Drone Laws in South Carolina (2024)

South Carolina Drone Regulations

 

Federal Drone Laws in South Carolina

These are drone laws that apply to every state in the U.S., including South Carolina, and were created by the federal government.

To fly a drone as a commercial pilot in the state of South Carolina (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 South Carolina (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 South Carolina (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 South Carolina

These are drone laws that apply to the entire state of South Carolina, and were created by the South Carolina General Assembly.

According to the South Carolina Department of Transportation and the South Carolina General Assembly there are currently no state laws in place concerning the operations of drones in South Carolina.

All drone pilots operating commercially in the state of South Carolina 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 South Carolina? 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina? To get great shots like these!

Local Drone Laws in South Carolina

These are drone laws that apply only to certain regions, cities, or counties within the state of South Carolina, 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 South Carolina. If you know of one that should be listed here, please shoot us an email at support[at]horizonap[dot]com.

Take a Drone Flight Training Class in South Carolina

UAV Coach offers in-person training in select cities in South Carolina. The 2-hour, in-person training class provides hands-on flight time with an instructor, practice with intelligent flight modes, and education on what to do before, during, and after a flight mission to stay compliant and safe. During the class, you’ll also get a chance to ask your questions about regulations, software, flight operations management, checklists and more.

Sign up for an in-person drone flight training class in South Carolina.

Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in South Carolina? Here you go: