Drone Operation Laws by State
State-level drone regulations supplementing FAA Part 107 rules: state permit requirements, drone-specific privacy/voyeurism statutes, and designated state no-fly or restricted zones.
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| State Permit | Privacy Laws | No-Fly Zones |
|---|---|---|
| No (FAA only) | No (general voyeurism) | Critical infrastructure |
| No | Yes (AS §18.65.901 monitoring) | Wildlife/state parks |
| No | Yes (ARS §13-3729) | Critical infrastructure |
| No | Yes (ACA §5-60-103) | Critical infrastructure, prisons |
| No | Yes (Civ. Code §1708.8) | State parks (most), wildfires |
| No (state agency reg.) | No (general) | State parks restricted |
| No | Yes (PA 17-52) | Police restrictions |
| No | Yes (Title 11 §1335A) | Critical infrastructure |
| No | Yes (Freedom from Surveillance Act) | Critical infrastructure, state parks |
| No | No (general) | Capitol, prisons |
| Yes (state lands permit) | Yes (HRS §711-1110.9) | All state parks (need permit) |
| No | Yes (I.C. §21-213) | Wildfires, livestock surveillance |
| No | Yes (Freedom from Drone Surveill.) | Hunting interference banned |
| No | Yes (I.C. §35-46-8.5) | Critical infrastructure |
| No | Yes (Iowa Code §808.15) | Traffic enforcement banned |
| No | No (general) | Capitol building |
| No | Yes (KRS §183.137) | Critical infrastructure (KRS §183.137) |
| No | Yes (RS §14:283.3) | Critical infrastructure, prisons |
| No | Yes (25 MRSA §4501) | Hunting interference |
| No (preempts local) | No (general) | Stadiums, correctional |
| No (state parks rules) | No (general) | DCR state parks (permit) |
| No (preempts local) | Yes (MCL §259.322) | Hunting interference, stalking |
| No | Yes (Minn. Stat. §626.19 LE) | State parks (permit req.) |
| No | Yes (Miss. Code §97-29-61) | Critical infrastructure |
| No | No (general) | Open-air facilities (HB 1467) |
| No | Yes (MCA §46-5-109) | Hunting interference |
| No | No (general) | Capitol, prisons |
| No | Yes (NRS §493.103) | Critical infrastructure, 250 ft below |
| No | Yes (RSA 207:57 hunting) | Hunting interference |
| No (preempts local) | Yes (NJSA 2C:40-27) | Critical infrastructure, DUI applies |
| No | No (general) | State parks restricted |
| No (state parks permit) | No (general voyeurism) | All state parks (need permit) |
| Yes (commercial KOP test) | Yes (NCGS §15A-300.1) | Prisons (2,000 ft) |
| No | Yes (HB 1328 LE limits) | Critical infrastructure |
| No | No (general) | Critical infrastructure |
| No | Yes (3 OS §322 critical infra) | Critical infrastructure |
| No | Yes (ORS §837.380 weapons) | Critical infrastructure |
| No (preempts local) | Yes (18 Pa. C.S. §3505) | Hunting interference |
| No (state parks permit) | No (general) | DEM state parks (permit) |
| No | Yes (SC Code §16-17-470) | Correctional facilities |
| No | Yes (SDCL §22-21-1 surveillance) | Critical infrastructure, hunting |
| No | Yes (TCA §39-13-609) | Stadiums, fireworks, fairs |
| No | Yes (Gov't Code Ch. 423) | Critical infrastructure, sports venues |
| No | Yes (UCA §72-14-203) | Wildfires (criminal), critical infra |
| No | Yes (20 V.S.A. §4622 LE) | State parks restricted |
| No (preempts local) | Yes (Va. Code §19.2-60.1) | Stadiums, correctional |
| No | No (general voyeurism) | State parks (permit), critical infra |
| No | Yes (W. Va. Code §61-3E-1) | Hunting interference |
| No (preempts local) | Yes (Wis. Stat. §942.10) | Stadiums, correctional |
| No | Yes (WS §6-9-301 hunting) | Hunting interference |
| Yes (FAA: full no-fly without auth.) | Federal SUAS rules | Entire district (Class B w/ extra restrictions) |
All commercial drone operations require an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate; state laws layer on top of (and cannot override) federal airspace authority. Many states preempt local drone ordinances. The District of Columbia is a special flight rules area requiring FAA authorization for any flight.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.