Drone Laws in Kentucky (2024)
A list of drone regulations and links for people flying drones in Kentucky.
Kentucky Drone Regulations
Kentucky Drone Regulations
Federal Drone Laws in Kentucky
These are drone laws that apply to every state in the U.S., including Kentucky, and were created by the federal government.
To fly a drone as a commercial pilot in the state of Kentucky (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 Kentucky (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 Kentucky (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 Kentucky
These are drone laws that apply to the entire state of Kentucky, and were created by the Kentucky General Assembly.
According to the Kentucky Department of Transportation and the Kentucky General Assembly, Kentucky has one state-wide law concerning the use of drones in the state.
This law allows commercial airports to prepare UAS facility maps, and specifies that UAS operators cannot operate, take off, or land in certain areas designated by an airport’s map. This law also prohibits the operation of UAS in a reckless manner, defined as a manner that creates a serious risk of physical injury or damage to property. Anyone who violates these provisions is guilty of a class A misdemeanor, or a class D felony if the violation causes a significant change of course or a serious disruption to the safe travel of an aircraft. In addition, this law specifies that these provisions do not apply to commercial operators in compliance with FAA regulations.
All drone pilots operating commercially in the state of Kentucky 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 Kentucky? 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky? To get great shots like these!
Local Drone Laws in Kentucky
These are drone laws that apply only to certain regions, cities, or counties within the state of Kentucky, 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 Kentucky. If you know of one that should be listed here, please shoot us an email at support[at]horizonap[dot]com.
Looking to get in more practice flying your drone? 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 Louisville.
Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Kentucky? Here you go:
