Drone Laws in North Dakota (2024)
A list of drone regulations and links for people flying drones in North Dakota.
North Dakota Drone Regulations
North Dakota Drone Regulations
Federal Drone Laws in North Dakota
These are drone laws that apply to every state in the U.S., including North Dakota, and were created by the federal government.
To fly a drone as a commercial pilot in the state of North Dakota (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 North Dakota (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 North Dakota (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 North Dakota
These are drone laws that apply to the entire state of North Dakota, and were created by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly.
According to the North Dakota Department of Transportation and the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, North Dakota has one state-wide law concerning the use of drones in the state.
This law provides limitations for the use of UAS for surveillance, and prohibits arming a UAS with lethal weapons.
All drone pilots operating commercially in the state of North Dakota 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.
Federally Recognized Indian Reservations and Affiliated Tribes
If you intend to fly on or over any of the five federally recognized Indian Reservations or areas of the Affiliated Tribes within the state of North Dakota, there are ‘sacred’ areas that you should avoid flying over. You are highly encouraged to contact the Reservation Office prior to flying in the area.
The territories impacted are owned by the Mandan, Hidatsa, & Arikara Nation (Three Affiliated Tribes), the Spirit Lake Nation, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Nation, and the Trenton Indian Service Area.
Know something we don’t about drone laws in North Dakota? 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota? To get great shots like these!
Local Drone Laws in North Dakota
These are drone laws that apply only to certain regions, cities, or counties within the state of North Dakota, 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 North Dakota. 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 North Dakota? Here you go:
