Drone Laws in Idaho (2024)
A list of drone regulations and links for people flying drones in Idaho.
Idaho Drone Regulations
Idaho Drone Regulations
Federal Drone Laws in Idaho
These are drone laws that apply to every state in the U.S., including Idaho, and were created by the federal government.
To fly a drone as a commercial pilot in the state of Idaho (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 Idaho (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 Idaho (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 Idaho
These are drone laws that apply to the entire state of Idaho, and were created by the Idaho Legislature.
According to the Idaho Department of Transportation and the Idaho Legislature, Idaho has two state-wide laws concerning the use of drones in the state.
This law prohibits the use of drones for hunting, harassing, locating game animals, game birds, or fur-bearing animals.
This law requires warrants for the use of drones by law enforcement, establishes guidelines for their use by private citizens, and provides civil penalties for damage caused by their improper use.
This law prohibits the operation of drones without prior authorization on lands managed by the Idaho Fish and Game (Wildlife Management Areas) except in areas with identified public landing strips. Prior authorization can be granted through a permit, more information on that process can be found here.
Local Drone Laws in Idaho
These are drone laws that apply to specific cities, counties, and municipalities in the state of Idaho that were created by local legislators.
Ada County Ordinance No. 883 // 2018
This ordinance requires anyone flying a drone, regardless of the drone’s weight or intended use, in Ada County to register their drone with the FAA. The ordinance also states that drones should not be operated in a way that would cause damage to people or property, nor should drones be used for the purpose of capturing a person’s visual image, audio recording, or other physical impression in any place where the person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
This county park ordinance prohibits the operation of drones in any Canyon County Park, including the airspace within 500 feet AGL above any park, except when authorized by the Director of Canyon County department of parks.
All drone pilots operating commercially in the state of Idaho 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 Idaho? 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 Idaho 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 Idaho? To get great shots like these!
Local Drone Laws in Idaho
These are drone laws that apply only to certain regions, cities, or counties within the state of Idaho, 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 Idaho. If you know of one that should be listed here, please shoot us an email at support[at]horizonap[dot]com.
Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Idaho? Here you go:
