Can you fly a drone over someone’s house on the MS Coast? Here’s what state law says
Drones are used for just about anything, from emergency management to agriculture assistance, search and rescue, or even crop mapping.
Of course, some drones are flown for leisure activities such as videography, photography or hunting.
Whatever the case, drone flying does require users to abide by certain laws under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). So before you go flying all over town, be sure to brush up on all things drone.
One of the laws regarding drones covers flying over private property. Here’s what to know about it in Mississippi.
Is it legal to fly a drone over someone’s house or private property in Mississippi?
According to Usman Khan, a commercial drone pilot, it is legal to fly over a person’s private property, as long as you don’t violate someone’s privacy.
But the FAA has other regulations to know:
“Drone pilots should avoid flying over private property without the owner’s permission,” said Khan. “It is also important to avoid flying too low over private property, as this may lead to issues of trespass or nuisance.”
If you don’t get consent beforehand or fly a drone in a way that disregards the property owner’s privacy or in a harassing manner, the property owner can take legal action.
“In some cases, the property owner may be able to file a civil lawsuit against the drone operator for invasion of privacy or trespassing,” said Khan.
Drone pilots also cannot take photos or videos of any property without permission.
There are many more drone laws to know about. Here are a few:
Other Mississippi drone laws
Here are some other things to know about before flying your drone:
Mississippi law states that using a drone for “peeping tom” reasons is a felony.
Maintain visual line of sight with your drone at all times.
Do not fly more than 400 feet above the ground.
Do not intentionally fly over unprotected persons or moving vehicles, and remain at least 25 feet away from individuals and vulnerable property.
Contact the airport and control tower before flying within five miles of an airport or heliport.
Do not fly under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Have any questions? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com.
This story was originally published November 12, 2024 at 8:54 AM.
