Loading...
Loading...
Drone Pilot (Part 107)
Commercial drone operations require an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate — a federal certification that applies in all 50 states. However, state-specific drone laws on privacy, surveillance, and critical infrastructure vary significantly. Compare requirements across all states.
51
Total States
43
With Drone Statutes
43
Privacy Restrictions
$175
Knowledge Test Fee
Drone pilot certification is primarily federal through the FAA Part 107 program. State regulations add privacy and operational restrictions.
All commercial drone pilots must obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate by passing a 60-question knowledge test ($175 at PSI testing centers). You must be at least 16 years old and pass a TSA background check. No flight hours required — unlike manned aircraft.
While no state requires a separate drone license, many states have enacted drone-specific laws addressing privacy, surveillance, critical infrastructure restrictions, and weaponization. Some states preempt local ordinances while others allow municipalities to add restrictions.
Part 107 certificates must be renewed every 24 months via a free online recurrent test through FAA CATS. Night operations are now allowed by default with anti-collision lighting. Operations over people follow Category 1-4 rules. BVLOS still requires individual waivers.
Click any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| State | State License | Drone Statutes | Privacy Restrictions | Test Fee | Total Fees | Confidence | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | Not Required | Yes | Alabama Act 2017-492 prohibits drone surveillance of private property without consent; misdemeanor for first offense. | $175 | $275-$475 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | Not Required | Yes | Alaska Stat. § 18.65.903 restricts drone use for surveillance by law enforcement without a warrant. | $175 | $225-$375 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | Not Required | Yes | Arizona SB 1449 (2016) prohibits drone operation over critical infrastructure and for voyeurism purposes. | $175 | $225-$325 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | Not Required | Yes | Arkansas Code § 5-60-103 prohibits use of drones for video voyeurism; separate statute for law enforcement use. | $175 | $225-$475 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| California(CA) | Not Required | Yes | California Civil Code § 1708.8 — invasion of privacy via drone; SB 142 restricts drone use over wildfires; Penal Code § 647(j) applies to drone voyeurism. | $175 | $245-$975 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | Not Required | No | None specific | $175 | $225-$275 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | Not Required | Yes | Connecticut Public Act 17-52 requires drone registration with CT DESPP and restricts operations near schools, hospitals, and prisons. | $175 | $295-$650 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | Not Required | Yes | Delaware Code Title 11, § 1334 prohibits drone use for voyeurism and trespass via drone surveillance. | $175 | $250-$375 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | Not Required | Yes | DC has a strict no-drone zone covering most of the district due to proximity to restricted airspace (FRZ around the National Mall and federal buildings). | $175 | $250-$575 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | Not Required | Yes | Florida SB 92 (Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act) restricts law enforcement drone use without a warrant; restrictions on drone use near correctional facilities and critical infrastructure. | $175 | $300-$675 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | Not Required | Yes | Georgia SB 94 prohibits weaponized drones and restricts drone use for surveillance of private property. | $175 | $225-$475 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | Not Required | No | None specific | $175 | $195-$275 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | Not Required | Yes | Idaho Code § 21-213 restricts drone surveillance of individuals or private property without consent. | $175 | $275-$375 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | Not Required | Yes | Illinois Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act (725 ILCS 167) restricts law enforcement drone use; requires warrant for surveillance. | $175 | $325-$675 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | Not Required | Yes | Indiana Code § 35-33-5-9 restricts law enforcement drone use for surveillance; requires warrant or exigent circumstances. | $175 | $225-$375 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | Not Required | Yes | Iowa Code § 321.492B restricts drone use near critical infrastructure and for surveillance without consent. | $175 | $225-$275 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | Not Required | Yes | Kansas SB 319 restricts drone surveillance of individuals and near critical infrastructure. | $175 | $225-$340 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | Not Required | No | None specific | $175 | $215-$275 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Not Required | Yes | Louisiana RS 14:337 — unlawful use of unmanned aircraft systems; restricts surveillance and operations near critical infrastructure. | $175 | $250-$475 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | Not Required | Yes | Maine LD 25 restricts government use of drones for surveillance; requires warrant for law enforcement. | $175 | $300-$375 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | Not Required | Yes | Maryland law restricts drone use near critical infrastructure, stadiums, and prohibits weaponized drones. | $175 | $275-$475 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | Not Required | No | None specific | $175 | $675-$1,175 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | Not Required | Yes | Michigan Act 436 (2016) restricts drone use for surveillance and near correctional facilities; prohibits weaponized drones. | $175 | $225-$275 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | Not Required | Yes | Minnesota Stat. § 360.60 restricts drone surveillance by law enforcement; prohibits weaponized drones. | $175 | $330-$375 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | Not Required | Yes | Mississippi SB 2022 restricts drone surveillance and operations near critical infrastructure. | $175 | $225-$425 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | Not Required | Yes | Missouri RSMo § 305.640 restricts drone surveillance over private property and near critical infrastructure. | $175 | $225-$325 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | Not Required | Yes | Montana Code § 46-5-109 restricts law enforcement drone surveillance without a warrant. | $175 | $245-$375 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | Not Required | Yes | Nebraska LB 734 restricts drone surveillance and operations near critical infrastructure. | $175 | $275-$375 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | Not Required | Yes | Nevada NRS 493 requires drone registration with Nevada DOT for commercial use; restricts drone surveillance of private property. | $175 | $375-$675 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | Not Required | Yes | New Hampshire RSA 207:57 restricts drone use for surveillance; prohibits weaponized drones. | $175 | $275-$375 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | Not Required | Yes | New Jersey A3370 restricts drone operations near airports, correctional facilities, and critical infrastructure; prohibits weaponized drones. | $175 | $300-$925 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | Not Required | No | None specific | $175 | $225-$375 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| New York(NY) | Not Required | Yes | New York Penal Law § 245.47 restricts drone surveillance; local NYC rules require permit for takeoff/landing in city parks. | $175 | $375-$775 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | Not Required | Yes | North Carolina SL 2014-100 (§ 15A-300.1) restricts law enforcement drone use; prohibits weaponized drones; restricts operations near confinement facilities. | $175 | $300-$425 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | Not Required | Yes | North Dakota Century Code § 29-29.4 restricts law enforcement drone use; allows armed drones only with less-than-lethal weapons (unique among states). | $175 | $275-$325 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | Not Required | Yes | Ohio RC § 4561.01 establishes state framework for drone operations; restricts operations near critical infrastructure. | $175 | $274-$375 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | Not Required | Yes | Oklahoma Title 3, § 322 restricts drone surveillance of critical infrastructure and private property without consent. | $175 | $225-$275 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | Not Required | Yes | Oregon ORS 837.300-837.390 restricts drone surveillance of private property; prohibits weaponized drones; limits law enforcement use. | $175 | $275-$450 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | Not Required | Yes | Pennsylvania Title 18 § 3505 restricts drone surveillance; Title 35 § 7322 restricts operations near emergency scenes. | $175 | $300-$475 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | Not Required | No | None specific | $175 | $325-$575 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | Not Required | No | None specific | $175 | $285-$475 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | Not Required | No | None specific | $175 | $325-$375 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | Not Required | Yes | Tennessee Code § 39-13-903 restricts drone surveillance of private property; restricts operations near critical infrastructure. | $175 | $275-$475 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | Not Required | Yes | Texas Government Code Chapter 423 — Texas Privacy Act restricts drone surveillance of private property; exceptions for real estate, oil and gas, utilities, and law enforcement with warrant. | $175 | $475-$925 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | Not Required | Yes | Utah Code § 72-14-301 restricts drone operations near wildfires, critical infrastructure, and restricts surveillance without consent. | $175 | $245-$375 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | Not Required | Yes | Vermont Title 20, § 4622 restricts government drone surveillance; requires warrant for law enforcement use. | $175 | $300-$375 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | Not Required | Yes | Virginia Code § 19.2-60.1 restricts law enforcement drone use; requires warrant; moratorium on weaponized drones. | $175 | $275-$425 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | Not Required | Yes | Washington RCW 64.44.050 restricts drone surveillance of private property; separate restrictions for law enforcement. | $175 | $375-$775 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | Not Required | Yes | West Virginia Code § 15-1F restricts law enforcement drone use; requires warrant for surveillance. | $175 | $275-$375 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | Not Required | Yes | Wisconsin Act 278 restricts drone use for surveillance near correctional facilities and restricts weaponized drones. | $175 | $305-$425 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | Not Required | Yes | Wyoming Stat. § 6-3-901 restricts drone use for surveillance of private property and near critical infrastructure. | $175 | $275-$375 | medium | Mar 2026 |
Drone pilots often work in industries that require additional professional licenses. Explore related licensing requirements.
Study guides and practice tests for the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot exam.
Browse Study Guides on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Shop essential tools and supplies to get started in your career.
Part 107 test prep tips, state-by-state drone law summaries, insurance recommendations, waiver guidance, and business startup checklist — delivered straight to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. We respect your privacy.
See the full comparison table above for all 51 states.