Drone Laws in Georgia (2024)
A list of drone regulations and links for people flying drones in Georgia.
Georgia Drone Regulations
Georgia Drone Regulations
Federal Drone Laws in Georgia
These are drone laws that apply to every state in the U.S., including Georgia, and were created by the federal government.
To fly a drone as a commercial pilot in the state of Georgia (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 Georgia (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 Georgia (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 Georgia
These are drone laws that apply to the entire state of Georgia, and were created by the Georgia General Assembly.
This law pre-empts local governments in the state from creating UAS regulations after April 1, 2017. This law also allows the regulation of the launch or landing of UAS on public property by the state or local government.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Park Rules & Regulations
Drone operation is prohibited in Georgia’s State Parks and Historic Sites. However, occasionally waivers are approved for professional commercial projects which may generate revenue or in other ways help promote the sites. In these cases, prior approval is required from the Division Director. A commercial film/photography request application detailing the project description, specific site location requested, and exact dates and times of drone use needs to be submitted along with the FAA drone registration, the name of the pilot, and proof of FAA Small UAS Certification or Part 107. Blanket requests will not be approved and drone use is not allowed over populated areas that may put park guests at risk. To request approval, contact Colby Moore at Colby.Moore@dnr.ga.gov.
All drone pilots operating commercially in the state of Georgia 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 Georgia? 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 Georgia 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 Georgia? To get great shots like these!
Local Drone Laws in Georgia
These are drone laws that apply only to certain regions, cities, or counties within the state of Georgia, and were created by various authorities within the state.
City of Conyers—Municipal Law // 2017
This city ordinance prohibits the use of drones within the boundaries of the city horse park, as well as the Cherokee Run Golf Course.
City of Augusta—Municipal Law // 2016
This city ordinance prohibits drone operations in populated areas within the limits of Richmond County without prior authorization from the FAA and the Augusta, Georgia Commission. An exception to this prohibition is the existing model aircraft field at the intersection of Mike Padgett Highway and Horseshoe Road, as well as any other model aircraft field later approved by the Augusta Georgia Commission.
Cherokee County—Municipal Law // 2016
This city ordinance establishes that drones can only be flown in areas specifically designated for them.
Stone Mountain Park—Park Ordinance // 2014
This park ordinance prohibits the use of drones at the park for both recreation or commercial operations.
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 Atlanta.
Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Georgia? Here you go:
