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Drone laws by state: what each state adds to FAA drone regulations

Federal drone rules apply in every state. States add their own laws on top, on topics from privacy and police drones to prisons and hunting.

Check your state Can I fly here?

State laws read in each state's own code, November 14, 2026

States and D.C. in one table
51
FAA ceiling above the ground, in every state
400ft
States with drone laws since 2013, by the FAA's count
44+
States that register some drones
2

FAA drone regulations come first: Part 107 and recreational drone rules

No state law takes the FAA's place. Why you fly picks your federal rulebook, and both rulebooks share the same limits in the air.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) writes the flight rules for drones across the United States, and no state law in the table below takes their place. Which federal rulebook you fly under depends on why you fly:

  • Recreational drone flying

    Strictly for fun, under the exception in 49 U.S.C. 44809. You pass TRUST, the FAA's free Recreational UAS Safety Test, and keep the proof to show the FAA or law enforcement when asked (TRUST certificate).

    TRUST
  • Part 107

    Every other flight, paid or not, the work of commercial pilots included. The pilot holds the FAA remote pilot certificate (drone license).

    Certificate

Both rulebooks share the limits that matter most in the air:

  • 400 feet

    In uncontrolled airspace both cap a flight at 400 feet above ground level, 400 feet itself allowed (49 U.S.C. 44809(a)(6); 14 CFR 107.51(b)); near a structure a Part 107 pilot may go higher (how high a drone can fly).

    400 ft max
  • Visual line of sight

    A recreational flyer, or an observer beside them, keeps the drone in sight (44809(a)(3)); a Part 107 pilot or observer must see it well enough to tell its attitude, altitude and direction of flight (14 CFR 107.31).

    Keep it in sight
  • Registration

    Drones weighing more than 0.55 lb (249 g), and every drone flown under Part 107, are registered with the FAA; a drone of 0.55 lb (249 g) or less flown only for fun is not (14 CFR 48.15).

    With the FAA
  • Remote ID

    A drone that is registered, or has to be, gives out its identification and location in flight for others to receive (14 CFR part 89; Remote ID).

    If registered
  • National parks

    Launching, landing or operating a drone on National Park Service land and water is prohibited except as approved in writing by the superintendent (drones in national parks).

    Written OK only

The federal rules every state shares are summed up in drone rules for the whole U.S.

Both rulebooks keep the drone in sight of the pilot or an observer.

Can I fly here?

The FAA's airspace and flight restrictions at the spot you pick. State laws are in the table on this page.

Can I fly here?

What state drone laws can and cannot regulate

In the FAA's view, set out in a fact sheet of July 14, 2023, a state law that sets drone altitude or flight paths for safety, licenses pilots or requires equipment would be preempted, while laws on privacy, trespass, hunting, prison contraband and police drone warrants generally are not. Federal drone rules apply in every state either way.

The FAA and the Department of Transportation's Office of the General Counsel updated their fact sheet on state and local drone rules under a cover letter of July 14, 2023; the FAA page that serves it was last updated July 19, 2023. It sets out the agencies' view, not a court's ruling:

Federal ground, in the FAA's examples

How drones are operated, their altitude or flight paths for safety, drone traffic systems or “highways”, air rights over roads, markings, pilot licensing and safety training, manufacturing standards, and required equipment such as geofencing.

Room for states and cities, in the FAA's examples

Land use and zoning, harassment, privacy, voyeurism, trespass, reckless endangerment, prison contraband, photos of listed facilities, police warrants for drone surveillance, wildlife protection, hunting and fishing with drones, and police operations.

  • A conflict means preemption

    A state or local law that conflicts with FAA rules is preempted, and one that reaches commercial operators is the more likely to be.

    Preempted
  • A law with another aim

    One that pursues a goal other than safety but still limits where drones may fly is judged by its effect on safety and by how far it limits drones' use of the airspace.

    Judged by effect
Two examples from the fact sheet, and tools against drones

Two examples in the fact sheet show where it draws the line. It names, as raising preemption issues, a proposed law that would have made flying under 350 feet over land without the owner's permission a trespass. And it cites Singer v. City of Newton (D. Mass. 2017), where a city's ban below 400 feet over private property without permission, together with a permit rule over public property, made “an essential ban on drone use” that stood in the way of the aims of Congress and the FAA.

The fact sheet also warns that federal law may prevent, limit or penalize selling, owning or using tools that detect drones or take them down, whatever a state allows. By its count, at least 44 states had passed laws relating to drones since 2013.

Drone laws by state: 50 states and D.C.

Of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., 46 have at least one drone law in the table, each read in the state's own code; a search of the whole code found no drone statute in Massachusetts and New Mexico, and Georgia, Indiana and Tennessee were not read on the state's own site.

Each state's drone statutes by topic, with the citation under each and the day the row was read in the state's own code, on November 14, 2026. Every state's first line says how much of its code was read.

Show
First letter

The 50 states and Washington, D.C.: each state's drone laws by topic and how much of its code was read, read November 14, 2026.

  1. Alabama

    1 drone law

    Laws on critical infrastructure.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Critical infrastructure
    Entering a critical infrastructure facility without authority while possessing or operating a drone with an attached weapon or explosive is a Class C felony.Code of Ala. 13A-7-4.3(e), as amended by SB 54 (2025)
    Read

  2. Alaska

    1 drone law

    Laws on law enforcement use.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Law enforcement use
    Police may use drones only under these sections: written procedures, a warrant or recognized exception for criminal evidence, limits on keeping images.Alaska Stat. 18.65.900 to 18.65.909
    Read

  3. Arizona

    4 drone laws

    Laws on trespass and overflight, critical infrastructure, events and stadiums and general operation.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Trespass and overflight
    A hobby flyer may not photograph or loiter 200 feet or lower over posted K-12 school property after being told to leave (class 3 misdemeanor).Ariz. Rev. Stat. 13-3729, the subsection on K-12 school property
    Critical infrastructure
    Photographing or loitering over or near a critical facility (refineries, utilities, prisons, courts, some hospitals) to further a crime is a class 6 felony.Ariz. Rev. Stat. 13-3729(B)
    Events and stadiums
    A non-hobby drone may not fly within 5,280 feet of or above a ticketed outdoor or large event without consent, with listed exceptions.Ariz. Rev. Stat. 13-3729(C)
    General operation
    Flying a drone in breach of federal aviation rules, or so that it interferes with police, firefighters or emergency services, is a class 1 misdemeanor.Ariz. Rev. Stat. 13-3729(A)
    Note
    The compiled section and two 2026 session laws letter its subsections differently, so the school rule is cited without its letter: the text.
    Read

  4. Arkansas

    4 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance and critical infrastructure.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    Purposely using a drone to capture images of a person or private property to surveil them is a Class C misdemeanor, with listed defenses.Ark. Code 5-60-103(e), as amended by Act 597 of 2025
    Privacy and surveillance
    Keeping or sharing such an image is a separate offense, and the owner or tenant of the property may sue for damages.Ark. Code 5-60-126 and 16-118-119 (Act 597 of 2025)
    Privacy and surveillance
    Video voyeurism and voyeurism expressly include secretly recording, or looking into a dwelling or private place, by drone (“unmanned vehicle or aircraft”).Ark. Code 5-16-101(b), 5-16-102(b) (Act 293 of 2015)
    Critical infrastructure
    Using a drone to watch, record or collect information about critical infrastructure without the owner's prior written consent is an offense.Ark. Code 5-60-103(b), as amended by Act 597 of 2025
    Read

  5. California

    3 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance and general operation.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    Entering the airspace above another's land without permission to record them in private activity is a physical invasion of privacy; any device counts.Cal. Civil Code 1708.8(a), (b)
    General operation
    A drone operator who impedes emergency personnel by viewing an emergency scene with a drone is guilty of a misdemeanor, wherever the operator stands.Cal. Penal Code 402(a)
    General operation
    Emergency responders are not liable for damage to a drone that was interfering with their emergency services.Cal. Civil Code 43.101
    Read

