Who gets turned away from a bungee jump?
Age, weight, pregnancy, health, and intoxication rules that get people turned away from bungee jumps, plus how to check before you drive there.
You've finally talked yourself into it. Maybe it's a fall trip, maybe it's a birthday dare, maybe your 15-year-old has been begging since summer. Then a doubt creeps in: will they even let us jump? Most people who show up get to jump. The ones turned away are usually too young, outside the weight range, pregnant, intoxicated, or have a medical condition that rules them out. Some of those rules are state law and some are company policy. Knowing which is which before you drive there saves a lot of disappointment.
The short answer: who gets turned away
The United States has no federal rule on who can bungee jump. Eligibility comes from two layers: state amusement-ride rules, in the few states that have bungee-specific rules, and each operator's own policy. When a state rule and an operator rule disagree, the stricter one is the one that matters in practice, according to a LegalClarity guide.
Some states are detailed. Massachusetts, in 520 CMR 5.13, bans stunt, tandem, reverse and catapult jumps. It allows jumps only over air bags or water and bans jumps from hot air balloons and bridges. Wisconsin's code (SPS 334) also bans jumps from cranes, bridges and hot air balloons, along with stunt and tandem jumps.
When it comes to the person on the platform, the same five reasons for a "no" come up again and again:
- Too young, or under 18 without a parent's consent
- Too heavy or too light for the cords on hand
- Pregnant
- Intoxicated, or appearing to be on drugs
- A medical condition the jump could make worse
Most of these can be checked from home. A phone call and a careful read of the waiver before you book can save you a long drive for nothing.
Age and parental consent
Age is the reason families run into most often. Per LegalClarity, most US commercial operators set the minimum at 14 to 16, and a few allow 12-year-olds on low platforms. Anyone under 18 almost always needs written consent from a parent.
Massachusetts writes its floor into law: "No person under the age of 16 shall be allowed to bungee jump," and operators must require proof of age (520 CMR 5.13). In that state, a mature 15-year-old with an eager parent still can't jump.
The SkyJump at The Strat in Las Vegas sets its minimum at 14. Riders under 18 need a parent or guardian with valid ID. If no parent is there, they need a notarized letter granting permission. A parent or guardian must also sign a waiver stating the child is in good health. For comparison, UK Bungee also starts at 14, with an exception down to 11 for one specific jump.
A note for parents: the same guide reports that roughly half of US states have ruled that a parent's pre-injury waiver can't bind a minor in commercial recreation. That is one legal source's summary, not settled national law, but it helps explain why operators are so strict about teen paperwork.
Weight limits
Weight trips up more adults than any other rule, and both ends of the scale count. A bungee cord isn't one-size-fits-all. Operators match the cord to each jumper's body weight and weigh everyone on site (LegalClarity). Too much weight for a cord means it stretches further than planned. Too little means the jump doesn't behave as designed either. That's why there's a minimum as well as a maximum.
According to that guide, US operators' ranges typically run from about 80 to 300 pounds. The real limits depend on the site's equipment:
- Massachusetts: the state requires every site to post its weight limit, and the rule gives that limit as 275 pounds (520 CMR 5.13).
- The Strat SkyJump: guests can weigh up to 265 pounds. The harness and gear add about 10 pounds, bringing the total to the ride's 275-pound (125 kg) limit. Jumpers must also be at least 52 inches tall and fit the harness safely (The Strat).
- UK Bungee: the solo limit is 120 kg (about 265 pounds), and tandem jumpers can weigh 217 kg combined (UK Bungee).
Not every state sets a number. Wisconsin's code limits how much load a platform can carry, but it sets no weight cap for the jumper (SPS 334). There, the limit comes entirely from the operator.
The numbers vary from site to site. If you're within 15 or 20 pounds of a posted limit, call before you book. Bear in mind that the on-site scale, not your bathroom scale, decides whether you jump. Heavy boots and a full jacket count.
Health conditions and pregnancy
Once age and weight check out, the next question is health. Here the answer is either "no" or "not without a doctor's okay."
Pregnancy is a no nearly everywhere. The Strat lists it as an exclusion. UK Bungee's safety FAQ says pregnant people cannot jump, and LegalClarity flags it for US operators too. If your group includes a pregnant friend, plan a role for her on the ground. Someone has to film the jump.
Heart problems are the strictest of the medical rules. LegalClarity reports that a history of heart attack, stroke or cardiac surgery disqualifies jumpers at "virtually every" US operator. That is one source's claim, but it matches every operator policy listed here. The same guide flags back or neck injuries, recent surgery and seizure disorders. It says people on blood thinners, or with conditions such as severe nearsightedness, may need a physician's clearance.
The Strat's list is broad. It asks people not to jump with a history of back, neck, ankle or knee problems, recent injuries or surgeries, asthma, allergies, heart conditions or epilepsy, or "other conditions that could be aggravated by this activity" (The Strat).
Some operators offer a "get cleared first" path. UK Bungee doesn't flatly refuse jumpers with high blood pressure, heart conditions, dizziness or epilepsy, neck or back damage, asthma, or prescription medication. Instead, it asks them to get professional medical advice and sign a non-standard waiver (UK Bungee safety FAQ).
Massachusetts makes it law. No one "with a medical condition that could be adversely affected by bungee jumping" may jump. Jumpers must disclose their conditions and get medical advice first, and operators aren't responsible for injuries caused by conditions a jumper didn't disclose (520 CMR 5.13). Be honest on the health form. Hiding a condition puts you at risk and can leave you without legal protection.
Alcohol and drugs
This rule is the simplest, and nobody bends it. Massachusetts law says: "No individual who is visibly intoxicated or appears to be under the influence of drugs shall be allowed to bungee jump" (520 CMR 5.13). The Strat excludes anyone intoxicated, and UK Bungee says you can't jump under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. If the jump is part of a Halloween weekend or a Thanksgiving trip, save the celebration drinks for after you're back on the ground.
How to avoid being turned away
Almost every turn-away on this list can be avoided with a little homework:
- Call ahead if you're close to a limit. That covers weight (both ends), a teen near the minimum age, and anyone with a health question. Ask what the cord range is, and whether the scale reading includes gear.
- Get a doctor's note for any health condition. If you have a heart, back, neck or seizure history, or you take blood thinners, see your doctor before booking. Some operators will accept a clearance and an extra waiver. Others won't, and it's better to find out at home.
- Bring photo ID. The Strat requires valid ID at check-in, and Massachusetts requires proof of age. Teens need a parent there with ID or, where accepted, a notarized letter. The Strat takes reservations at 800.99.TOWER (86937).
- Read the waiver before the day. It's where the operator's real rules are written, and they may be stricter than state law.
A few final points. Most states don't regulate bungee jumping specifically, so in most places the operator's policy is the only rule. And some famous US "jumps" aren't bungee jumps at all. The Strat's SkyJump is a "controlled descent" on a decelerator system that works like a vertical zip line, with no elastic cord. Its rules are a useful reference, but check what kind of jump you're actually booking.
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