A compliance label number on a boat is the unique identifier assigned by Transport Canada when you license your pleasure craft. Formally called the Pleasure Craft Licence (PCL) number, it follows the format CA-XXXXXXXX and should be permanently displayed on both sides of the bow above the waterline.
It serves three purposes: it links your vessel to Transport Canada's registry for safety recalls and stolen vessel tracking, it identifies you during Coast Guard boardings and marine emergencies, and it shows you've met the federal licensing requirement under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.
If the number isn't displayed the way Transport Canada publishes, your vessel may not meet the federal display requirement. Verify your obligations with Transport Canada before you operate.
WHERE TO FIND IT
Your compliance label number appears on your Pleasure Craft Licence document. If you've lost it, retrieve it through Transport Canada's Pleasure Craft Electronic Licensing System at 1-800-267-6687 with your hull identification number (HIN) and proof of ownership. The licence itself is applied for through Transport Canada (fees may apply); we supply the hull markings, not the licence.