Drone Laws by State
Your complete 2026 guide to drone regulations across all 50 states. Find the rules for your state so you can fly safely and legally.
Click Your State to View Drone Laws
Select any state on the map below to view its specific drone regulations.
Why Do Drone Laws Vary by State?
Navigating drone regulations can be confusing because the rules come from multiple levels of government. At the highest level, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) controls the national airspace. This means federal laws dictate the basic rules of flight—such as registering your drone, flying under 400 feet, and obtaining a Part 107 license for commercial operations.
However, the FAA’s jurisdiction primarily covers the air, not the ground. State and local governments have the authority to regulate where you can take off, land, and operate your drone from the ground. They also enact laws to address privacy concerns, trespassing, and the protection of critical infrastructure or wildlife. Because each state has different priorities and concerns, the rules vary significantly from one border to the next.
Some states have comprehensive drone legislation, while others rely mostly on federal guidelines. This directory is designed to help you quickly find the specific rules for your state so you can fly safely and legally.
Federal Drone Laws: The Baseline
Before diving into state-specific laws, it is essential to understand the federal rules that apply everywhere in the United States. The FAA requires all drones weighing over 0.55 pounds (250 grams) to be registered, and as of September 2023, they must broadcast Remote ID information unless flying in a recognized identification area.
Recreational flyers must take The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) and follow safety guidelines from a recognized community-based organization. Commercial pilots must hold a valid Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Regardless of your pilot status, you must always yield the right of way to manned aircraft, keep your drone within visual line of sight, and avoid flying over people or moving vehicles without specific authorization.
Drone Laws by State Directory
Below is our comprehensive, alphabetical list of drone laws for all 50 states. Click on your state to read the detailed 2026 guide, including state-specific regulations, local ordinances, and penalties for non-compliance.
Alabama
Privacy and security laws prohibiting flights over critical infrastructure and correctional facilities.
Alaska
Wildlife and hunting regulations prohibiting drones to spot or track game.
Arizona
Strict laws against interfering with emergency operations and flights near critical facilities.
Arkansas
Privacy protections and restrictions on flights over critical infrastructure and correctional facilities.
California
Extensive regulations on privacy, emergency responder interference, and local city ordinances.
Colorado
Wildlife and state park protections with strict rules against drone-assisted hunting.
Connecticut
Regulations on drone use by state agencies and municipalities with law enforcement guidelines.
Delaware
Restrictions on flights over special events, critical infrastructure, and state parks.
Florida
Strong state preemption laws with restrictions on surveillance and critical infrastructure flights.
Georgia
State park and historic site regulations prohibiting drones for hunting or fishing.
Hawaii
Privacy protections and regulations within state parks and sensitive ecological areas.
Idaho
Private property rights protections prohibiting drone flights causing disturbance.
Illinois
Law enforcement drone regulations and protections for hunters and fishermen.
Indiana
Restrictions near correctional facilities and prohibitions on drone-assisted game scouting.
Iowa
Restrictions on drone-based traffic enforcement and state park regulations.
Kansas
Wildlife harassment prohibitions and critical infrastructure flight restrictions.
Kentucky
Commercial facility protections and critical infrastructure flight prohibitions.
Louisiana
Restrictions over agricultural facilities, correctional centers, and schools.
Maine
Law enforcement warrant requirements and state park flight restrictions.
Maryland
FAA-aligned regulations with state park and correctional facility restrictions.
Massachusetts
State park and conservation area regulations requiring special use permits.
Michigan
State preemption laws preventing local drone rules with facility interference prohibitions.
Minnesota
Commercial drone regulations and hunter/wildlife harassment prohibitions.
Mississippi
Critical infrastructure and correctional facility protections from unauthorized surveillance.
Missouri
State prison flight restrictions and hunting interference prohibitions.
Montana
Privacy and wildlife protections prohibiting drone-assisted game spotting.
Nebraska
Privacy regulations and state agency/law enforcement drone use rules.
Nevada
Critical infrastructure distance requirements and airport/emergency operation restrictions.
New Hampshire
Hunting and fishing drone prohibitions with state park regulations.
New Jersey
Correctional facility and critical infrastructure restrictions with state park rules.
New Mexico
Privacy protections and critical infrastructure/state prison flight prohibitions.
New York
Extensive local ordinances (especially NYC) with state park and facility regulations.
North Carolina
Prison flight restrictions and statewide commercial/recreational drone regulations.
North Dakota
Law enforcement drone regulations and critical infrastructure flight prohibitions.
Ohio
Airport and critical infrastructure restrictions with state park regulations.
Oklahoma
Critical infrastructure and correctional facility flight prohibitions with hunting restrictions.
Oregon
Law enforcement regulations, critical infrastructure protections, and weaponization prohibitions.
Pennsylvania
Privacy protections against drone spying and correctional institution flight restrictions.
Rhode Island
State park regulations with preemption preventing conflicting local ordinances.
South Carolina
Correctional facility flight restrictions and state agency use regulations.
South Dakota
Privacy protections and critical infrastructure/correctional facility flight prohibitions.
Tennessee
Restrictions over critical infrastructure, open-air events, and correctional facilities.
Texas
Strict privacy laws on drone photography with critical infrastructure and venue restrictions.
Utah
Wildland fire response interference prohibitions and correctional facility restrictions.
Vermont
Law enforcement drone regulations and wildlife tracking/spotting prohibitions.
Virginia
State preemption laws with correctional facility flight prohibitions.
Washington
State park regulations and hunting/wildlife harassment prohibitions.
West Virginia
Privacy protections and critical infrastructure/correctional facility flight prohibitions.
Wisconsin
Correctional facility flight prohibitions and hunting interference restrictions.
Wyoming
Privacy protections and wildlife harassment/hunting assistance prohibitions.
Disclaimer: Drone laws are constantly evolving. While we strive to keep this directory updated for 2026, you should always verify local ordinances and check the FAA B4UFLY app before flying in a new area. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.