Tennessee Drone Laws

Prohibits using a drone to capture images of a person or property with intent to conduct surveillance, to intentionally capture images at open-air event venues where 100+ individuals are gathered for ticketed events, to knowingly operate near fireworks discharge/display/fallout areas during events, or to knowingly operate over correctional facility grounds. Each unlawfully captured image constitutes a separate criminal offense.

Prohibits knowingly flying a drone within 250 feet of the perimeter of any critical-infrastructure facility for the purpose of conducting surveillance, gathering evidence, collecting information, or photographically/electronically recording critical-infrastructure data without the operator's written consent. Critical infrastructure includes: electrical power generation systems, transmission components, distribution substations; petroleum refineries; manufacturing facilities using hazardous substances; chemical/rubber manufacturing; petroleum/chemical storage; water/wastewater treatment; natural gas/propane storage/transmission/distribution; railroad yards not open to public; communication service facilities.

Establishes 15+ lawful exceptions to surveillance statutes, including: research by higher education institutions; FAA test sites/ranges; military operations; law enforcement with authorization; utility infrastructure inspection by or for electric/natural-gas utilities; real estate photography; mapping/surveying; land assessment; insurance claims/property damage assessment; licensed private investigators; fire suppression; rescue operations; emergency management (TEMA); damage assessment during disasters; oil/gas pipeline inspection; port authority surveillance; motion picture/television production with FAA authorization and film permit; commercial operations authorized by FAA. Amended by HB 2376 (2016) to explicitly permit operations on behalf of public and private higher education institutions.

Makes it a Class C misdemeanor to possess an image captured in violation of § 39-13-903. Elevates to Class B misdemeanor if the person discloses, displays, distributes, or otherwise uses the unlawfully captured image. Each image constitutes a separate offense. Two affirmative defenses: (1) destroyed image as soon as knowledge of illegal capture, or (2) stopped disclosing/using image as soon as knowledge of illegal capture.

Prohibits the use of drone images captured in violation of §§ 39-13-903 or 39-13-904 as evidence in any Tennessee state criminal or civil proceeding.

Restricts law enforcement drone use. Police cannot use drones to gather evidence or information without a warrant, except in narrow circumstances: (1) reasonable suspicion of imminent danger to life; (2) search for fugitive or escapee; (3) missing-person search; (4) hostage situation; (5) counter high-risk terrorist attack with DHS determination; or (6) with valid search warrant. Any data collected without authority must be deleted within 15 business days unless directly relevant to lawful reason for flight or ongoing investigation. Persons aggrieved by violations have civil standing to sue the agency.

Extends criminal trespass statute to unmanned aircraft. Defines 'enter' to include causing an unmanned aircraft to enter the airspace above someone's land 'not regulated as navigable airspace' by the FAA without consent. Three affirmative defenses: (1) reasonable belief that consent had been granted; (2) conduct that did not substantially interfere with owner's use of property; (3) immediately leaving the property upon owner's request.

Treats drones as aircraft. Prohibits launching, landing, or operating drones in Tennessee state parks without written approval from the park manager. Landing areas designated in special regulations are exempt. Within water areas: no operation within 500 feet of bathing beaches, boat docks, floats, piers, or ramps; no operation within 1 mile of water-controlled structures (dams, spillways).

Authorizes the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) to promulgate rules and pass proclamations permitting the use of drones to locate and retrieve (recover only, not scout or hunt) wounded deer on private land. Restricted to 30 minutes after official sunset through midnight. No hunting implements permitted in the recovery party at time of flight. Effective July 1, 2025.

Creates a new Class C misdemeanor offense for knowingly using an unmanned aircraft over the grounds of a school. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates a new Class A misdemeanor offense when a person operates an unmanned aircraft within 400 feet of or above a ticketed entertainment event. This enhances and expands the prior Class C misdemeanor restriction (which applied only to capture of images over 100+ person open-air events) to a broader spatial zone (400 feet) with elevated classification. Effective July 1, 2026.

Federal rule governing TVA public lands. Prohibits public drone operation on and over all developed TVA public lands, facilities, and structures, including: TVA dam reservations, developed recreation areas (campgrounds, day-use areas), power-plant reservations, power substations, and transmission lines. Permits public drone operation over undeveloped TVA land and water. Drones must not harass, harm, or interfere with wildlife or TVA operations.

Metro Code § 13.24.400—Aviation in Metro Parks

Prohibits bringing, landing, or causing any aircraft (including drones) to alight in or upon any Davidson County park, with three designated exceptions.

Shelby Farms Park Drone Operations and Drone Zone

Shelby Farms Park permits recreational drones weighing 250g or less with safety restrictions. Larger drones and commercial flights require separate permits.

Knoxville Airspace Constraints—No Comprehensive Drone-in-Parks Ordinance

No standalone drone prohibition ordinance, but airspace constraints heavily restrict flights. Most of downtown Knoxville sits under McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) Class C shelf; central area also under Island Home Airport (DKX) Class D.

Chattanooga Code Chapter 8—Aviation; Critical Infrastructure Constraints

City has general aviation code (Chapter 8) but no standalone drone-in-parks ordinance. Chickamauga Dam and Sequoyah Nuclear Plant (~20 miles north) place Tennessee's 250-foot critical infrastructure felony rule at the center of drone operations planning.