  6. Colorado

    1 drone law

    Laws on general operation.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    General operation
    Using a drone as an obstacle to police, firefighters or rescuers is obstruction, unless the pilot has the incident's permission and follows its instructions.C.R.S. 18-8-104(2.5), (5)(b), as added by HB18-1314
    None found in the sections searched
    Preemption of local rules: no state limit found in a search of the bills for “drone” and “unmanned” on the General Assembly's site. SB26-024, a bill on state and local drone rules, was postponed indefinitely on February 25, 2026.
    Read

  7. Connecticut

    1 drone law

    Laws on preemption of local rules.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Preemption of local rules
    Towns may not regulate commercial drones flown by FAA-certificated remote pilots; water-company towns may restrict drones over public water supply land. Hobby drones not covered.Conn. Gen. Stat. 7-149b
    Read

  8. Delaware

    3 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance, preemption of local rules and general operation.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    No drone flight that harasses or invades the privacy of a person on private property, or breaks a protective order.11 Del. C. 1334(b)(4)-(6)
    Preemption of local rules
    Only the State may regulate drone testing or operation; county and municipal drone rules are superseded.11 Del. C. 1334(e)
    General operation
    Without an exemption, no drone over events of 1,500+ people, critical infrastructure or active first-responder incidents; FAA-authorized commercial and police flights are exempt.11 Del. C. 1334(b), (c), (d)
    Read

  9. District of Columbia

    1 drone law

    Laws on law enforcement use.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Whole code searched for drone terms
    Law enforcement use
    D.C. police agencies may not acquire drones through federal government programs (since fiscal year 2021).D.C. Code 5-361.01(a)(8)
    Read

  10. Florida

    8 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance, trespass and overflight, critical infrastructure, hunting and wildlife, law enforcement use, preemption of local rules and weapons.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Whole code searched for drone terms
    Privacy and surveillance
    No one may use a camera drone to surveil private property or its occupants without written consent; owners and occupants may sue.Fla. Stat. 934.50(3)(b), (5)
    Trespass and overflight
    Flying a drone over a K-12 school is a second-degree misdemeanor; recording video while doing so is a first-degree misdemeanor.Fla. Stat. 330.41(5)
    Trespass and overflight
    Flying a drone on classified agricultural land, or close enough to disturb production, is a misdemeanor unless the owner consents.Fla. Stat. 330.41(6)
    Critical infrastructure
    Flying over, touching or disturbing a listed critical infrastructure facility (power, water, ports, airports, prisons and more) is a third-degree felony, with exceptions.Fla. Stat. 330.41(4)
    Hunting and wildlife
    Making a drone contact private property, state wildlife management lands or a shooting range to harass is a misdemeanor; recording raises it.Fla. Stat. 330.41(7)
    Law enforcement use
    Police may not use drones to gather evidence except under listed exceptions, such as a judge's warrant or imminent danger.Fla. Stat. 934.50(3)(a), (4)
    Preemption of local rules
    Drone regulation is vested in the state; cities and counties may not regulate drone operation, but may still enforce nuisance, voyeurism and harassment laws.Fla. Stat. 330.41(3)
    Weapons
    Drones may not carry weapons or explosives, and tampering with Remote ID to defeat it is a third-degree felony.Fla. Stat. 330.411
    Read

  11. Georgia

    Not read

    Not read on the state's own site: each law below is named by its citation alone.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Not read on the state's own site
    Not read on the state's own site
    O.C.G.A. 6-1-4(b), (c)
    Note
    O.C.G.A. 6-1-4 was seen only as quoted in a 2025 bill, HB 58; the compiled code is published by a vendor and was not read.
    Read

  12. Hawaii

    1 drone law

    Laws on trespass and overflight.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Trespass and overflight
    Flying a drone across a property line within 50 feet of a home to harass, or after notice, is a misdemeanor; FAA-compliant flight is exempt.Haw. Rev. Stat. 711-1125
    Read

  13. Idaho

    2 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance and hunting and wildlife.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    No drone surveillance or recording of a targeted person, home or farm without written consent, or recording to publish; victims may sue.Idaho Code 21-213(2)-(3)
    Hunting and wildlife
    No hunting or herding game by drone, no same-day drone spotting of big game, no drone scouting Aug 30-Dec 31; wounded-game retrieval excepted.Idaho Code 36-1101(b)(1)-(3), (5), (10)
    Read

  14. Illinois

    4 drone laws

    Laws on hunting and wildlife, law enforcement use and preemption of local rules.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Whole code searched for drone terms
    Hunting and wildlife
    Using a drone in a way that interferes with another person's lawful taking of wildlife or aquatic life is hunter or fisherman interference.720 ILCS 5/48-3(b)(10)
    Hunting and wildlife
    Taking, pursuing, harassing or disturbing wild birds or mammals with the aid of an unmanned aircraft is unlawful; utility inspections are excepted.520 ILCS 5/2.33(i)
    Law enforcement use
    Police drone use is barred except listed cases: terror threat, a 45-day warrant, imminent harm (48 hours), missing persons, crash and crime scenes.725 ILCS 167/10, 167/15
    Preemption of local rules
    Drone regulation is the State's alone: local governments, home-rule units included, may not regulate drones; cities over 1,000,000 people are excepted.620 ILCS 5/42.1
    Read

  15. Indiana

    Not read

    Not read on the state's own site: each law below is named by its citation alone.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Not read on the state's own site
    Not read on the state's own site
    Ind. Code 35-45-10-6
    Not read on the state's own site
    Ind. Code 35-45-4-5(g)-(h)
    Not read on the state's own site
    Ind. Code 35-33-5-9, 35-33-5-10
    Not read on the state's own site
    Ind. Code 35-44.1-4-10
    Not read on the state's own site
    Ind. Code 35-44.1-3-5, 35-44.1-3-6
    Read
    The 2026 Indiana Code, Title 35: read in an archived copy of October 29, 2026; it could not be opened on the state's own site on November 14, 2026.

  16. Iowa

    3 drone laws

    Laws on trespass and overflight, prisons and jails and law enforcement use.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Trespass and overflight
    Keeping a drone over another's rural home (within 400 feet) or a farmstead's secured area is a misdemeanor; city land is excluded.Iowa Code 715E.3, 715E.4
    Prisons and jails
    Flying a drone over a jail, prison or juvenile facility is a class D felony, unless police, permitted, or FAA-compliant commercial flight.Iowa Code 719.9
    Law enforcement use
    The state and cities may not use drones for traffic enforcement; drone evidence is admissible only with a warrant or if otherwise lawfully obtained.Iowa Code 321.492B and 808.15
    Read

  17. Kansas

    1 drone law

    Laws on privacy and surveillance.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    Under the stalking protection act, harassment includes a course of conduct using a drone over or near a home, occupied vehicle or other private place.Kan. Stat. Ann. 60-31a02(d)(1), (e)
    Read

  18. Kentucky

    4 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance, law enforcement use, general operation and weapons.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    Business and hobby flyers may not record private property or its occupants to surveil or publish them; owners and occupants may sue for damages.Ky. Rev. Stat. 500.130(12) and a new section of KRS ch. 411 (2025 Ky. Acts ch. 19)
    Law enforcement use
    Police drone searches need Fourth Amendment authority, and a warrant must name the drone; drone evidence is otherwise inadmissible.Ky. Rev. Stat. 500.130(6)-(9)
    General operation
    Businesses may fly under 14 CFR part 107 and hobby flyers under part 101; breaking those rules is a violation, then a Class B misdemeanor.Ky. Rev. Stat. 500.130(3), (4), (11)
    Weapons
    Drones may not carry a lethal payload, except those of the armed forces and National Guard.Ky. Rev. Stat. 500.130(2)
    Read

  19. Louisiana

    3 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance, critical infrastructure and prisons and jails.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    Using a camera drone to watch or record a person without consent, for a lewd purpose or where they expect privacy, is video voyeurism.La. R.S. 14:283(A)(1), (B)(1)
    Critical infrastructure
    Using a drone to surveil or record a targeted facility (refineries, chemical plants, schools, critical infrastructure) without written consent is a crime.La. R.S. 14:337(A)(1)(a), (B)(6)
    Prisons and jails
    Flying a drone without written consent over the state capitol grounds, the governor's mansion, any jail or prison, or a military facility is a crime.La. R.S. 14:337(A)(1)(b)-(c)
    Read

  20. Maine

    3 drone laws

    Laws on prisons and jails, hunting and wildlife and law enforcement use.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Whole code searched for drone terms
    Prisons and jails
    Flying 400 feet or lower over a prison or jail, or taking off or landing there, is a civil violation ($500 minimum); repeats are crimes.17-A M.R.S. 761
    Hunting and wildlife
    No one may use an aircraft to aid in hunting bear, deer or moose. The section says “aircraft” and does not name drones.12 M.R.S. 11216
    Law enforcement use
    Police drone purchases need approval of the governing body; police flights must follow FAA rules and written standards, with prosecutor approval for criminal investigations.25 M.R.S. 4501
    Read

  21. Maryland

    3 drone laws

    Laws on prisons and jails and preemption of local rules.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Prisons and jails
    Flying a drone over a correctional facility to photograph or record it without authorization is a misdemeanor (up to 3 years or $1,000).Md. Code, Corr. Servs. 8-804
    Prisons and jails
    Delivering contraband to a detained person by drone is a misdemeanor (up to 3 years or $1,000).Md. Code, Crim. Law 9-417.1
    Preemption of local rules
    Only the State may regulate drone testing or operation; county and municipal drone laws are preempted and superseded.Md. Code, Econ. Dev. 14-301
    Read

  22. Massachusetts

    No statute found

    No drone statute in the General Laws. Bill S.3008 (194th General Court) was referred to Senate Ways and Means on April 1, 2026.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Whole code searched for drone terms
    Read

  23. Michigan

    3 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance, hunting and wildlife and preemption of local rules.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    No drone flight to harass, to break a restraining order, or to record someone where they reasonably expect privacy.MCL 259.322 (2016 PA 436, sec. 22)
    Hunting and wildlife
    No one may take game or fish using a flying unmanned vehicle or device.MCL 324.40111c(2)
    Preemption of local rules
    Local governments may not regulate drone ownership or operation, except narrow horse-carriage rules and rules for their own drones.MCL 259.305 (Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act, 2016 PA 436, sec. 5)
    Read

  24. Minnesota

    4 drone laws

    Laws on state registration or permit, prisons and jails, law enforcement use and preemption of local rules.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Whole code searched for drone terms
    State registration or permit
    Drones not flown solely for recreation must be registered with the state ($25 a year) with proof of insurance; drone show fleets too.Minn. Stat. 360.55 subd. 9-10; 360.59 subd. 10(e)
    Prisons and jails
    Flying a drone over a state prison or its grounds without written consent is a misdemeanor; recording or dropping items makes it a gross misdemeanor.Minn. Stat. 243.552
    Law enforcement use
    Police drones need a warrant or a listed exception, may not carry weapons or facial recognition, and each use must be documented.Minn. Stat. 626.19
    Preemption of local rules
    Cities and counties must let the transportation commissioner review a proposed drone ordinance and must notify the commissioner when one is adopted.Minn. Stat. 360.012 subd. 1a
    Read

  25. Mississippi

    3 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance, critical infrastructure and preemption of local rules.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    Viewing into a bedroom, bathroom or other private interior by any instrument, drones named, to spy on occupants is felonious trespass (voyeurism).Miss. Code Ann. 97-29-61(1)(b) (2022 S.B. 2245)
    Critical infrastructure
    Using a drone to surveil or record critical infrastructure or a prison without written consent, or to drop contraband at a prison, is an offense.2021 H.B. 974, Mississippi Unmanned Aircraft Systems Protection Act of 2021, Sections 15-19
    Preemption of local rules
    Recreational and commercial drone flight is allowed under federal law; no state registration; local drone ordinances are barred except listed ones.2023 S.B. 2146, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems' Rights and Authorities Act, Sections 3-5
    Read

  26. Missouri

    5 drone laws

    Laws on critical infrastructure, prisons and jails, events and stadiums and law enforcement use.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Critical infrastructure
    Using a drone inside a critical infrastructure facility's boundary, or within 400 feet above it to further a crime, is an offense.RSMo 577.800.1(3)-(4)
    Prisons and jails
    Purposely flying within 400 feet above a prison's or jail's secure fence, or letting a drone touch the facility, is an offense, with listed exceptions.RSMo 217.850
    Prisons and jails
    Purposely flying within 400 feet above a state mental health hospital, or delivering listed objects to a patient by drone, is an offense.RSMo 632.575
    Events and stadiums
    Flying within 400 feet above an open-air venue of 500+ capacity, or delivering objects there by drone, is an offense, with listed exceptions.RSMo 577.800
    Law enforcement use
    Authorized persons may act against drones that credibly threaten venues, critical infrastructure or prisons, within federal law; no jamming unless federally allowed.RSMo 589.902
    Read

  27. Montana

    3 drone laws

    Laws on trespass and overflight, hunting and wildlife and law enforcement use.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Trespass and overflight
    Knowingly flying a drone 200 feet or lower over another's property or home without permission is criminal trespass, fined $500; FAA-licensed business flights are exempt.Mont. Code Ann. 45-6-210
    Hunting and wildlife
    No aircraft may be used to spot game within 24 hours of hunting, drive game, or interfere with hunting; it says “aircraft”, not drone.Mont. Code Ann. 87-6-208
    Law enforcement use
    Drone information is not admissible as evidence unless obtained under a warrant, a recognized exception, or at a road crash scene.Mont. Code Ann. 46-5-109
    Read

  28. Nebraska

    2 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance and hunting and wildlife.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    Knowingly sending a drone onto or above another's property to watch someone without consent in a private place is second-degree criminal trespass.Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-521(2)-(5)
    Hunting and wildlife
    No shooting animals from an aircraft and no using an aircraft to harass wildlife, except under permit; the section says “aircraft”, not drone.Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-509
    Read

  29. Nevada

    5 drone laws

    Laws on trespass and overflight, critical infrastructure, hunting and wildlife, law enforcement use and weapons.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Trespass and overflight
    An occupant may sue for trespass if a drone flies under 250 feet over the property again after the operator was told not to.Nev. Rev. Stat. 493.103
    Critical infrastructure
    No drone within 500 feet across or 250 feet above a critical facility without consent, or within 5 miles of an airport without authorization.Nev. Rev. Stat. 493.109
    Hunting and wildlife
    No harassing or shooting game from a manned or unmanned aircraft, and no spotting game by aircraft for hunters within 24 hours; aircraft includes drones.Nev. Rev. Stat. 503.010
    Law enforcement use
    Police drone use needs a warrant in listed cases; information gathered in violation is inadmissible; public agencies face limits and a state registry (493.118).Nev. Rev. Stat. 493.112, 493.115
    Weapons
    Weaponizing a drone or flying a weaponized drone is a category D felony; firing its weapon, category C.Nev. Rev. Stat. 493.106
    Read

  30. New Hampshire

    5 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance, prisons and jails, hunting and wildlife, general operation and weapons.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    A drone flight that interferes with police, fire or emergency response, or breaks the violation-of-privacy law (RSA 644:9), is a misdemeanor.N.H. Rev. Stat. 644:23(III)
    Prisons and jails
    Flying a drone in FAA-restricted airspace over a prison or jail is a misdemeanor; delivering contraband or aiding escape is a class B felony.N.H. Rev. Stat. 644:23(V)
    Hunting and wildlife
    No drone video surveillance of people lawfully hunting, fishing or trapping without their written consent.N.H. Rev. Stat. 207:57(I), (I-a)
    General operation
    Flying a small drone in breach of FAA part 107 is a violation (repeat: misdemeanor); disrupting crewed aircraft or an airport is worse.N.H. Rev. Stat. 644:23(II), (IV)
    Weapons
    Possessing or flying a drone fitted to kill, injure, damage or fire a projectile is a class B felony; bomb squads and police are exempt.N.H. Rev. Stat. 644:23(VI)
    Read

  31. New Jersey

    4 drone laws

    Laws on prisons and jails, hunting and wildlife and general operation.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Prisons and jails
    Flying a drone at or near a prison so as to endanger its security is a fourth-degree crime; surveilling a prison by drone is third-degree.N.J.S.A. 2C:40-28(b)
    Hunting and wildlife
    Using a drone to take or help take wildlife is a disorderly persons offense.N.J.S.A. 2C:40-28(d)
    General operation
    Anyone federally authorized may fly a drone in New Jersey if flown consistently with federal law, except as this act forbids.N.J.S.A. 2C:40-27(b)
    General operation
    Flying a drone so as to endanger life or property, interfere with first responders, while intoxicated, or against a restraining order is an offense.N.J.S.A. 2C:40-28(a), (c), (e), (f)
    Read

  32. New Mexico

    No statute found

    No drone statute in the New Mexico Statutes. 2026 SB 136, a drone bill, died.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Whole code searched for drone terms
    Read

  33. New York

    4 drone laws

    Laws on critical infrastructure, law enforcement use and general operation.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Critical infrastructure
    Unapproved drone flight within 500 feet of airports, military sites, prisons, critical infrastructure, schools or gatherings of 500+ is a class A misdemeanor.N.Y. Penal Law 280.00(5), 280.05(2)
    Law enforcement use
    Police and peace officers may detect, track, intercept or disable a drone posing a credible threat; kinetic means only if non-kinetic ones fail.N.Y. Executive Law 236
    General operation
    Flying a drone in a “nefarious manner” (crime, reckless risk, interfering with emergencies, harassment or surveillance, contraband, dropping objects) is a class A misdemeanor.N.Y. Penal Law 280.00(2), 280.05(1)
    General operation
    Exempt unless reckless: toy and recreational drones of 0.55 lb or less, and drones flown lawfully under all federal, state and local rules.N.Y. Penal Law 280.10
    Read

  34. North Carolina

    5 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance, hunting and wildlife, law enforcement use, preemption of local rules and weapons.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    No drone surveillance of a person, a home and its curtilage, or private land without consent; no photographing someone to publish it. Civil action allowed.N.C. Gen. Stat. 15A-300.1(b), (e)
    Hunting and wildlife
    Using a drone to interfere with lawful hunting, fishing or trapping, or to drive or disturb wildlife to disrupt it, is a Class 1 misdemeanor.N.C. Gen. Stat. 113-295(a1)
    Law enforcement use
    Police drone use is allowed only in listed cases, such as a terrorist threat, a warrant, or urgent circumstances.N.C. Gen. Stat. 15A-300.1(c)
    Preemption of local rules
    No drone may be launched or recovered from state or private property without consent; local governments may regulate launches and recoveries on their own property.N.C. Gen. Stat. 15A-300.2
    Weapons
    A drone with a weapon attached is a Class E felony; hunting or fishing by drone is a Class 1 misdemeanor, with narrow fishing exceptions.N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-401.24
    Repealed
    Repealed by Session Laws 2024-15, s. 21(a), effective December 1, 2024. The sections held the state permit for commercial drone operators and the knowledge test for government operators.N.C. Gen. Stat. 63-95 and 63-96
    Read

  35. North Dakota

    3 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance, law enforcement use and weapons.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Drone chapter read in full: N.D. Cent. Code chapter 29-29.4
    Privacy and surveillance
    Harassment and stalking include acts done with a “robot”, defined to include remotely piloted aircraft; robot tracking of a person can be stalking.N.D. Cent. Code 12.1-17-07(2)(f), 12.1-17-07.1
    Law enforcement use
    Drone or robot evidence is inadmissible without a warrant or a warrant exception; listed exceptions include border patrol, exigent circumstances and disasters.N.D. Cent. Code ch. 29-29.4
    Weapons
    Police may not authorize a drone armed with a lethal weapon, nor a private person's drone surveillance of another without consent.N.D. Cent. Code 29-29.4-05
    Read

  36. Ohio

    6 drone laws

    Laws on critical infrastructure, law enforcement use, preemption of local rules, general operation and government drone purchases.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Whole code searched for “unmanned”, the term its code uses
    Critical infrastructure
    No photographing, recording or loitering near a critical facility (including prisons, courts, police stations, some hospitals) to cause harm or tamper with it.Ohio Rev. Code 4561.50(A), 4561.51(C)
    Law enforcement use
    Since October 6, 2026, police need a warrant to enter or look into a home by drone; listed exceptions; no drones armed with lethal weapons.Ohio Rev. Code 4561.60-4561.64
    Preemption of local rules
    Cities, townships, park districts and counties may regulate their own drones and hobby drones in their parks or over their public property.Ohio Rev. Code 4561.52
    General operation
    Flying a drone in a way that knowingly endangers people or property, or purposely disregards others' rights or safety, is an offense.Ohio Rev. Code 4561.15(A)(5)
    General operation
    A flight barred by federal law or FAA rules is also barred under Ohio law; drones may not disrupt police, fire or EMS on duty.Ohio Rev. Code 4561.51(A)-(B)
    Government drone purchases
    A public entity may not buy or acquire a drone system made or assembled by a foreign adversary.Ohio Rev. Code 5501.84(B)(1)
    Note
    5501.84 was seen only in the code search result; its effective date was not read.
    Read

  37. Oklahoma

    1 drone law

    Laws on privacy and surveillance.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    No drone trespass or flight within 400 feet above ground to surveil, no observing people in private places, no landing on private property without consent.Okla. Stat. tit. 21, 1743
    Read

  38. Oregon

    8 drone laws

    Laws on trespass and overflight, critical infrastructure, hunting and wildlife, state parks, law enforcement use, preemption of local rules, general operation and weapons.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Drone chapter read in full: ORS chapter 837
    Trespass and overflight
    Flying over private premises to harass the occupant is an offense; an owner may sue an operator who flies over again after a warning.Or. Rev. Stat. 837.370, 837.380
    Critical infrastructure
    Flying at or below 400 feet over a fenced or posted critical facility (power, water, refineries, prisons) or touching it is a Class A violation.Or. Rev. Stat. 837.372
    Hunting and wildlife
    The Fish and Wildlife Commission must ban drones for angling, hunting and trapping, for harassing, tracking or scouting wildlife, and for interfering with lawful hunters.Or. Rev. Stat. 498.128
    State parks
    The State Parks and Recreation Commission must adopt rules managing drone use in state parks while allowing recreational flying.Or. Rev. Stat. 837.350
    Law enforcement use
    Police may not use drones except as listed (warrant, exigent circumstances, consent, search and rescue, crime and crash scenes, training); unlawful drone evidence is inadmissible.Or. Rev. Stat. 837.310-837.345
    Preemption of local rules
    Only the Legislature regulates drone ownership and operation; local governments may regulate takeoffs and landings in their own parks, with set conditions.Or. Rev. Stat. 837.385, 837.387
    General operation
    Recklessly using a drone to aim a laser at, crash into, or block the takeoff or landing of an aircraft is an offense.Or. Rev. Stat. 837.374
    Weapons
    Flying a drone able to fire a bullet or projectile, or built to cause serious injury, is a crime (Class A misdemeanor or higher).Or. Rev. Stat. 837.365
    Read

  39. Pennsylvania

    3 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance, prisons and jails and preemption of local rules.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    Using a drone to surveil someone in a private place, or to make someone fear injury, is a summary offense (fine up to $300).18 Pa.C.S. 3505(a)(1)-(2)
    Prisons and jails
    Delivering contraband by drone (into a prison or jail, under the contraband sections) is a second-degree felony.18 Pa.C.S. 3505(a)(3)
    Preemption of local rules
    18 Pa.C.S. 3505 preempts local drone rules; municipalities may not regulate drone ownership or operation, only their own drone use.53 Pa.C.S. 305
    Read

  40. Rhode Island

    2 drone laws

    Laws on preemption of local rules and general operation.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Preemption of local rules
    Municipalities may not enact or enforce drone operation ordinances unless FAA rules or state law authorize it.R.I. Gen. Laws 1-8-1.2(c)
    General operation
    All drone operation in the state must comply with FAA requirements; violations are penalized under the state aeronautics law (1-4-19).R.I. Gen. Laws 1-8-1.2(a)-(b)
    Read

  41. South Carolina

    6 drone laws

    Laws on critical infrastructure, prisons and jails, preemption of local rules, general operation and weapons.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Critical infrastructure
    From 2027, no flying within 1,500 feet of a military installation without written consent, or surveilling one or a prison for vulnerabilities.S.C. Code 55-1-220(A)(3), (C)(2) (from January 1, 2027)
    Prisons and jails
    From 2027, no flying within 1,500 feet of a prison or jail without written consent; delivering contraband by drone is a felony.S.C. Code 55-1-220(A)(2), (C)(1) (from January 1, 2027)
    Prisons and jails
    Until 2027: no drone within 500 feet horizontally or 250 feet vertically of a state prison or local jail without written consent (misdemeanor).S.C. Code 24-1-300, 24-5-175 (until December 31, 2026)
    Preemption of local rules
    From 2027, local ordinances may not conflict with the act or FAA rules; localities may restrict takeoff, landing and flight over public property.S.C. Code 55-1-230(A) (from January 1, 2027)
    General operation
    From 2027, flying without required FAA authorization in controlled airspace, or an unregistered drone, becomes a state misdemeanor too.S.C. Code 55-1-210, 55-1-220(A)(1), (B) (from January 1, 2027)
    Weapons
    From 2027, weaponizing a drone or using one to threaten or harm people or property is a felony (up to 10 years).S.C. Code 55-1-220(C)(3) (from January 1, 2027)
    Read

  42. South Dakota

    5 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance, prisons and jails, hunting and wildlife, preemption of local rules and general operation.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Drone chapter read in full: S.D. Codified Laws chapter 50-15
    Privacy and surveillance
    Using a drone to observe someone in a private place is a Class 1 misdemeanor; so is landing on private land or water without consent.S.D. Codified Laws 50-15-5, 50-15-6, 50-15-9
    Prisons and jails
    Flying over a prison, jail, juvenile facility or military facility without authorization, or delivering contraband to a prison, is a Class 6 felony.S.D. Codified Laws 50-15-3, 50-15-4
    Hunting and wildlife
    Using aircraft to hunt or spot wildlife is a misdemeanor; landowners may use drones to spot predators on private land outside September to November.S.D. Codified Laws 41-8-39
    Preemption of local rules
    State and local governments may not regulate drone design, registration, airspace or pilot rules; local ordinances consistent with state and federal law are allowed.S.D. Codified Laws 50-15-7, 50-15-10
    General operation
    Drones must follow FAA rules; careless, voyeuristic or harassing flight is a misdemeanor; no takeoff or landing on controlled-access highways.S.D. Codified Laws 50-15-2, 50-15-5.1, 50-15-11
    Read

  43. Tennessee

    Not read

    Not read on the state's own site: each law below is named by its citation alone.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Not read on the state's own site
    Not read on the state's own site
    Tenn. Code Ann. 39-13-901 to -903 (Pub. Ch. 876 of 2014)
    Not read on the state's own site
    Tenn. Code Ann. 39-14-405(d) (Pub. Ch. 876 of 2014, sec. 9)
    Read
    Public Chapter 876 of 2014: read in an archived copy of May 13, 2026; it could not be opened on the state's own site on November 14, 2026.

  44. Texas

    5 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance, critical infrastructure, events and stadiums, law enforcement use and preemption of local rules.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Drone chapter read in full: Government Code chapter 423
    Privacy and surveillance
    Capturing a drone image of a person or private property to surveil them is a Class C misdemeanor; owners may sue for $5,000 per episode.Tex. Gov't Code 423.003, 423.006
    Critical infrastructure
    Flying at or below 400 feet over a fenced or posted critical facility, touching it, or disturbing its operation is an offense.Tex. Gov't Code 423.0045
    Events and stadiums
    Flying at or below 400 feet over a sports venue seating 30,000 or more is an offense, with exceptions for government and authorized operators.Tex. Gov't Code 423.0046
    Law enforcement use
    The Department of Public Safety sets rules for police drone use; law enforcement agencies report their drone use every two years.Tex. Gov't Code 423.007, 423.008
    Preemption of local rules
    Cities and counties may not regulate drone operation, except during special events, their own drone use, and near their facilities with FAA authorization.Tex. Gov't Code 423.009
    Note
    A court challenge to the chapter's image limits (NPPA v. McCraw) was not read; its outcome is not shown here.
    Read

  45. Utah

    1 drone law

    Laws on trespass and overflight.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Trespass and overflight
    Flying over non-public private property without authorization to annoy, commit a crime or cause fear, or after notice, is criminal trespass.Utah Code 76-6-206
    Read

  46. Vermont

    4 drone laws

    Laws on trespass and overflight, prisons and jails, law enforcement use and general operation.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Drone chapter read in full: 20 V.S.A. chapter 205
    Trespass and overflight
    Hobby flights under 100 feet over private land need the owner's written consent; drone surveillance of property or occupants without consent is barred.20 V.S.A. 4626
    Prisons and jails
    Knowingly flying over a correctional facility or its recognizable grounds carries a civil penalty up to $500, with listed exceptions.20 V.S.A. 4625
    Law enforcement use
    Police may not use drones to investigate crime without a warrant or warrant exception; no facial recognition on bystanders; yearly use reports.20 V.S.A. 4622, 4624
    General operation
    All drone use, police included, must comply with FAA requirements; model aircraft flyers are expected to follow community-based safety guidelines.20 V.S.A. 4623
    Note
    The FAA's fact sheet names a proposed trespass rule set at 350 feet as raising preemption issues; no court ruling on 4626 was read: the text.
    Read

  47. Virginia

    6 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance, trespass and overflight, critical infrastructure, prisons and jails, law enforcement use and preemption of local rules.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    Using a drone to secretly peep or spy into a window or door of a dwelling is unlawful.Va. Code 18.2-130.1(B)
    Trespass and overflight
    Flying onto another's property within 50 feet of a home to harass, or after notice to stop, is a Class 1 misdemeanor.Va. Code 18.2-121.3(A)(i)
    Critical infrastructure
    Unauthorized flight over utilities, critical infrastructure (including military bases) or federally covered maritime facilities is a Class 4 felony.Va. Code 18.2-121.3(A)(ii), (B)
    Prisons and jails
    Dropping items into, or imaging identifiable inmates at, a correctional facility or juvenile center by drone is a Class 1 misdemeanor.Va. Code 18.2-121.3(A)(iii)
    Law enforcement use
    Police and regulatory agencies may fly drones only under a search or inspection warrant, except listed cases such as Amber, Senior and Blue Alerts.Va. Code 19.2-60.1
    Preemption of local rules
    Localities may not regulate privately owned drones, but may regulate takeoff and landing on their own property under Department of Aviation rules.Va. Code 15.2-926.3
    Read

