When does a fishing license expire?
It depends on the state. In 20 states an annual license lasts 12 months from the day you buy it. In 30 it ends on a fixed date, however late in the year you bought it.
- Free
- Official sources first
- Checked monthly
- Independent, not a state website
States where licenses end on a fixed date
Buying late in the license year? You get less time for the same price, so check whether next year's licenses are already on sale.
| State | Annual license runs until | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | August 31 each year | License year runs September 1 to August 31; all annual licenses expire August 31 whenever bought. Official source2 |
| Alaska | December 31 each year | Licenses and king salmon stamps are valid for the calendar year in which they are bought. Official source |
| Colorado | March 31 each year | Annual licenses go on sale March 1 and run to March 31 the following year (up to 13 months). Official source |
| Connecticut | December 31 each year | All licenses are valid for the calendar year and expire December 31. Official source |
| Delaware | December 31 each year | Fishing licenses cover the calendar year and expire on 31 December of the year they are issued. Official source |
| Idaho | December 31 each year | Annual licenses, tags and permits are valid to 31 December, not for 12 months from purchase. Secondary source: Idaho fishing seasons and rules (eRegulations edition) |
| Illinois | March 31 each year | Licenses go on sale March 1 and expire March 31 the following year. Official source |
| Indiana | March 31 each year | Annual licenses and stamps run from 1 April to 31 March the following year, whenever you buy them. Official source |
| Iowa | January 10 each year | Annual licenses are valid from the day you buy them until 10 January of the next calendar year. Multi-year and lifetime licenses are exceptions. Official source |
| Kentucky | the last day of February each year | Annual licenses and permits run from purchase to the last day of February; the new license year starts March 1. One-day and seven-day licenses are valid for the dates printed on them. Official source2 |
| Maine | December 31 each year | Licenses and permits issued under Maine's licensing chapter expire at midnight on December 31 of the year issued. Official source |
| Massachusetts | December 31 each year | All licenses and permits are valid for the calendar year and expire on December 31. Official source23 |
| Michigan | March 31 each year | The license year starts April 1; the new year's licenses go on sale in early March. Official source |
| Minnesota | the last day of February each year | The license year runs March 1 to the last day of February. 24-hour, 72-hour and 7-day licenses run from the start time you choose. Official source2 |
| Missouri | last day of February | Annual permits run from purchase to the end of February. Official source |
| Montana | end of February | The license year runs March 1 to the end of February. Official source |
| Nebraska | December 31 each year | Annual permits are valid January 1 to December 31. Permits for the next year go on sale in mid-November. Secondary source: Custer County Chief (Game and Parks release) |
| New Hampshire | December 31 each year | Licenses are valid January 1 to December 31 (except short-term licenses). Secondary source: New Hampshire Fishing Digest 2026 (eRegulations) |
| New Jersey | December 31 each year | All New Jersey fishing licenses and trout stamps run from purchase to December 31. Saltwater registrations also end each calendar year. Official source2 |
| New Mexico | March 31 each year | Licenses run from April 1 to March 31 of the following year. Official source |
| North Dakota | March 31 each year | Fishing licenses run from April 1 to March 31 of the following year. Official source |
| Oregon | December 31 each year | Annual licenses are valid January 1 to December 31; the next year's go on sale December 1. Official source23 |
| Pennsylvania | December 31 each year | Annual licenses cover a calendar license year and go on sale on December 1 of the year before: 2026 licenses are valid from December 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026. Multi-year licenses run to the end of the year printed (for example, a 3-year license bought for 2026 is valid through 2028). Official source23 |
| Rhode Island | freshwater: last day of February. Saltwater: December 31. | The freshwater license year runs March 1 to the last day of February. Yearly saltwater licenses expire on December 31; 7-day saltwater licenses expire seven days after activation. Official source2 |
| South Dakota | january 31 after the license year | Licenses go on sale on December 15 and run to January 31 of the following year (the 2026 license runs December 15, 2025 to January 31, 2027). Official source |
| Texas | August 31 each year | Annual licenses run from purchase to August 31, whatever the purchase date. The new year's licenses go on sale August 15. Official source |
| Vermont | end of the license year (exact date not confirmed) | The eRegulations guide says annual fishing licenses cover the whole year; the exact start and end dates weren't found on the pages checked. Term licenses cover consecutive days starting on the day you choose. Lifetime and permanent holders reprint their license each year. Secondary source: Vermont Fishing Regulations 2026-27 (eRegulations) |
| Washington | March 31 each year | 2026 license-year items are valid April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027. Official source |
| West Virginia | December 31 each year | Licenses are good for the calendar year; new ones must be bought at the start of each year. Official source |
| Wisconsin | March 31 each year | Annual licenses start on the purchase date and expire the following March 31. Sales open March 1. A 1-day license runs midnight to midnight. Official source |
States where licenses last 12 months from purchase
| State | Notes |
|---|---|
| Arizona | Licenses are valid 365 days from purchase (short-term licenses only on the days chosen). Official source |
| Arkansas | The resident fishing license and non-resident annual license run one year from purchase. Combination and 65 Plus annual licenses expire June 30. Official source2 |
| California | Annual licenses and validations run 365 days from purchase. Report cards have their own fixed seasons. Official source |
| Florida | Annual licenses expire 12 months from the date of issue. Secondary source: Palm Beach County Tax Collector |
| Georgia | Annual licenses run 365 days from purchase and can be stacked. Official source |
| Hawaii | Annual freshwater licenses are valid for one year from the date of issue. DLNR does not say whether the annual non-resident marine license runs 365 days or another period. Official source2 |
| Kansas | One-year licenses run 365 days from purchase. Official source |
| Louisiana | Annual licenses are valid for 365 days from purchase. Online buyers can choose automatic renewal. Official source |
| Maryland | Annual licenses are valid 365 days from purchase. 7-day and 3-day licenses cover consecutive days. Official source |
| Mississippi | Annual licenses are valid one year from the date of issue; the 3-day license runs 3 consecutive calendar days. Secondary source: Mississippi Fishing Regulations (eRegulations)2 |
| Nevada | Annual and combination licenses are valid for 1 year from the date of purchase. 1-day permits run to midnight of the date shown. Secondary source: Nevada Fishing Regulations 2026 (NDOW guide on eRegulations) |
| New York | Annual freshwater licenses last 365 days from purchase (or from renewal). The marine registry also lasts 365 days. Official source2 |
| North Carolina | Annual licenses are valid 12 months from purchase. Official source |
| Ohio | One-year licenses last 365 days from purchase. The regulations year runs March 1 to the end of February. Official source |
| Oklahoma | Annual fishing licenses run 365 days from purchase. Official source |
| South Carolina | Annual licenses are valid one year from purchase; 3-year licenses three years. Nongame device tags and permits expire June 30. Official source2 |
| Tennessee | Annual licenses run 365 days from purchase. Official source |
| Utah | Licenses are valid 365 days from purchase. Multi-year licenses run 2 to 5 years. Official source2 |
| Virginia | Fishing licenses are valid for one year from the date of purchase (or a chosen future start date). Multi-year and lifetime licenses differ. Official source |
| Wyoming | Licenses and stamps are valid for 12 consecutive months from the date of purchase. Secondary source: 2026 Wyoming Fishing Regulations (eRegulations edition) |
Short-term licenses (1 day, 3 days, 7 days) run for the days you choose in every state.