Washington Drone Laws

In Washington, three types of laws are enforced for the use of unmanned aircraft systems. These include Federal Laws, State Drone Laws, and Local Drone Laws.

State Drone Laws

The Washington state drone laws were created by the Washington State Legislature. These laws are only applicable on the state of Washington.

Flying Drones in State Parks—WAC 352-32-130

According to this law, people are allowed to fly their drones and other unmanned aircraft systems in the Washington State parks after getting authorization from the directors or a designee [1]. Certain limitations and restrictions have to be observed even with the permit. For example, the pilot is allowed to land and take off the drone from designated areas only. Similarly, the pilot has to ensure that the safety and convenience of the people in the park is not affected by their drone. The drone can only be operated in broad daylight. It is also the responsibility of the pilot that none of the resources of the park are damaged by his unmanned aerial vehicle. There are a few exceptional cases that are exempted from this law such as:

• Search and rescue operations
• Medical emergencies
• Law enforcement operations
• Firefighter operations
• Emergency evacuations

Local Drone Laws

These laws are only applicable on certain cities and counties in Washington.

Bellevue Parks & Rec—Acceptable Drone Flying Sites // 2018

This law is only applicable in the Bellevue, a city in Washington. According to this law, flying a drone in any parks in Bellevue is strictly prohibited. The Marymoor Park Airfield and 60 Acres Park are exceptions to this. [2]

Pierce County—Municipal Law // 2013

This law is applicable in Pierce County, Washington. According to this law, there are certain restrictions and limitations on government agencies using unmanned aircraft systems. [3]

Snohomish County Parks & Rec—Park Code 22.16.080 // 1998

This law is only applicable on the Snohomish County. According to this law, the use of drones and other unmanned aircraft systems is strictly prohibited in all the parks of this county. [4]

City of Seattle Film Permit Requirement // 2017

This law is only applicable in Seattle, Washington. It is concerned with taking photographs and videos using a drone. If a person is taking off or landing in a government owned property, or filming in a government owned property using a drone, then they are required to obtain a permit by the authorities. No such permit is required for flying or filming within a private property. [5]

City of Seattle—Municipal Law // 2017

This law is also limited to the city of Seattle. According to this law, operating drones or any other remote controlled aircrafts within the premises of any park is prohibited. [6]

Federal Drone Laws

These laws are enforced by the Federal Government and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the US. Every state has to follow these laws, including Washington. The federal drone laws are divided into three categories based on the purpose of flying the drone. [7]

For Recreational Purpose

If you wish to fly your drone as a hobby in the state of Washington, then you must follow the recreational model aircraft rules of the Federal Aviation Administration. Other than that, the “FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018” is another law that informs the hobbyists about locations, timings and methods they can use while flying their drone. Some of the FAA rules include:

• Get your drone registered if it weighs more than 0.55 lbs.
• Fly your drone below 400 feet altitude in Class G airspace
• Get authorization for flying in any airspace other than Class G
• Ensure that you have clear visual of your drone at all times.
• Do not fly directly over a person

For Flying a Drone Commercially

If a person wishes to fly their drone for commercial use, then they must follow three important steps which are defined by the Federal Aviation Administration.

1. The first step is to gain full understanding of the Part 107 rules by the Federal Aviation Administration. These rules clearly specify the things that are prohibited with regards to operating an unmanned aircraft system.
2. It is essential to become a FAA certified drone pilot if you wish to operate your drone for commercial purposes. For this certification, an Aeronautical Knowledge test has to be passed. This test evaluates the person’s knowledge about applicable regulations for unmanned aircraft systems, impact of weather on UAS, loading and performance, radio communication, emergency operation, maintenance etc.
3. The third step is to get your drone registered with the federal aviation administration. It is recommended to mark the drone with the registration number, so that it is easier to identify in case it is lost or stolen.

For Government Operators

As a government employee, there are two options for operating an unmanned aircraft system. The first option is to obtain a federal certificate of authorization (COA). The second option is to follow to the Part 107 rules and regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration. Some of these rules are:

• Getting a certification from FAA after passing the Aviation Knowledge test.
• Only operating in Class G airspace without a permit
• Keeping the altitude of the drone below 400 feet
• Getting your unmanned aerial vehicle registered by the Federal Aviation Administration
• Always flying in daylight
• Never flying above moving vehicles or people

Drone Regulation Compliance Tips

The following rules and regulations are followed globally with regards to operating unmanned aircraft systems.

Never fly more than one drone at any given time

Most Civil Aviation Authorities discourage the use of more than one drone at a time. This helps prevent accidents.

Always keep the UAV within your line of sight

Flying the drone behind trees and buildings is also discouraged to avoid accidents.

Keep your drone away from airports and airplanes

In order to prevent accidents of manned aircrafts, it is always encouraged to keep your UAV away from airports and flying aero planes.