  48. Washington

    2 drone laws

    Laws on state registration or permit and law enforcement use.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    State registration or permit
    Commercial drones (“unpiloted aircraft systems”) must be registered with the state each year: $15 now, $30 from January 1, 2027.RCW 47.68.250
    Law enforcement use
    Police may not acquire or use military equipment, which includes armed or armored drones.RCW 10.116.040
    None found in the sections searched
    Privacy, trespass, critical infrastructure, hunting, state parks and local rules: no drone statute on these topics turned up in a search of all 101 RCW titles for drone terms on November 13, 2026, made for the private-property table and not repeated.
    Read

  49. West Virginia

    6 drone laws

    Laws on privacy and surveillance, critical infrastructure, hunting and wildlife, law enforcement use, general operation and weapons.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    Knowingly recording a person or private property by drone, or following someone, in a way that invades privacy is a misdemeanor.W. Va. Code 61-16-2(a)(1)-(2)
    Critical infrastructure
    Over a targeted facility, no dropping objects, surveilling to cause harm, or gathering trade secrets or protected information by drone.W. Va. Code 61-16-2(b)
    Hunting and wildlife
    Licensed hunters may use a drone to find a mortally wounded deer, elk, turkey, wild boar or bear; paid drone trackers need a guide license.W. Va. Code 20-2-5j
    Law enforcement use
    Police drone use for surveillance or criminal investigation must comply with the Fourth Amendment and the state constitution's search clause.W. Va. Code 61-16-2(d)
    General operation
    Using a drone to harass, break a restraining order, endanger others, or hinder police or EMS is a misdemeanor; disrupting manned aircraft, a felony.W. Va. Code 61-16-2(a)(3)-(6), (h), (i)
    Weapons
    Equipping a drone with a deadly weapon, or flying one so equipped, is a felony (one to five years), except official military use.W. Va. Code 61-16-2(g)
    Read

  50. Wisconsin

    2 drone lawsSome not read

    Laws on privacy and surveillance and law enforcement use.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    The sections named here read; the rest of the code was not searched
    Privacy and surveillance
    Using a drone to photograph, record or observe a person where they reasonably expect privacy is a Class A misdemeanor; authorized police use is excepted.Wis. Stat. 942.10
    Law enforcement use
    Police need a search warrant to gather criminal evidence by drone where people expect privacy; exceptions include public places, search and rescue, and imminent danger.Wis. Stat. 175.55
    Not read on the state's own site
    Wis. Stat. 114.045
    Read
    Wis. Stat. 114.045 could not be opened on November 14, 2026.

  51. Wyoming

    3 drone laws

    Laws on trespass and overflight, critical infrastructure and prisons and jails.

    Each law, its citation and the date read
    How much was read
    Titles 6 and 10 searched in full for drone terms
    Trespass and overflight
    Flight is lawful unless low enough to interfere with the owner's use, imminently dangerous, or against federal rules; operating an “unmanned aircraft” in a way that is not lawful under (a) is a misdemeanor.Wyo. Stat. 10-4-303(a)-(d)
    Critical infrastructure
    No photographing or loitering by drone over or near critical infrastructure (including prisons, courts, hospitals); police and the National Guard may disable violating drones.Wyo. Stat. 19-13-503
    Prisons and jails
    Trespassing over a prison or jail with a drone to record it or bring contraband is a misdemeanor; delivering a deadly weapon, a felony.Wyo. Stat. 6-5-214
    Note
    Title 10 defines “unmanned aircraft” to leave out the FAA's “small unmanned aircraft”, those under 55 pounds at takeoff, so whether 10-4-303(d) reaches them is not settled: the texts.
    Read

What the Read, Note and link lines mean
  • Read: the day the row was read in the state's own text. A document the state's own site would not open is named under the date, with “read in an archived copy of” the day that copy was made, or that it could not be opened. For a state not read on its own site, it is the day its citations were looked for; the note or the line under the date says what was seen instead.
  • Note: Wyoming, Vermont and Arizona carry a question the texts leave open; the texts are quoted below.
  • Private property and deer recovery: where a state has a row in our two narrower tables, its row links there.
How much of each state's code was read
  • Whole code searched (8): District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio.
  • Drone chapter or title read in full (6): North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Wyoming.
  • The sections named here read, the rest of the code not searched (34): Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
  • Not read on the state's own site (3): Georgia, Indiana, Tennessee.
What each group means
  • Whole code searched: the state's whole code was searched on its official site for drone terms, and every hit was read.
  • Drone chapter or title read in full: the chapter on drones, or for Wyoming two whole titles, was read end to end; drone sections elsewhere in the code may exist.
  • The sections named here read: each section in the row was read on the state's own site, but the rest of the code was not searched, so the state may have drone laws the row does not show.
  • Not read on the state's own site: the state's own text would not open, or is published only by a vendor. The row gives the citation alone, not what the law says.
  • From a date: a law that starts after the row was read says so, as “from” that date.
States with a drone law on each topic

Counted from the rows read in the state's own code; a state with two laws on one topic counts once.

  • Law enforcement use (22): Alaska, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
  • Privacy and surveillance (21): Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
  • Preemption of local rules (17): Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia.
  • Critical infrastructure (16): Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.
  • General operation (15): Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Kentucky, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia.
  • Prisons and jails (14): Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming.
  • Hunting and wildlife (14): Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, West Virginia.
  • Trespass and overflight (11): Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming.
  • Weapons (9): Florida, Kentucky, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, West Virginia.
  • Events and stadiums (3): Arizona, Missouri, Texas.
  • State registration or permit (2): Minnesota, Washington.
  • State parks (1): Oregon.
  • Government drone purchases (1): Ohio.
  • No drone statute found, whole code searched (2): Massachusetts, New Mexico.

Three state drone laws in their own words: Wyoming, Vermont, Arizona

In three states the texts read leave a question this page does not answer. Each is quoted, with the question in one sentence.

  • Wyoming

    Not settled: whether its drone misdemeanor reaches drones under 55 pounds at takeoff.

    Open question
    What the statutes say
    ‘Unmanned aircraft’ means as defined in 14 C.F.R. 1.1, but excludes ‘small unmanned aircraft’ as defined in 14 C.F.R. 1.1;”

    “A person who operates or uses an unmanned aircraft in a manner that is not lawful under subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment not to exceed six (6) months, a fine not to exceed seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both.”

    “Small unmanned aircraft means an unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds on takeoff, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft.Wyo. Stat. 10-1-101(a)(x) and 10-4-303(d), Title 10, Aeronautics; 14 CFR 1.1, General definitions (eCFR)

    The question: Title 10 leaves “small unmanned aircraft”, those under 55 pounds at takeoff, out of “unmanned aircraft”, and 10-4-303 sits in Title 10, so whether its misdemeanor reaches most drones is not settled; no court ruling on it was read.

  • Vermont

    Not settled: how its rule on hobby flights under 100 feet over private land fits the FAA's view of preemption.

    Open question
    What the statute says
    A person shall not fly a drone for hobby or recreational purposes at an altitude of less than 100 feet above privately owned real property unless the person has obtained prior written consent from the property owner.20 V.S.A. 4626(a), Drones; operation over private property without consent of owner; civil penalty

    The question: the FAA's fact sheet names a proposed rule that would have made flight under 350 feet over land without the owner's permission a trespass as raising preemption issues, and no court ruling on 4626 was read, so how the two fit is not settled.

  • Arizona

    Cited without a letter: the compiled code and two 2026 session laws give subsection D to different rules.

    Open question
    What the statute says
    It is unlawful for a person to operate or use an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system to intentionally photograph or loiter two hundred feet or less above a property if the operator is operating the unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system for hobby or recreational purposes and knows or reasonably should know that all of the following apply: 1. The property is not zoned for residential use. 2. The property is used to provide instruction to students in kindergarten programs or in any of grades one through twelve when school is in session or when school activities are occurring on the property outside of normal school hours. 3. The property owner or a person who has lawful control over the property has posted reasonable notice prohibiting entry on or over the property. 4. A peace officer, the owner of the property or a person who has lawful control over the property has notified the operator of the unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system of the prohibition and given a reasonable request to leave the property.Ariz. Rev. Stat. 13-3729, the subsection on school property, as compiled on the Arizona Legislature's site

    The question: the compiled section gives this rule the letter D, while two 2026 session laws, Laws 2026 chapters 215 and 236, put a rule on local drone ordinances at subsection D, so the table cites the rule without a letter.

In Vermont, a hobby flight under 100 feet over private land needs the owner's written consent.

Privacy and surveillance laws for drone pilots

Privacy laws are among the drone laws states write most often, and most of them turn on purpose: recording a person or private property in order to watch them, without consent. A few examples from the table:

Misdemeanor

Texas

Capturing a drone image of a person or private property to surveil them is a Class C misdemeanor, and owners may sue for $5,000 per episode. A court challenge to the chapter was not read.

Gov't Code 423.003 and 423.006

Written consent

Florida

No one may use a camera drone to surveil private property or its occupants without written consent; owners and occupants may sue.

Stat. 934.50

Privacy

California

Entering the airspace above someone's land without permission to record them in private activity is a physical invasion of privacy.

Civil Code 1708.8

Misdemeanor

Wisconsin

Photographing, recording or observing a person by drone where they reasonably expect privacy is a Class A misdemeanor.

Stat. 942.10

Written consent

Vermont

Recording private property or its owner or occupant by drone to surveil them needs their prior written consent, and a person on their own land who cannot be seen from the ground is presumed to expect privacy.

20 V.S.A. 4626(b)

Owners may sue

Kentucky

Business and hobby flyers may not record private property or its occupants to surveil or publish them, and owners and occupants may sue.

2025 Ky. Acts ch. 19

Tennessee's drone surveillance law and Indiana's remote aerial voyeurism law are cited in the table but were not read on the state's own site, so what they say is not given here.

State no-fly zones: prisons, critical infrastructure and stadiums

Many states set their own distances around prisons, utilities and crowds. They sit on top of the FAA's own restrictions, and the distance in each law is the one it states:

250 to 1,500 ft

Prisons and jails

Maine: 400 feet or lower over a prison or jail. Missouri: within 400 feet above a prison's secure fence. South Carolina: 500 feet across or 250 feet up now, 1,500 feet from January 1, 2027. Iowa: flying over one is a felony.

250 to 500 ft

Critical infrastructure

Texas and Oregon: at or below 400 feet over a fenced or posted critical facility. Nevada: 500 feet across or 250 feet above one, without consent. New York: within 500 feet, unless approved.

400 to 5,280 ft

Stadiums and events

Texas: at or below 400 feet over a venue seating 30,000 or more. Missouri: within 400 feet above an open-air venue for 500 or more. Arizona: 5,280 feet from a ticketed outdoor or large event, for non-hobby flights.

Check your spot

The FAA's airspace and flight restrictions at your spot, in one check.

Can I fly here?
Every distance, with its law
  • Prisons and jails: Maine bars flying 400 feet or lower over a prison or jail (17-A M.R.S. 761); Missouri, within 400 feet above a prison's secure fence (RSMo 217.850); South Carolina, within 500 feet across or 250 feet up of a prison or jail until December 31, 2026, and within 1,500 feet from January 1, 2027. Iowa makes flying over a jail or prison a felony (Iowa Code 719.9).
  • Critical infrastructure: Texas and Oregon bar flights at or below 400 feet over a fenced or posted critical facility (Tex. Gov't Code 423.0045; ORS 837.372); Nevada keeps drones 500 feet across or 250 feet above one without consent (NRS 493.109); New York bars unapproved flights within 500 feet of airports, prisons, critical infrastructure, schools and gatherings of 500 or more (Penal Law 280.00 and 280.05).
  • Stadiums and events: Texas bars flights at or below 400 feet over a sports venue seating 30,000 or more (Gov't Code 423.0046); Missouri, within 400 feet above an open-air venue for 500 or more (RSMo 577.800); Arizona keeps drones not flown for fun 5,280 feet from a ticketed outdoor or large event without consent (13-3729(C)).

Each law has its exceptions, often for police, utilities and flights the FAA authorized; the rows give them where they were read. Can I fly here? checks the FAA's airspace and flight restrictions at a spot, not these state distances.

Hunting and wildlife: state drone laws for hunters

Most state hunting laws keep drones out of the hunt. A few let a drone help, such as finding a wounded deer.

Most hunting statutes keep drones out of the hunt, barring hunting, herding, spotting or harassing game by drone in one form or another, as in Idaho (36-1101), Michigan (MCL 324.40111c), Illinois (520 ILCS 5/2.33), New Jersey (2C:40-28(d)) and Nevada (NRS 503.010). Some go the other way:

  • West Virginia

    Licensed hunters may use a drone to find a mortally wounded deer, elk, turkey, wild boar or bear (W. Va. Code 20-2-5j).

    Allowed
  • South Dakota

    Landowners may spot predators on their land by drone outside September to November (41-8-39).

    Landowners
  • Idaho

    Retrieving wounded game is excepted from the drone rules (36-1101).

    Excepted

Maine (12 M.R.S. 11216), Montana (87-6-208) and Nebraska (37-509) say “aircraft”, not drone, and their rows say so. Whether a drone may find a deer you shot is a matter of each state's wildlife rules as well as its statutes: drone deer recovery by state reads them. Drone fishing is not covered here: no state's fishing rules were read for it.

West Virginia lets licensed hunters use a drone to find a mortally wounded deer.

Drone deer recovery

Each state's wildlife rules and statutes on finding a deer you shot, state by state.

Drone deer recovery by state

Police drones: warrants and limits in state law

Most state laws on police drones ask for a warrant, with exceptions such as emergencies, search and rescue, and crash scenes.

Police drone use is among the topics states have written on most. The common pattern is a warrant to gather evidence by drone, with listed exceptions such as emergencies, search and rescue, and crash scenes:

  • Ohio

    Since October 6, 2026, police need a warrant to enter or look into a home by drone, and police drones may not carry lethal weapons (Rev. Code 4561.60 to 4561.64).

    Warrant
  • Vermont

    No drone in a criminal investigation without a warrant or an exception, no facial recognition on bystanders, and yearly reports (20 V.S.A. 4622 and 4624).

    Warrant
  • Minnesota

    A warrant or a listed exception, no weapons or facial recognition, and every use documented (Stat. 626.19).

    Warrant
  • Washington, D.C.

    Police may not get drones through federal programs (D.C. Code 5-361.01).

    No federal programs

Some states let police or other authorized people act against a drone: Missouri against one that credibly threatens a venue, critical infrastructure or a prison (RSMo 589.902, since June 12, 2026, with no jamming unless federal law allows it), New York against one posing a credible threat (Executive Law 236), and Wyoming against one breaking its critical infrastructure law (Wyo. Stat. 19-13-503). The FAA's fact sheet warns that federal law may limit such tools.

Search and rescue is among the usual exceptions to a warrant.

Can a city ban drones? States that limit local drone rules

In many states the legislature keeps drone rules for itself and bars or voids most local drone ordinances. Some still let cities set rules for takeoffs and landings on their own land or parks.

In many states the legislature keeps drone rules for itself. Florida (Stat. 330.41(3)), Illinois (620 ILCS 5/42.1), Michigan (MCL 259.305), Pennsylvania (53 Pa.C.S. 305), Delaware, Maryland and Rhode Island bar or void most local drone ordinances; the rows give each one's exceptions. Common ones:

  • Local property

    Cities may still set rules for takeoffs and landings on their own land or parks in Oregon (ORS 837.385 and 837.387), Virginia (Code 15.2-926.3) and North Carolina (15A-300.2), and in South Carolina from January 1, 2027.

    Parks and land
  • Big cities and events

    Illinois exempts cities of more than 1,000,000 people; Texas lets cities regulate drones during special events (Gov't Code 423.009).

    Exceptions
  • Review, not a ban

    Minnesota cities and counties must let the state transportation commissioner review a proposed drone ordinance (Stat. 360.012).

    State review

Colorado has no such limit: its 2026 bill on state and local drone rules was postponed indefinitely. Georgia's limit on local rules was not read on the state's own site. Where no state law limits them, cities and counties still work inside the FAA's lines above.

In Oregon, Virginia and North Carolina, cities may still set rules for takeoffs and landings in their parks.

States that register drones or permit drone pilots

No row in the table is a state drone pilot license, and the FAA's fact sheet counts pilot licensing as federal ground. Two states register some drones:

  • Minnesota

    Drones not flown solely for recreation are registered with the state, at $25 a year, with proof of insurance; drone show fleets too (Stat. 360.55 and 360.59).

    $25 a year
  • Washington

    Commercial drones are registered with the state each year, at $15 now and $30 from January 1, 2027 (RCW 47.68.250).

    $15, then $30

North Carolina's state permit for commercial operators and its knowledge test for government operators (N.C. Gen. Stat. 63-95 and 63-96) were repealed effective December 1, 2024. Mississippi's 2023 law says there is no state drone registration.

Minnesota and Washington register some drones with the state.

New drone laws by state for 2026 and 2027

Two state laws took effect in 2026, and two more changes start on January 1, 2027.

  • Ohio

    The police warrant rule for drones and homes, in force since October 6, 2026.

    In force
  • Missouri

    The counter-drone section 589.902, in force since June 12, 2026; its venue rule (577.800) now covers open-air venues of 500 or more.

    In force
  • South Carolina

    The Drone Regulation and Public Safety Act, 2026 Act No. 150, from January 1, 2027, which repeals the current prison sections.

    From 2027
  • Washington

    The state's yearly fee for commercial drones rises from $15 to $30 on January 1, 2027.

    From 2027

Bills still pending are not law and are not in the table. The rows for Massachusetts, New Mexico and Colorado name bills that were referred to committee, died or were postponed.

Federal changes

The FAA's own rule changes, each with its date, are in our log.

Drone rule changes: a dated log

Flying legally in any state: staying safe and compliant

Five checks, from the federal rules down to the spot where you stand.

  1. Federal first

    TRUST or Part 107

    Know your rulebook, TRUST or Part 107, register a drone that needs it, and follow Remote ID, the 400 feet ceiling and line of sight.

    Drone license

  2. Then your state

    Its row in the table

    Find it in the table, and read its first line: where only the sections named were read, the state may have more drone laws.

    Check your state

  3. Then the place

    State distances

    Prisons, infrastructure and venues carry state distances; city parks and other public land may carry local rules on takeoff and landing.

    State no-fly zones

  4. Then the people below

    Ask first

    Most state privacy laws turn on recording people or homes without consent, so asking first settles most of them.

    Privacy laws

  5. Last, the spot

    Airspace and restrictions

    Check the airspace and flight restrictions where you stand with Can I fly here?

    Can I fly here?

Related pages

State by state

The same states, one topic at a time, and what changed.

Federal rules

What applies in every state.

Places and work

Where you fly, and flying for a job.

Questions about drone laws by state

What are the regulations for drones in the USA?

The FAA's rules apply in every state: Part 107 for flights that are not strictly for fun, 49 U.S.C. 44809 for recreational flying, both with the 400 feet ceiling, line of sight, registration and Remote ID. States add their own laws on top, on topics from privacy and police drones to prisons and hunting; by the FAA's count, at least 44 states had passed drone laws since 2013.

Which drone can fly without a license?

Any drone flown only for fun: you pass TRUST, the FAA's free test, instead of getting a license, and register the drone if it weighs more than 0.55 lb (249 g). Every other flight needs the FAA remote pilot certificate under Part 107. No state in the table issues a pilot license; Minnesota and Washington register some drones that are not flown for fun.

What are the new drone laws for 2026?

On the state side: Ohio's police warrant rule for drones and homes since October 6, 2026; Missouri's counter-drone section since June 12, 2026; South Carolina's Act No. 150 from January 1, 2027; and Washington's commercial drone fee of $30 from January 1, 2027. New drone laws has each; federal changes are in the dated log.

Will the FAA know if I fly my drone?

A drone that has to broadcast Remote ID gives out its identification and location in flight, and others can receive them (Remote ID). A drone of 0.55 lb (249 g) or less flown only for fun needs no registration, so no Remote ID. State drone laws are the state's own and sit beside the FAA's rules.

Is there a map of drone laws by state?

This page uses a table instead: type your state in the box above it to see only that state's row, with each law, its citation and the day it was read.

What are the drone laws in Florida?

Florida's whole code was searched. It bars flights over listed critical infrastructure and over K-12 schools, camera drone surveillance of private property without written consent, and weapons on drones; it limits police drone use; and it keeps drone rules from cities and counties (Fla. Stat. 330.41, 330.411 and 934.50). Florida's row has each section.

What are the drone laws in Texas?

Texas's drone chapter, Government Code chapter 423, was read in full: drone surveillance of a person or private property is a Class C misdemeanor, flights at or below 400 feet over fenced or posted critical facilities and over large sports venues are offenses, the state sets rules for police drones, and cities and counties may regulate drones only in listed cases. A court challenge to the chapter's image limits was not read.

What are the drone laws in California?

The California sections read are Civil Code 1708.8 (recording someone in private activity from the air over their land without permission is an invasion of privacy), Penal Code 402 (viewing an emergency scene with a drone so as to impede responders is a misdemeanor) and Civil Code 43.101 (responders are not liable for damaging a drone that interfered with them). California's code was not searched end to end.

What are the drone laws in Indiana?

Indiana's drone sections in Title 35 of its code are cited in the table, but the state's own site would not open, so they were read only in an archived copy and what they say is not given here. Indiana's row in drones over private property and in drone deer recovery covers those two topics.

Is drone fishing legal in Texas, Florida or California?

This page does not answer it: no state's fishing rules were read for drone fishing. Among the statutes read, Michigan bars taking fish with a flying unmanned device (MCL 324.40111c) and North Carolina makes fishing by drone a misdemeanor with narrow exceptions (N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-401.24). Your state's wildlife agency publishes its own fishing rules.

Sources Named, not linked. Checked November 14, 2026.

Documents are named, not linked. The state laws were read in each state's own official text on November 14, 2026, and this page was last checked on November 14, 2026.

FAA and federal law

  • FAA and DOT fact sheet, State and Local Regulation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (cover letter of July 14, 2023; its FAA page last updated July 19, 2023)
  • 14 CFR 1.1: “unmanned aircraft” and “small unmanned aircraft” defined (eCFR)
  • 49 U.S.C. 44809 and 14 CFR Parts 48, 89 and 107: as quoted in the guides linked above

State law

  • Each state's own code, cited in the table: the statute, session law or bill named in each row, read on the legislature's or a state agency's own site; a document the state's own site would not open is named in its row with “read in an archived copy of” the day of that copy
  • Wyo. Stat. 10-1-101 and 10-4-303; 20 V.S.A. 4626; Ariz. Rev. Stat. 13-3729: the three texts quoted above
  • Arizona Laws 2026, chapters 215 and 236, and North Carolina Session Laws 2024-15, section 21(a)

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Photos: DJI press images. Jacob W. Frank, National Park Service (public domain). Wikimedia Commons: Barry Dale Gilfry (CC BY-SA 2.0) and DJI Mini 3 Pro by Sultan Edijingo (CC BY-SA 4.0).