Georgia Drone Laws
Complete guide for commercial and recreational UAS operators
State Overview
Georgia maintains a permissive stance toward drone operations through strong state preemption that prevents local governments from regulating private UAS flight. The state has enacted targeted restrictions on drones near correctional facilities, ticketed events, and in specific hunting contexts, but does not require state-level licensing, registration, or permits beyond federal FAA requirements. Enforcement focus is concentrated on the prison contraband problem rather than recreational or commercial operations.
State Drone Laws
O.C.G.A. § 6-1-4Unmanned Aircraft Systems Preemption
State preemption statute that strips cities and counties of authority to pass their own drone ordinances except for grandfathered ordinances adopted before April 1, 2017, ordinances enforcing federal restrictions, and policies prohibiting launch/landing on public property for non-commercial operations. Allows state and local governments to operate their own drones for government functions.
O.C.G.A. § 16-11-62Invasion of Privacy by Device
Prohibits using any device to observe, photograph, or record activities of a person in a private place and out of public view without consent, or secretly recording any activity outside a private place in a manner that invades reasonable expectation of privacy. Applies directly to drone-mounted cameras. Covers fenced backyards, hotel balconies, private pools, and bedroom windows.
HB 58 (Act 4 of 2025)Restriction on UAS Over Ticketed Entertainment Events
Makes it a misdemeanor to operate an unmanned aircraft within 400 feet of or above a ticketed entertainment event, defined as a gated event requiring a revocable license for attendance. Covers music festivals, sporting events, and performing-arts events below the 30,000-seat federal stadium TFR threshold. Exceptions include: consent from event authorities, federal-regulation-compliant operations, employee-on-official-business flights, and property owners flying over their own property consistent with federal rules.
O.C.G.A. § 27-3-12(a)Prohibition on Electronic Equipment to Facilitate Hunting
Prohibits the use of electronic communications equipment to facilitate the pursuit of game, including using drones to hunt, drive, locate, or communicate the position of deer or other game animals. Drone flights before, during, or in recovery of a deer hunt are prohibited. Applies to all game animals under Georgia DNR regulations.
Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 391-4-2Hunting Regulations - UAS Prohibition
Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division rule that prohibits the use of drones in connection with hunting game animals. Covers hunting, driving, locating, or communicating position of deer and other game animals. Enforcement by DNR Law Enforcement.
HB 946 (Act 411 of 2026)Feral Hog Location by Unmanned Aircraft
Authorizes the use of unmanned aircraft to locate feral hogs on private land. Armed drones remain prohibited. Removes the hunting/trapping license requirement for feral hogs on private land provided the animals are killed upon capture. Feral hog location is the single lawful hunting-adjacent drone use case in Georgia.
Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Ch. 391-5State Parks and Historic Sites - UAS Prohibition
Georgia DNR Parks, Recreation, and Historic Sites Division prohibits the operation of model aircraft and UAS on state park, state historic site, and recreation area property, except in designated areas or with a written permit from the park manager or division director. Applies to all Georgia state parks including Stone Mountain, Cloudland Canyon, Amicalola Falls, F.D. Roosevelt, Tallulah Gorge, and Skidaway Island.
HB 1230 (Act 388 of 2026)Prohibition on UAS Over Places of Incarceration
Prohibits the operation of unmanned aircraft systems over any place of incarceration in Georgia. Declares such systems contraband. Requires posting of signs warning of the prohibition. Response to the prison contraband crisis: over 1,000 drone incidents at state prisons since 2022, with 540+ felony arrests in 2024 alone.
O.C.G.A. § 16-11-127Weapons on Drones
Georgia has no drone-specific weapons statute, but attaching a firearm or explosive device to an unmanned aircraft implicates existing criminal statutes including aggravated assault, reckless conduct, and general weapons provisions in Title 16, Chapter 11. Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 32) also criminalizes weaponizing civil aircraft, and the FAA has clarified that drones are aircraft for that purpose.
Local/Municipal Ordinances
City of Conyers
cityDrone Restriction at City Horse Park and Golf Course
Prohibits drone operations within the boundaries of the Georgia International Horse Park and Cherokee Run Golf Course
Restrictions
No drone operations within specified parks
City of Augusta / Richmond County
cityDrone Operations in Populated Areas
Prohibits drone operations in populated areas within Richmond County without prior authorization from the FAA and the Augusta, Georgia Commission. Allows exceptions for model aircraft fields, including the existing field at the intersection of Mike Padgett Highway and Horseshoe Road.
Restrictions
Prohibition in highly populated areas (sporting/recreation/entertainment events with 100+ seating capacity, open air assemblies of 100+); existing model aircraft fields excepted
Cherokee County
countyDrone Operations in Designated Areas Only
Establishes that drones can only be flown in areas specifically designated for them by the county
Restrictions
Only in designated areas
Stone Mountain Park
special_authorityProhibition on Drone Operations
Stone Mountain Park (a state authority, not DNR) prohibits personal and recreational drone flights. Commercial film flights are handled through the park's production office. The park sits inside Atlanta Class B airspace and inside a Masters TFR during April.
Restrictions
No recreational drone flights. Commercial flights require production office approval.
Penalty & Fine Schedule
| Violation | Classification | Fine Range | Imprisonment | Enforcement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invasion of privacy by drone camera (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-62) | Felony | Up to $10,000 | 1-5 years | District Attorney / Local Police / Georgia Bureau of Investigation | Civil liability also possible for damages |
| Drone within 400 feet of ticketed entertainment event (HB 58) | Misdemeanor | Varies | Varies | Local Police | Exceptions for event authority consent or federal waiver |
| Hunting/wildlife use of drone (O.C.G.A. § 27-3-12(a); Ch. 391-4-2) | Administrative/Criminal | Fines | Varies | Georgia DNR Law Enforcement | Loss of hunting privileges, suspension of hunting license ability |
| State park drone operation without permit (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Ch. 391-5) | Administrative violation | Fine per rule | N/A | DNR Parks Division / Park Manager | Citation, ejection, fine |
| Drone over place of incarceration (HB 1230) | Felony (for contraband delivery) | Varies | 1-5 years potential | Georgia Department of Corrections / State Police / FBI | Systems declared contraband. Delivering contraband by drone is a felony. |
| Stadium TFR violation (14 CFR § 99.7) | Federal violation | Up to $75,000+ civil penalty | Potential federal criminal charges | FAA / Federal Bureau of Investigation / U.S. Attorney | Federal stadium TFRs apply to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Truist Park, Sanford Stadium during events |
| Masters/Augusta National TFR violation | Federal violation (49 U.S.C. § 46307) | Civil penalty + potential criminal charges | Probation + possible imprisonment | FAA / FBI / U.S. Attorney (Southern District of Georgia) | Multiple federal prosecutions in prior years. TFR is 3-nautical-mile ring up to 3,000 feet MSL in April during Masters week. |
| Weaponizing a UAS (18 U.S.C. § 32 + Georgia Title 16) | Federal felony + state charges | Varies | Up to 20 years federal, plus state prison terms | FBI / Federal Bureau of Investigation / Local Police | Federal felony under 18 U.S.C. § 32 carries up to 20 years; adds state charges for aggravated assault, reckless conduct, discharge of firearm. |
Invasion of privacy by drone camera (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-62)
Civil liability also possible for damages
Drone within 400 feet of ticketed entertainment event (HB 58)
Exceptions for event authority consent or federal waiver
Hunting/wildlife use of drone (O.C.G.A. § 27-3-12(a); Ch. 391-4-2)
Loss of hunting privileges, suspension of hunting license ability
State park drone operation without permit (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Ch. 391-5)
Citation, ejection, fine
Drone over place of incarceration (HB 1230)
Systems declared contraband. Delivering contraband by drone is a felony.
Stadium TFR violation (14 CFR § 99.7)
Federal stadium TFRs apply to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Truist Park, Sanford Stadium during events
Masters/Augusta National TFR violation
Multiple federal prosecutions in prior years. TFR is 3-nautical-mile ring up to 3,000 feet MSL in April during Masters week.
Weaponizing a UAS (18 U.S.C. § 32 + Georgia Title 16)
Federal felony under 18 U.S.C. § 32 carries up to 20 years; adds state charges for aggravated assault, reckless conduct, discharge of firearm.
Registration Requirements
State Registration
Not Required
State Permit
Not Required
State Insurance
Not Required
Georgia does not require separate state-level drone registration or licensing beyond FAA requirements. Federal FAA registration ($5 for 3 years) is required for any drone over 0.55 pounds. State preemption under O.C.G.A. § 6-1-4 prevents local registration schemes.
No state-level permit required for recreational or commercial drone operations. Permits are required only for specific contexts: state park flights (permit from park manager), commercial film at Stone Mountain (production office approval), and University of Georgia/Georgia Tech operations (institutional approval).
Insurance is not mandated by Georgia state law but is strongly recommended for commercial operations. Most commercial clients require $1 million drone liability coverage.
Applicable Federal Regulations
FAA Part 107 Compliance
Commercial drone operations require FAA Remote Pilot Certificate
All commercial drone operations in Georgia must comply with FAA Part 107 Small UAS Rule. Operators must pass the Aeronautical Knowledge Test to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate. Georgia does not impose any additional state-level commercial licensing requirements.
Recreational TRUST Certification
Recreational drone pilots must pass the free TRUST test
Any drone flown for non-commercial purposes in Georgia requires the operator to pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), which is free and online. This is a federal requirement that applies uniformly across all states including Georgia.
FAA Registration
All drones over 0.55 pounds must be registered with the FAA
Federal FAA registration is required for any drone exceeding 0.55 pounds (250 grams). The registration fee is $5 and valid for 3 years. Registration number must be visible on the aircraft. Georgia does not require separate state registration.
Remote ID
Mandatory since March 16, 2024
Every drone flown outdoors must broadcast its ID, location, and altitude unless operating inside an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA). Georgia has a limited number of FRIAs, mostly AMA club fields.
Altitude Restrictions
400 feet AGL maximum under standard Part 107 / TRUST rules
All drones must remain below 400 feet above ground level unless operating under a Part 107 waiver. This is the federal baseline and Georgia adds no additional altitude restrictions at the state level.
LAANC Authorization
Required for Class B, C, D, and surface-E airspace
Georgia's major population centers (Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta) are covered by controlled airspace requiring LAANC authorization. LAANC is widely available through DJI Fly, Aloft, and AirHub.
Stadium TFRs (14 CFR § 99.7)
Three-mile radius, 3,000 feet MSL during games
Federal stadium TFRs apply to Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Falcons/Atlanta United), Truist Park (Braves), Sanford Stadium (UGA), and Bobby Dodd Stadium (Georgia Tech). TFRs run from one hour before to one hour after events. Violations carry up to $75,000 civil penalties.
Masters Tournament TFR
April, 3-nautical-mile ring, up to 3,000 feet MSL
Every April during Masters week, the FAA issues a temporary flight restriction covering Augusta National Golf Course and surrounding area. This is the most heavily enforced recurring TFR in the country, with multiple federal prosecutions under 49 U.S.C. § 46307.
Visual Line of Sight (VLOS)
Required under Part 107 and TRUST
Drone operator must maintain direct visual contact with the aircraft at all times. Daylight or civil twilight is required by default. Night flying requires special waiver, though Georgia allows both recreational and Part 107 night operations with anti-collision lights visible for 3 statute miles.
For complete federal regulations, see our Federal Regulations page.
Federal Preemption & Critical Infrastructure
Georgia has not enacted a drone-specific critical infrastructure statute as of this writing. Pilots remain subject to general state laws on trespass, voyeurism, privacy, and reckless endangerment, and to all federal regulations including FAA Part 107.
Read the federal preemption guide →Airspace & LAANC
LAANC Coverage
Extensive LAANC coverage across Georgia. Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) Class B covers most of metro Atlanta with variable ceiling altitudes; Savannah/Hilton Head (SAV) Class C has more straightforward LAANC coverage. Augusta Regional (AGS) is Class D.
Major Airports
ATL — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (busiest airport by passenger volume)SAV — Savannah/Hilton Head International AirportAGS — Augusta Regional AirportMCN — Middle Georgia Regional Airport
TFR Notice
Masters Tournament TFR is the most significant recurring restriction: April, 3-nautical-mile ring centered on Augusta National Golf Course, up to 3,000 feet MSL, heavily enforced with federal prosecutions. Federal stadium TFRs apply to Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Falcons/Atlanta United), Truist Park (Braves), Sanford Stadium (UGA Bulldogs), and Bobby Dodd Stadium (Georgia Tech) during games. Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are issued for special events including FIFA World Cup 2026.
Recent Enforcement Actions & News
Decatur Man Pleads Guilty to Flying Drone Over Truist Park During 2025 MLB All-Star Game
enforcementA Decatur, Georgia resident pleaded guilty in the Northern District of Georgia to knowingly violating national defense airspace after flying a drone over Truist Park during the July 2025 MLB All-Star Game. He received six months of probation and a $500 fine. His drone's control interface had warned him of the TFR restriction before he launched.
Pending Legislation
HB 205In Committee (Senate)Board of Homeland Security; Development of List of Approved Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Would require the Georgia Board of Homeland Security to develop a list of approved unmanned aircraft systems for use by state government agencies. Passed House as HB 205 with committee substitution; referred to Senate on 2025-02-24.
Last action: February 24, 2025
HB 949In Committee (House)Aviation; Prohibit Launch or Intentional Landing of UAS on Agricultural Land
Would prohibit the launch or intentional landing of unmanned aircraft systems from or on agricultural land without the owner's permission. Relevant to Georgia's agricultural operations and crop protection.
Last action: February 19, 2026
SB 409In Committee (House)"Insurers' Use of Aerial or Satellite Images Act"
Would provide homeowner protections regarding insurance companies' use of aerial or satellite images. Requires homeowners be allowed 60 days to correct issues identified via aerial/satellite imagery before insurance decisions are made. Passed Senate; referred to House on 2026-02-25.
Last action: February 25, 2026
University & College Drone Policies
| Institution | Policy Summary | Permit Required | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Georgia | UGA requires all drone operations on campus property to be approved by the Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness (OSEP). Sanford Stadium operates under a federal stadium TFR during home football games (3-nautical-mile ring, 3,000 feet MSL from 1 hour before to 1 hour after game). Restrictions: OSEP pre-approval required for all campus flights. Stadium TFR applies during athletic events. No flights over crowds or spectators. | Yes | Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness (OSEP) |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia Tech requires all UAS operations to be approved by the Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) department. Georgia Tech operates active drone research programs under FAA Certificate of Authorization (COA). Bobby Dodd Stadium operates under a federal stadium TFR during home football games. Restrictions: EH&S approval required for all operations. Bobby Dodd Stadium TFR during events. Research programs operate under FAA COA. | Yes | Environmental Health & Safety Department |
Last Updated
This page is automatically verified and updated weekly by our AI-powered legal research agent (v1.0.0). While we strive for accuracy, always verify critical information with official state sources.
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