Drone Laws in West Virginia (2024)
A list of drone regulations and links for people flying drones in West Virginia.
West Virginia Drone Regulations
West Virginia Drone Regulations
Federal Drone Laws in West Virginia
These are drone laws that apply to every state in the U.S., including West Virginia, and were created by the federal government.
To fly a drone as a commercial pilot in the state of West Virginia (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 West Virginia (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 West Virginia (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 West Virginia
These are drone laws that apply to the entire state of West Virginia, and were created by the West Virginia Legislature.
According to the West Virginia Department of Transportation and the West Virginia Legislature, West Virginia has two state-wide law concerning the use of drones in the state.
This law prohibits hunting with UAS.
This law requires drone operators to obtain permission from the State Park Superintendent to fly in any of West Virginia’s state parks. Upon approval, the drone operator must also register with the superintendent. The superintendent shall provide a list and map to the unmanned aircraft system operator of any prohibited areas within the park. Participants in drone operation activities assume full responsibility and liability for any risk or injury related to using an unmanned aircraft system.
This law covers all of the prohibited uses for drones in West Virginia. Except as authorized by the provisions of this article, a person may not operate an unmanned aircraft system:
- To knowingly and intentionally capture or take photographs, images, video, or audio of another person or the private property of another, without the other person’s permission, in a manner that would invade the individual’s reasonable expectation of privacy, including, but not limited to, capturing, or recording through a window.
- To knowingly and intentionally view, follow, or contact another person or the private property of another without the other person’s permission in a manner that would invade the individual’s reasonable expectation of privacy, including, but not limited to, viewing, following, or contacting through a window.
- To knowingly and intentionally harass another person or violate a restraining order.
- To operate a drone with a disregard for the safety of persons or property, or to knowingly and intentionally operate a drone in a manner that interferes with the official duties of law enforcement personnel or emergency medical personnel.
All drone pilots operating commercially in the state of West Virginia 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 West Virginia? 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia? To get great shots like these!
Local Drone Laws in West Virginia
These are drone laws that apply only to certain regions, cities, or counties within the state of West Virginia, 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 West Virginia. 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 West Virginia? Here you go:
