers the craft types and numbers the committee wrote in it. Keeping or renting more units than that is a breach (ΚΥΑ art. 8(1)).
What neither regime covers
A ΓΚΛ 38 boat is by definition not a professional pleasure vessel (art. 2(6)). Chartering yachts, with or without crew, falls under law 4926/2022; see Bareboat Chartering in Greece and Chartering a Greek- or EU-Registered Professional Yacht. ΓΚΛ 38 still cites art. 1 of law 4256/2014 for that definition, but that article was repealed in 2022.
Advertising counts
Nobody may rent or advertise water-sports craft, online or on social media, without a valid approval. An approval holder may not advertise craft outside the approval (ΓΚΛ 20 art. 22(1)). The fine is €5,000, doubled on each repeat within 12 months (art. 39(4)(α)). Renting without approval is fined under the ΚΥΑ formula instead (Lesson 4.1).
Exceptions you will meet on the beach
| Who | Condition | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Main hotels with 60+ beds, non-motorised craft only | May trade closer than 300 m to another operator, for their own guests only, with committee approval | ΓΚΛ 20 art. 22(4) |
| Hotels with 100+ beds | Same, for all ΓΚΛ 20 craft | art. 22(4) |
| Tour agencies (non-motorised craft, package holidays) | No approval; 1 responsible person per 12 users, 24 h notice, 500 m from rental pitches | art. 36(1) |
| Cruise ships (own passengers) | No approval; licensed responsible person, 48 h notice, 500 m (non-motorised) / 1,000 m (motorised) from pitches | art. 36(2) |
TIP — Get the Authority's view in writing When you are unsure which regime applies, file a short written question with the Port Authority and keep the reply with your papers.