Drone Laws in Minnesota (2024)
A list of drone regulations and links for people flying drones in Minnesota.
Minnesota Drone Regulations
Minnesota Drone Regulations
Federal Drone Laws in Minnesota
These are drone laws that apply to every state in the U.S., including Minnesota, and were created by the federal government.
To fly a drone as a commercial pilot in the state of Minnesota (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 Minnesota (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 Minnesota (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 Minnesota
These are drone laws that apply to the entire state of Minnesota and were created by the Minnesota Legislature.
MN DOT Aeronautics Rules Chapter 8800
This rule requires all commercial drone operators in the state to pay a $30 licensing fee to obtain a Commercial Operations License.
This statue requires commercial operators to hold drone insurance and sets specific insurance requirements based on aircraft.
This statue requires commercial operators to register their drone with the Minnesota Department of Transportation. To register, you may use either the online Aircraft Registration Application or download the Aircraft Registration Application and Sales/Use Tax Return from the MN DOT Aircraft Registration page. In most cases, registration costs $100/year.
Learn more about all of MN DOT’s requirements for commercial drone operators on their UAS/Drones webpage.
This law appropriates $348,000 to assess the use of UAS in natural resource monitoring of moose populations and changes in ecosystems.
All drone pilots operating commercially in the state of Minnesota 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 Minnesota? 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota? To get great shots like these!
Local Drone Laws in Minnesota
These are drone laws that apply only to certain regions, cities, or counties within the state of Minnesota, and were created by various authorities within the state.
Anoka County—Municipal Ordinance // 2018
This city ordinance requires drone operators to secure a special use permit from the parks department to fly a drone over county parks.
Town of St. Bonifacius—Municipal Law // 2013
This city ordinance bans drones in all city public airspace.
City of Bloomington—Municipal Law
This city ordinance prohibits the operation of drones within city parks unless the operator has obtained a special permit.
Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board // 2001
This city ordinance prohibits drones from taking off or landing on any property that is owned and operated by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, without a permit.
Ramsey County Parks–Park Ordinance
This park ordinance prohibits the operation of drones within Ramsey County parks without the prior approval of the Director.
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 Minneapolis.
Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Minnesota? Here you go:
