Tennessee Drone Laws

Restricts law enforcement use of drones. Police may not use drones to gather evidence or information without a warrant, except in narrow exceptions: reasonable suspicion of imminent danger to life, search for a fugitive, missing-person searches, or hostage situations. Any data collected must be deleted within 15 business days unless directly relevant to the lawful reason for the flight. Persons aggrieved by violations have civil standing to sue the agency.

Establishes comprehensive exceptions to drone surveillance prohibitions. Lawful image capture includes: higher education research and development; FAA test sites and ranges; U.S. military operations; satellite mapping; utility infrastructure inspection; real estate photography; surveying, mapping, and land assessment; insurance claims assessment; licensed private investigation; emergency management; fire suppression; rescue operations; government damage assessment during declared emergencies; and other purposes authorized by federal or state law.

Makes it a Class C misdemeanor to use a drone to capture images of an individual or privately owned real property with intent to conduct surveillance, where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Each unlawfully captured image constitutes a separate offense. Possession of unlawfully captured images is also a Class C misdemeanor per image. Distributing, displaying, or using unlawfully captured images is a Class B misdemeanor per image.

Prohibits using a drone to capture images of individuals or events at open-air event venues where more than 100 people are gathered for a ticketed event without venue owner or operator consent. Covers concerts, festivals, sporting events, fairs, and similar ticketed gatherings. Includes prohibition on dropping any items or substances into such events.

Prohibits knowingly using a drone within or over a designated fireworks discharge site, display site, or fallout area during a fireworks event without owner consent. Applies to all organized fireworks displays including Fourth of July, New Year's Eve, and other events.

Prohibits knowingly using a drone over the grounds of any correctional facility, including state prisons, jails, and local detention facilities.

Makes it a Class E felony to knowingly fly 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 or electronically recording critical-infrastructure data without operator's written consent. Critical infrastructure includes: electrical power generation systems, transmission systems and components, distribution substations, petroleum refineries, chemical or rubber manufacturing facilities handling hazardous substances, petroleum or chemical storage facilities, water or wastewater treatment facilities, natural gas or propane storage/transmission/distribution infrastructure, railroad yards not open to the general public, and communication service facilities. Applies to all TVA facilities and operations throughout the state.

Creates a Class A misdemeanor offense for operating an unmanned aircraft within 400 feet of or above a ticketed entertainment event. This is an enhanced restriction beyond the existing open-air event prohibition for 100+ person gatherings. Applies to all ticketed events including concerts, sporting events, festivals, and similar gatherings.

Creates a Class C misdemeanor offense for knowingly using an unmanned aircraft over the grounds of any school, including public and private elementary, middle, and secondary schools. Applies to school property and outdoor areas used for school activities.

Extends criminal trespass statute to include causing an unmanned aircraft to enter the non-navigable airspace above someone's land without consent. Trespass is a Class C misdemeanor. Three affirmative defenses available: reasonable belief that consent was granted, conduct that did not substantially interfere with owner's use of property, or immediate departure upon owner's request.

Makes it a Class C misdemeanor for any private entity to use a drone to conduct video surveillance of a person lawfully engaged in hunting or fishing activities without their written consent. Protects hunters and fishers from unwanted drone surveillance during legal hunting and fishing activities on private land.

Prohibits operation of drones in Tennessee state parks without written approval from the park manager. Drones are classified as aircraft under state park regulations. Additional restrictions include: no operation within 500 feet of bathing beaches, boat docks, floats, piers, or ramps; no operation within one mile of water-controlled structures such as dams and spillways. Park managers have discretion to approve flights on case-by-case basis. Applies to all 56+ Tennessee state parks.

Authorizes Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) to promulgate rules allowing use of drones to locate and retrieve deer that have been wounded by hunters. Applies only to recovery operations (not scouting or hunting assistance) on private land. TWRA is developing implementing rules (Rule 1660-01-33) with effective date expected August 1, 2026. Proposed rules will permit drone use between 30 minutes after official sunset and midnight with no hunting implements present during recovery flight.

Federal regulation administered by TVA prohibiting public drone operations on and over all developed TVA public lands, facilities, and structures, including dam reservations, developed recreation areas, power plants, substations, and transmission lines. Permits drone operation over undeveloped TVA land and water. Also prohibits drone use that harasses wildlife. Violators are subject to civil penalties. TVA holds operators personally and fully liable for damages to structures or persons.

Federal NPS policy bans all drone launches and landings in all U.S. national parks. Applies to Great Smoky Mountains National Park (the most visited national park in the U.S.) and all other NPS units in Tennessee, including portions of the Foothills Parkway near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.

Ordinance Code § 13.24.400 - Aviation in Metro Parks

Prohibits bringing, landing, or causing any aircraft (including drones) to alight in any Davidson County park with limited exceptions. Only three designated flying areas exist where permits may be issued.