USI Guide · Updated May 2026

US Drone Laws 2026: The Complete Pilot's Guide

Flying a drone in the US means following three layers of rules — federal FAA regulations, your state's statutes, and local city or county ordinances. Pick your state on the map below for the full breakdown, with primary-source citations and a clear path to certification.

Updated May 16, 2026 · Coverage 20 states live · 30 in progress · Cadence Updated quarterly
Pick your state on the map → Find your training path

Pick a state

Tap a highlighted state for its full drone-laws guide. Hover (or focus) any tile to see the state name and current coverage status.

VTVermont · soon NHNew Hampshire · soon AKAlaska · soon WAWashington · view guide → IDIdaho · soon MTMontana · soon NDNorth Dakota · soon MNMinnesota · view guide → WIWisconsin · soon MIMichigan · view guide → NYNew York · view guide → MAMassachusetts · soon MEMaine · soon OROregon · view guide → NVNevada · soon WYWyoming · soon SDSouth Dakota · soon IAIowa · soon ILIllinois · view guide → INIndiana · view guide → OHOhio · view guide → PAPennsylvania · view guide → NJNew Jersey · soon CTConnecticut · soon CACalifornia · view guide → UTUtah · soon COColorado · view guide → NENebraska · soon MOMissouri · soon KYKentucky · soon WVWest Virginia · soon VAVirginia · view guide → MDMaryland · soon RIRhode Island · soon AZArizona · view guide → NMNew Mexico · soon KSKansas · soon ARArkansas · soon TNTennessee · view guide → NCNorth Carolina · view guide → DEDelaware · soon OKOklahoma · view guide → LALouisiana · soon MSMississippi · soon ALAlabama · soon SCSouth Carolina · view guide → TXTexas · view guide → GAGeorgia · view guide → HIHawaii · soon FLFlorida · view guide →

20 of 50 state guides published. Don't see your state yet? Start with the federal baseline — it applies in all 50 — or get notified when your state ships.

The three layers of US drone law

Every drone flight in the US sits inside three layers of rules. The first applies everywhere. The second varies state to state. The third varies city to city — and sometimes park to park within the same city. Every state guide on this site walks through all three in the same order.

Layer 1

Federal (FAA)

Part 107 for commercial work, TRUST for recreational, registration, Remote ID, altitude, airspace. Identical in all 50 states. This is the floor — not the ceiling.

Layer 2

State law

Privacy and surveillance statutes, critical-infrastructure bans, state-park rules, hunting prohibitions, and emergency-response interference. Drafted by your state legislature and enforced by state agencies and courts.

Layer 3

Local ordinances

Cities and counties can restrict takeoff and landing on property they own — parks, beaches, stadiums, public rights-of-way. They cannot regulate the airspace itself; that's federal.

Click your state on the map above to see all three layers in one place.

All US states — A to Z

An alphabetical index in case the map isn't your preferred way in. Live guides are linked. Coverage for the remaining 30 states is in active production and will go live as each is reviewed.

State guides

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

The federal baseline — what applies in every state

Before any state or local rule kicks in, every drone in US airspace is bound by the same set of FAA rules. State guides on this site assume you already know these. If you don't, this is the floor.

  • Part 107Commercial work — anything that benefits a business, paid or unpaid. Real-estate listings, roof inspections, wedding video, farm imagery, paid social.
  • TRUSTThe Recreational UAS Safety Test. Free, online, required for non-commercial flight. Keep the certificate on you.
  • FAA registration$5 per drone over 0.55 lb. Registration number visible on the aircraft. Renew every three years.
  • Remote IDMandatory since March 16, 2024. Every drone flown outdoors must broadcast its ID, location, and altitude — unless inside an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA).
  • Altitude400 feet AGL. Higher requires a Part 107 waiver.
  • Visual line of sightDaylight or civil twilight by default. Night and BVLOS require waivers.
  • Controlled airspaceLAANC authorization required for Class B, C, D, and surface-E. Most major US cities sit inside one.
  • No-fly zonesAirports, national parks, military bases, stadiums during games, active TFRs. Check B4UFLY before every flight.
Bottom line

These rules apply everywhere in the US. State-specific rules layer on top. Pick your state on the map above to see what your state adds.

Quick reference — published state guides at a glance

A snapshot of the twenty state guides currently published. Use it to jump between guides when comparing where to fly, or to spot states with a state-funded training subsidy.

State Notable state statute Drones in state parks? Fast Track funding? Full guide
Arizona A.R.S. § 13-3729 (interference w/ first responders) Designated areas No Arizona guide →
California Civil Code § 1708.8 (privacy) Mostly no No California guide →
Colorado CRS § 18-8-104 (obstruction of public safety) Permit required No Colorado guide →
Florida § 934.50 (Freedom from Surveillance) Generally yes CAPE Florida guide →
Georgia § 16-11-62 (eavesdropping/surveillance) Permit required USI partner Georgia guide →
Illinois Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act Permit required No Illinois guide →
Indiana IC 35-45-4-5(g) (drone privacy/voyeurism) Mixed No Indiana guide →
Michigan Act 436 of 2016 (UAS Act) Generally yes No Michigan guide →
Minnesota MnDOT commercial registration + Minn. Stat. § 626.19 Permit required No Minnesota guide →
New York Penal Law § 250.40–.65; NYC AC 10-126.05 Permit required No New York guide →
North Carolina § 15A-300.1 (UAS surveillance) Permit required No North Carolina guide →
Ohio HB 77 (critical infrastructure) Permit required TechCred Ohio guide →
Oklahoma HB 2312 (critical-infrastructure rule) Permit required No Oklahoma guide →
Oregon ORS 837.372 (critical infrastructure) Permit required No Oregon guide →
Pennsylvania 18 Pa. C.S. § 3505 (unlawful use) Permit required USI partner Pennsylvania guide →
South Carolina H4679 (Drone Regulation and Public Safety Act, eff. 2027) Park-by-park No South Carolina guide →
Tennessee Tenn. Code § 39-13-903 (250-ft critical-infra felony) Permit required No Tennessee guide →
Texas Gov. Code Ch. 423 (privacy) Permit required TEA Texas guide →
Virginia Va. Code § 18.2-121.3 (UAS trespass) Permit required No Virginia guide →
Washington RCW 9.73.030 (privacy/recording) Permit required No Washington guide →

"Permit required" generally means the state allows drones in some park units with prior authorization but defaults to closed elsewhere. Check the state guide for the specific framework.

How USI helps you fly legally

Knowing the rules is half the work. The other half is the credential — and the path looks different depending on who you are. Three audiences, three doors.

For individuals

Fast Track to a paid drone career

If you live or work in Florida, Texas, Ohio, or another USI Fast Track state, funded training paths can cover most of the cost of getting Part 107-certified and into paid work.

See Fast Track in your state →
For high schools

Drone curriculum for your school

Building a CTE drone program or adding UAS to an existing aviation pathway? USI partners with high schools nationwide on classroom-ready curriculum, instructor support, and student certification.

Curriculum for high schools →
For companies

Commercial UAS training solutions

Public safety, utilities, insurance, infrastructure, and film teams use USI to train pilots into the safety credentialing their work actually requires. Tailored programs for fleets and operations groups.

Training for commercial teams →

Common questions about US drone laws

Do I need a license to fly a drone in the US?

Commercial flying requires the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Recreational flying requires the free TRUST certificate. Both apply nationwide — no state issues its own drone license, though several states layer additional rules on top of the federal baseline.

Are drone laws the same in every state?

No. Federal Part 107 is the floor in all 50 states, but each state can add privacy statutes, critical-infrastructure bans, hunting prohibitions, and emergency-response interference rules. Cities and counties can also restrict takeoff and landing on property they own. Always check the state guide for where you plan to fly.

Can I fly a drone over private property?

The airspace itself is federal, but most states recognize a privacy claim against drone operators who capture images or recordings of private activity. California's Civil Code § 1708.8, Florida's § 934.50, and similar statutes in Texas and other states create civil exposure on top of any local trespass rules. The safe practice is permission from the property owner before overflying.

Can I fly a drone in national parks or state parks?

National parks: no. NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 bans drone takeoff, landing, and operation in every National Park Service unit. State parks: it varies. Some states (Florida, Michigan) allow drones in most parks; others (California, New York) restrict or prohibit them. The state-level guide tells you which park system applies and where to find the current rule.

What happens if I fly without FAA registration?

FAA registration is required for any drone over 0.55 lb and costs $5. Flying an unregistered drone exposes you to civil penalties up to $27,500 and, for willful violations, criminal penalties up to $250,000 and three years in prison. Register at faadronezone.faa.gov before your first flight.

Do I need insurance to fly a drone commercially?

The FAA does not require it, but most commercial work effectively does. Real-estate brokerages, film productions, utilities, and public-safety contracts routinely require $1M to $5M in commercial UAS liability coverage. Shop carriers like Skywatch, Avion, or Global Aerospace before bidding commercial work.

How do I know if I'm in controlled airspace?

Use the FAA's B4UFLY app or any LAANC provider (Aloft, AirMap, Skyward). Class B, C, D, and surface E airspace require LAANC authorization before you fly. Most major US cities sit inside controlled airspace tied to a nearby airport.

Where do I report an illegal drone flight?

For an active emergency (drone over a wildfire, near aircraft, or threatening people), call 911. For a non-urgent unsafe flight, contact your local police non-emergency line. The FAA also takes reports through the Law Enforcement Assistance Program at uashelp@faa.gov.

Drone laws change. We'll let you know.

We review every state guide quarterly, stamp the review date on each page, and update when the FAA, your legislature, or a major city changes the rule. Get a short email when something material moves.

Last updated: May 16, 2026 by Russ Winslow.

The federal baseline is stable, but state and local rules move every legislative session. We update this hub and every state guide quarterly. Have a correction or want to flag a missing state? Contact us.