24.120 Quagga/Zebra Mussel Fee (VC §§9851, 9853, 9860, and 9863 and CHNC §675)

The Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Fee (Mussel fee) is due for vessels used in fresh water. Vessels not required to be registered in California and the following registered vessels are exempt from the fee:

• Vessels used only in marine waters.
• Annual exempt youth group (type license [TL] V6).
• Annual exempt government (TL V7).
• CF numbers issued to dealers (TL V3).
• CF numbers issued to manufacturers (TL V4).

Mussel Fee Paid Sticker

The Mussel Fee Paid sticker must be attached to the vessel as evidence of payment of the Mussel Fee. The Mussel Fee Paid sticker allows the vessel to be operated in all waters of the state, unless expressly prohibited. Vessels that are exempt from the fee are not required to display the sticker.

Mussel Fee Paid Sticker Issuance

The Mussel Fee may be paid at any time and processed as a separate transaction Mussel Fee Sticker Request – California DMV.

Vessel owners using the online Vehicle Registration Internet Renewal (VRIR) application will no longer include the Mussel Fee sticker as part of the vessel renewal. Instead, vessel owners will be able to purchase the Mussel Fee sticker as a separate item using the new online Quagga Sticker Request application. The Mussel Fee sticker will be mailed separately from their vessel registration.

The vessel registration renewal notice no longer displays the Mussel Fee, there is no option to purchase a Mussel Fee sticker via the renewal notice. Vessel registration renewal notices will direct customers to the online Quagga Sticker Request application to purchase Mussel Fee stickers separately.

The option to purchase Mussel stickers with vessel renewal via the telephone Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system has been disabled and Business partners in the BPA program will no longer issue Mussel stickers.