Kentucky Drone Laws and Regulations [2023]

In this article, you will discover the most recent drone laws in Kentucky. Before taking off, make sure you are aware of the local and state drone laws.

State Drone laws in Kentucky

These drone regulations apply to the entire state of Kentucky.

House Bill 540 (2017)

According to this bill,

• Enables commercial airports to create UAS facility maps that indicate the areas of the airport’s map where drones are permitted to fly, take off and land.
• Prohibits the careless operation of drones in a way that poses a significant danger of physical harm or property damage.
• Violation of these provisions is a Class A misdemeanor or Class D felony if the violation causes serious disruption to the safe travel of an aircraft.
• The provisions of this section don’t apply to commercial operators in compliance with FAA regulations, authorizations, or exemptions.

Senate Bill 157 (2019)

According to this bill,

• A person commits the offense of trespass upon key infrastructure assets if a person knowingly uses, retains, or authorizes someone to use, an unmanned aircraft system to fly above real property on which key infrastructure assets are located with the intent to cause harm or damage to or conduct surveillance of the key infrastructure asset without the prior consent of the owner, tenant, or lessee of the real property.
• Trespass upon key infrastructure assets is a Class B misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense.
• Exceptions may apply to UAS used by the federal government, a law enforcement agency, an emergency response team, or based on an order of a court of jurisdiction.
• Exceptions can also apply to the operation of a UAS by a person or entity for a commercial purpose in compliance with FAA regulations, authorizations, or exemptions.

City and County Drone Laws in Kentucky

You must be aware of any local Kentucky drone laws that you may have to abide by when flying drones in Kentucky.

University of Kentucky Drone Policy

• On the University of Kentucky campus, drone usage is permitted neither for recreation nor for commercial purposes. The use of drones for research or instructional purposes requires registration and approval by the UK’s Office of University Events.
• The university policy forbids UAS flights without approval.
• Drones are prohibited to operate in and around Kroger Field.
• Hobbyist or recreational use of drones or UAS is prohibited on all UK-owned, operated, or controlled property.
• Commercial use of drones is prohibited without prior approval granted by the University of Kentucky. Licensed operators — for commercial use or institutional purposes — must apply for permission through the UK Event Management Office at least seven days before the requested event.

Warren County, Kentucky Drone Flying Laws (2022)

According to the Warren County Parks and Recreation Department,

• Drones operations are not allowed from within vehicles (moving or stationary).
• Drones shall not be used to harass, menace, or threaten patrons while on park property.
• WCPRD has the right and authority to discontinue any drone operation if deemed a public safety risk, or if the user is not following the posted rules.
• The drone operator is responsible for any / all damage to WCPRD property and is legally liable for any injury caused to patrons or other park users.
• WCPRD is not responsible for any damage/theft/vandalism or destruction of patron/drone user property.
• The drone operator is responsible for adhering to all state and federal laws and requirements for drone usage and must be able to provide validation of compliance at any time either to local law enforcement – emergency management, WCPRD park staff, or FAA officials.

Note: Kentucky drone laws are subject to change. The information on this page is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for legal advice. For more information on flying drones in Kentucky, visit the FAA’s website, the official websites of the respective departments, or consult an attorney.