Drone Laws in Arizona (2024)

Arizona Drone Regulations

 

Federal Drone Laws in Arizona

These are drone laws that apply to every state in the U.S., including Arizona, and were created by the federal government.

To fly a drone as a commercial pilot in the state of Arizona (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 Arizona (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 Arizona (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 Arizona

These are drone laws that apply to the entire state of Arizona, and were created by the Arizona State Legislature.

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation and the Arizona State Legislature, Arizona has one state-wide law concerning the use of drones in the state.

SB 1449 // 2016

SB 1449 includes the following regulations concerning drones:

• UAS cannot interfere with police, firefighters, or manned aircraft.
• Flying a drone in “dangerous proximity” to a person or property is defined as Disorderly Conduct.
• UAS cannot fly within 500 feet horizontally or 250 feet vertically of any critical facility. These include but are not limited to oil and gas facilities, water treatment facilities, power plants, courthouses, military installations, and hospitals.
• Cities and towns in the state of Arizona that contain more than one park must allow drones in at least one of them.
• Cities and towns in Arizona are prohibited from creating their own drone laws. The Arizona State Legislature claims pre-emption for the creation of any regulations concerning drones.

Arizona State Parks & Trails Park Regulations

The recreational use of drones is prohibited in all Arizona state parks. Commercial use of drones within the parks will be determined with a film permit application. Please see the link above for more information.

All drone pilots operating commercially in the state of Arizona 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 Arizona? 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 Arizona 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 Arizona? To get great shots like these!

Local Drone Laws in Arizona

These are drone laws that apply only to certain regions, cities, or counties within the state of Arizona, and were created by various authorities within the state.

Town of Prescott Valley—Municipal Ordinance // 2018

This city ordinance outlines the policy for drone use by city employees and highlights various operations in which drones might be used, including emergency management, capital project management, search and rescue, law enforcement, and others.

City of Phoenix—City Code Section 24-49 // 2016

This city ordinance prohibits drone operations from taking-off or landing within a city park or a preserve that is owned by the City of Phoenix except in parks that have been designated as a model aircraft/drone use park. Here are the eight parks that have been designated for model aircraft/drone operations.

Maricopa County—R-116 Aircraft and Engine Powered Models // 2016

This county ordinance prohibits drone/model aircraft operations in any Maricopa County-owned park or recreation area that is not designated for such use. The aircraft can also not be operated in a way that could create a hazard to the public.

Take a Drone Flight Training Class in Arizona

UAV Coach offers in-person training in select cities in Arizona. The 2-hour, in-person training class provides hands-on flight time with an instructor, practice with intelligent flight modes, and education on what to do before, during, and after a flight mission to stay compliant and safe. During the class, you’ll also get a chance to ask your questions about regulations, software, flight operations management, checklists and more.

Sign up for an in-person drone flight training class in Arizona.

Looking to get in more practice flying your drone? You can also scout out safe and legal places to fly using our guide to the Best Places to Fly a Drone in Phoenix.

Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Arizona? Here you go: