Drone Laws in Alaska (2024)
A list of drone regulations and links for people flying drones in Alaska.
Alaska Drone Regulations
Alaska Drone Regulations
Federal Drone Laws in Alaska
These are drone laws that apply to every state in the U.S., including Alaska, and were created by the federal government.
To fly a drone as a commercial pilot in the state of Alaska (i.e. for work / business purposes) you are required to follow the requirements of the FAA’s Part 107 Small UAS Rule (Part 107), which includes passing the FAA’s Aeronautical Knowledge Test to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate.
To fly a drone as a hobbyist in the state of Alaska (i.e. for fun / pleasure) you are required by the FAA to take The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). You are also required to follow the FAA’s recreational model aircraft rules. One of those rules is that if your drone weighs more than 0.55 lbs (250g), you’ll need to pay $5 to get it registered. There are additional rules when it comes to airspace and altitude, keeping your drone within line-of-sight while you’re flying, and more.
To fly a drone as a government employee in the state of Alaska (i.e., for a police or fire department) you may either operate under the FAA’s Part 107 rule or obtain a federal Certificate of Authorization (COA).
Note: The content on this page is meant for informational purposes only, and is not meant to take the place of legal counsel.
State Drone Laws in Alaska
These are drone laws that apply to the entire state of Alaska, and were created by the Alaska State Legislature.
According to the Alaska Department of Transportation and the Alaska State Legislature, Alaska’s has one state-wide law concerning the use of drones in the state.
This law places limits on how law enforcement can use drones in their operations, including how and whether they can save images and video captured by drone.
Alaska does not currently have any specific laws in place for commercial or hobbyist drone pilots. In 2015, a task force organized by the 29th state legislature of Alaska issued a Drone / UAS Operator Safety Guidelines and FAQs about Privacy. The document borrows from existing FAA and Know Before You Fly resources on safety and law enforcement, and contains basic guidelines for avoiding privacy concerns when operating a drone (i.e., don’t peep, and don’t spy).
All drone pilots operating commercially in the state of Alaska are subject to the FAA’s Part 107 rules. Learn more about the FAA’s certification process to obtain a commercial drone license in this free guide.
Know something we don’t about drone laws in Alaska? Send us an email at support[at]horizonap[dot]com. We do our best to keep this list up-to-date, but the reality is that given the pace of the small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industry and how municipal governments are responding, drone regulations in Alaska can change throughout the year, and changes can be hard to track. If we missed something, please reach out to let us know.
Why fly a drone in Alaska? To get great shots like these!
Local Drone Laws in Alaska
These are drone laws that apply only to certain regions, cities, or counties within the state of Alaska, and were created by various authorities within the state.
State Code 33.398 – Salmon Fishing
In the Southeastern Area, during an open commercial salmon fishing period, UAVs may not be used to locate salmon for commercial fishing or for any activity related to commercial salmon fishing operations.
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources has established a restriction on drones in Chugach State Park. This law prohibits aircraft in Chugach State Park, except for authorized aircraft flying into/out of Bold Airport.
Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Alaska? Here you go:
