South Carolina Drone Laws

South Carolina presents some noteworthy spots for any drone enthusiast, whether it be Charleston Harbor or one of the state’s many enthralling ghost towns. There are ample open spaces and opportunities to get great drone footage here, but what are the restrictions?

Any good drone operator is keenly aware of the rules and regulations they need to adhere to at all times. Whether those are the federal rules that apply to everyone, or the state and local rules that may only apply to them at certain locations or times.

If you’re planning to fly a drone anywhere in South Carolina, don’t get caught unawares – make sure you know all of these drone laws that apply to you, whether you’re a recreational drone flyer or use a drone for business.

State Drone Laws

As the name implies, state drone laws apply to the entire state that they refer to and cannot be overruled by local laws, but are superseded by federal laws. That means if there’s any confusion about what you can or cannot do, you should look to federal laws first.

Section 109 Session 122

This section amends article 7, chapter 11, title 16 of the 1976 code by making it illegal to operate a drone within 500 feet horizontally or 400 feet vertically from the property of a state or military installation. It also sets out the penalties for anyone who violates this law.

Section 176 Session 122

This section makes an amendment to chapter 1, title 24 of the 1967 code by adding that it is unlawful to operate a drone within 250 feet from any Department of Corrections facility without written consent from the Director of the Department of Corrections. It also sets out the penalties for anyone who violates this law.

National Park Service: Policy Memorandum 14-05

Even though this policy was issued as an interim policy, it is still in effect. This policy prohibits anyone from launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft (drone) on lands or waters administered by the National Park Service (NPS). This includes all National Parks, National Monuments, National Recreation Areas, National Historic Sites, National Seashores, National Memorials, and others.

You can apply for a permit to fly at any of those areas, but have to adhere to the rules set out in this policy and by individual parks, which includes not disturbing wildlife or other park visitors.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services

The National Wildlife Refuge has a regulation that makes it illegal to operate unmanned aircraft (drones) on refuge property without a special permit. The refuge also has quite a long list of rules in place for people that do obtain permits, which can be viewed through the link above.

H 3415 General Bill

This bill makes an amendment to the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, and prohibits law enforcement officials from using a drone to conduct surveillance without the appropriate warrant.

H 4421 General Bill

This bill amends the code of laws in South Carolina and makes it illegal to fly a drone in illegal airspace. It also states that, before someone is able to operate a drone, they have to register it with the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission.

H 4425 General Bill – Upcoming

This bill is still being reviewed but amends the code of laws in South Carolina to make it unlawful to operate a drone that is armed with any type of weapon. It also sets out the penalties for anyone who violates this law.

Senate Bill 498 – Upcoming

A while ago, lawmakers in the state introduced Senate Bill 498, which prohibits a drone that comes equipped with a camera from flying over private property. This bill has not been passed yet. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any privacy laws that apply to you.

Normal privacy and public safety laws still apply, and you can get into trouble if someone deems you are infringing on their rights or putting anyone or their property in danger with your drone.

Keep in mind that you have rights too, though, and since there aren’t any laws providing individuals or law enforcement with permission to damage or shoot down your drone, you are within your rights to press the issue in the event that your property is damaged by another individual.

Local Drone Laws

While South Carolina has a few state drone laws that you need to be aware of, it currently only has one known local drone law that we could find. If any county, city, or town within the state creates a new drone law, it will be added here.

Mt. Pleasant: Chapter 141: Prohibited Activity At Town-Owned Parks

No one is allowed to operate any flying objects, including drones, on any town-owned park, including Mount Pleasant Memorial Park (MWP), Shem Creek Park (SCP), and others.

Federal Drone Laws

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is in charge of enforcing federal drone laws in the US. The FAA requires that every drone owner in the US register their drone with the agency and mark the drone with the registration number. They categorize drone operators into two categories: recreational and commercial drone fliers. Each category has separate rules for operators so you should decide which one is applicable to you when registering your drone with the FAA.

Recreational drone operators need to abide by the list of rules the FAA sets out on its website. This includes sticking to class G airspace, which is less than 400 feet in the air. Commercial drone operators have to stick to the rules laid out in Part 107 as well as pass a test to get a remote pilot certificate.

There is one area-specific rule that has been introduced by the FAA as well, which restricts drone flights up to 400 feet within the lateral boundaries of DOE facilities. This includes Savannah River National Laboratory in Aiken. In addition to that, no drone operator is allowed to fly within 500 feet of any airport without proper authorization from the FAA. Luckily it’s easy to apply for a permit via their website (LAANC).