Drone Laws in Arkansas (2024)
A list of drone regulations and links for people flying drones in Arkansas.
Arkansas Drone Regulations
Arkansas Drone Regulations
Federal Drone Laws in Arkansas
These are drone laws that apply to every state in the U.S., including Arkansas, and were created by the federal government.
To fly a drone as a commercial pilot in the state of Arkansas (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 Arkansas (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 Arkansas (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 Arkansas
These are drone laws that apply to the entire state of Arkansas, and were created by the Arkansas General Assembly.
According to the Arkansas Department of Transportation and the Arkansas General Assembly, Arkansas has two state-wide law concerning the use of drones in the state.
This law makes it illegal to use a drone to record someone who has a reasonable expectation of privacy.
This law prohibits the use of UAS to collect information about or photographically or electronically record information about critical infrastructure without consent.
Arkansas State Parks – State Park Regulation // 2018
This regulation bans the operation of drones in any Arkansas State Park without obtaining a Special Use Permit from the Office of the Director. Although we were unable to locate official documentation, we have received numerous reports of the ban. To start the process of obtaining a permit, email a copy of your drone registration and proof of liability insurance to parks.info@arkansas.gov
All drone pilots operating commercially in the state of Arkansas 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 Arkansas? 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas? To get great shots like these! Photo Credit: Matt Miller from Drones Over Arkansas
Local Drone Laws in Arkansas
These are drone laws that apply only to certain regions, cities, or counties within the state of Arkansas, and were created by various authorities within the state.
Our team wasn’t able to pin down any local drone laws in the state of Arkansas. If you know of one that should be listed here, please shoot us an email at support[at]horizonap[dot]com.
Take a Drone Flight Training Class in Arkansas
UAV Coach offers in-person training in select cities in Arkansas. 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 Arkansas.
Looking to get in more practice flying your drone? In addition to taking a drone flight training class with one of our trained instructors, you can also scout out safe and legal places to fly on your own using our guide to the Best Places to Fly a Drone in Little Rock.
Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Arkansas? Here you go:
