Kansas Drone Laws
With wide-open spaces and mesmerizing city skylines, Kansas is a drone operator’s dream. Whether you want to fly as a hobby or use a drone for work, operating a drone in Kansas comes with some prep work before you can get your drone up in the air. There are local and state laws in Kansas that you need to know about as well as federal laws that you have to abide by at all times. Check out this quick breakdown of drone laws in Kansas.
Kansas State Drone Laws
At the time of writing, there is only one state law that directly applies to drones in Kansas. However, keep in mind that, while other laws may not mention drones specifically, they may still apply to you if local law enforcement feels you have broken any other rules while using your drone.
Senate Bill 319: Do not use a drone to harass others.
This bill expands on the definition of harassment in several acts ( K.S.A. 60-1507, 60-31a02, and 61-2708) and amends sections in these acts to include certain uses of drones. This includes using an unmanned aerial vehicle in any way that seriously alarms, annoys, torments or terrorizes a person or group of people. It also mentions that surveillance is included in the definition of harassment, and so you can get into trouble for taking photos of or recording someone in a place where they have reasonable expectation of safety and privacy as well.
Be sure to check back regularly for new laws as state legislature may instate new drone laws at any time and this generally happens much quicker than on a federal level. Being uninformed about new laws will not hold up against law enforcement and you could face fines or possibly even jail time.
Kansas Local Drone Laws
There are currently only two local drone laws in the state of Kansas but this may change at any time as local laws can be implemented relatively quickly.
Prairie Village: City Ordinance 2406
This ordinance makes it illegal to fly a drone near people or groups, or over events or private property without prior permission from said individuals, event organizers, or property owners respectively.
Wichita: Kode of Ordinances Sec. 9.35.210
This municipal law prevents anyone from operating a drone on or near any airport property and is in line with federal law which states that drone operators have to keep operations 5 miles away from an airport.
Even though these are the only two local drone laws that we could find, keep in mind that there may be other rules or restrictions in your area. If you’re unsure of whether you’re allowed to fly at a specific park or location, or during an event, then it’s best to call ahead and make sure whenever possible.
Federal Drone Laws
There are several federal regulations that drone operators have to comply with at all times, and these are controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration. These regulations apply no matter where you are in the US and dictate how and where you can fly your drone. Before you take your first test flight, go through these rules carefully to make sure your upcoming flight is legal.
First up, though, is a US-wide law that wasn’t created by the FAA but was based on federal legislature.
Policy Memorandum 14-05: Do not fly in a national park without permission.
In 2014, the National Park Service decided to ban the use of drones in all national state parks. This applies to all 5 national parks in Kansas and may apply to other parks or preserves managed by the NPS as well. The policy states that no one is allowed to lift off from, land, or operate a drone on national park grounds. The only way to get around this is with permission from the park superintendent but be aware that these permits are seldomly given and usually only to commercial fliers.
Although, under federal law 36 CFR § 1.5, park superintendednts may designate some areas of a park to drone fliers and impose their own rules that operators have to adhere by. So it’s still worth it to contact a park to see if they can accommodate you in any way.
Register your drone before flying
Every drone owner with a drone that weighs 55 lbs or less (even with a load) has to register their drone under the small UAS rule. Owners with drones that weigh more than 55 lbs have to be registered under the UAV rule.
When registering your drone, you’ll also have to decide between registering as a recreational or commercial flier. As the two names imply, recreational operators fly for fun while commercial operators make money in some way with the help of drones. Keep in mind that there are different rules for each categorization. For example, recreational fliers have to at least 13 years of age, while commercial fliers have to be at least 16 years of age. On top of that, commercial fliers have to pass an aeronautics knowledge test and get a drone pilot’s license when registering. Registration costs $5 and is valid for 3 years.
Follow best practice rules
Recreational drone operators need to follow the safety rules set out by the FAA while commercial operators should look to the Part 107 rules. These rules mainly set out limitations on where and how a drone can be flown. For commercial fliers, this includes sticking to daylight hours and always keeping the drone in visual line of sight. Although commercial operators can apply for a waiver to get around some of the rules.
Stick to unregulated airspace
Drone operators are allowed to fly in class G airspace, which goes up to about 400 feet in the air. After that, you’ll have to apply for a permit from the FAA if you want to fly any higher.
The airspace spanning 5 miles around an airport is also considered regulated airspace and drone owners are banned from flying here, unless they have a permit. Luckily, it has become fairly easy for operators to apply for a permit via the LAANC and DroneZone websites.
