33 CFR § 165.20 - Safety zones.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t33/s165.20"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "33 CFR § 165.20 - Safety zones."
title_number: 33
title_name: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
section_number: "165.20"
section_name: "Safety zones."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "P"
subchapter_name: "PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETY"
part_number: "165"
part_name: "REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "46 U.S.C. 70034, 70051, 70124; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4."
regulatory_source: "CGD 79-034, 47 FR 29660, July 8, 1982, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "165"
---


# 165.20 Safety zones.

A Safety Zone is a water area, shore area, or water and shore area to which, for safety or environmental purposes, access is limited to authorized persons, vehicles, or vessels. It may be stationary and described by fixed limits or it may be described as a zone around a vessel in motion.