Utah Drone Laws (2026): State Rules, Local Ordinances & FAA

Requires drones to be kept in visual line of sight, prohibits flight in Class B, C, D, or surface E airspace without authorization, limits altitude to 400 feet AGL (unless within 400 feet of a structure), prohibits operation from public transit rail platforms or stations, prohibits flight under 50 feet within transit guideway rights-of-way, and prohibits operation over surface critical infrastructure facilities without prior authorization.

Makes it a third-degree felony to operate a drone to carry, drop, or remove any item to, from, or inside a correctional facility. Makes it a class B misdemeanor to operate a drone in a way that interferes with a correctional facility's operations or security.

Prohibits attaching a weapon to a drone or operating a weaponized drone. 'Weapon' includes a firearm and any object capable of causing death, injury, or property damage in the manner it is used. Exceptions: FAA certificate of authorization, state or federal government contract, or operation in Department of Defense airspace with DoD permission.

Restricts law enforcement from obtaining, receiving, or using data acquired through a drone unless obtained under a search warrant, recognized exception to warrant requirement, from a nongovernment source (with limits), to locate a lost or missing person where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, or in a manner that does not violate a reasonable expectation of privacy. Agencies must destroy data as soon as reasonably possible and document drone use in official encounter records. A 2026 amendment (Chapter 118) narrowed the catch-all exception.

Preempts all local (city, county, political subdivision) drone ordinances. Cities and counties may not enact laws, ordinances, or rules governing private drone use. Supersedes any local drone ordinance enacted before July 1, 2022. Exceptions: airport operators may regulate drone operation within their airport boundaries, and land managers may regulate drone operations on property they control.

Prohibits operating a drone into an FAA wildfire temporary flight restriction or into an area designated as a wildland fire scene without incident commander permission. Establishes a tiered penalty system: baseline is class B misdemeanor for reckless violation; class A misdemeanor if drone causes firefighting aircraft to drop payload off-target or prevents it from taking flight; third-degree felony if drone makes direct physical contact with a manned aircraft; second-degree felony if drone is proximate cause of manned aircraft collision with ground, structure, or another aircraft. Incident commander or chief law enforcement officer can 'neutralize' (disable, damage, jam, or take control of) an offending drone. A judge may order restitution for damages, flight costs, and lost retardant.

Makes it a class B misdemeanor to use a device (including drones) to observe, record, or broadcast events in a private place without consent. Carve-out: not a violation if drone is operated for legitimate commercial or educational purposes consistent with FAA rules and any incidental capture is solely incidental to lawful use. Recodified in 2025 (formerly Utah Code 76-9-402).

Makes it a class A misdemeanor to secretly record or photograph a person who has a reasonable expectation of privacy in a private place or private situation. Recodified in 2025 (formerly Utah Code 76-9-702.7).

Makes it a third-degree felony to distribute, transmit, or sell images obtained through voyeurism (secretly recorded video or images of a person in a private place). Recodified in 2025.

Defines 'surface critical infrastructure facility' to include petroleum and alumina refineries, electric generating facilities, substations, switching stations and control centers, electric power lines and associated equipment, chemical/polymer/rubber plants, water facilities, natural gas compressor stations, LNG terminals and storage, telecommunications and wireless infrastructure (including cell towers), gas processing plants, ports, railroad switching yards and tracks, and crude oil and refined products production and pipeline facilities. Operating a drone over any of these facilities without authorization is prohibited under 72-10-1002.

Prohibits a person from intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly chasing, actively disturbing, or harming livestock through the use of an unmanned aircraft system.

Comprehensive UAS amendment that reorganized existing code, preempted local drone ordinances, established UAS exemption from aircraft registration, enacted provisions regarding law enforcement use, and reinforced criminal penalties for weaponization, criminal trespass, privacy violations, and voyeurism involving drones.

Permits law enforcement agencies to use unmanned aircraft systems to collect data at testing sites and to locate lost or missing persons in areas where individuals have no reasonable expectation of privacy.

Regulates use of unmanned aircraft systems by state government entities, establishing that a warrant is required for a law enforcement agency to obtain, receive, or use data derived from the use of UAS. Exceptions apply for authorized purposes unrelated to criminal investigation.

Requires law enforcement to obtain a warrant before using drones in a place where an individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Prohibits use of any aircraft, drone, or airborne device between July 31 and January 31 to locate or attempt to locate protected wildlife. Prohibits taking wildlife that a drone has chased, harassed, herded, or driven. Enforced by Division of Wildlife Resources conservation officers, including a dedicated drone team.

Authorizes UDOT Division of Aeronautics to establish and administer a commercial unmanned aircraft system registration program. Commercial operators must register with the state in addition to FAA registration. Fee structure established by UDOT. Effective January 1, 2025. Amendments in SB 135 (2024) also restrict government agencies from using drones made by 'covered foreign entities' (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea) for critical infrastructure inspection.

Requires written permission or special-use permit from park manager before operating a drone within any Utah state park. Specific parks have additional restrictions and seasonal windows (e.g., Dead Horse Point allows drones only November through February with $10/day permit; Antelope Island restricts drones December through February only).