Arizona Drone Laws

The state of Arizona follows the following three types of drone laws:

State drone laws
Local drone laws
Federal drone laws

State Drone Laws

These laws are implemented throughout the whole state of Arizona.

SB 1449 // 2016

There are certain rules and regulations that must be followed under SB 1449 while operating unmanned aircraft systems [1]. Some of them include:

The peace and safety of the public should not be compromised at any cost
Any public property should not be damaged
The unmanned aircraft system must never disrupt the operations of any government organization like firefighters, law enforcement agencies, etc.
An unmanned aircraft system cannot be operated near any person without their consent
Unmanned aircraft systems cannot be operated during temporary flight restrictions
An animal or a bird cannot be intentionally killed during the flight of the unmanned aircraft system
An unmanned aircraft system cannot be operated if it is prohibited by the federal drone laws
Must never interfere with an airborne manned aircraft.

Local Drone Laws

These laws are only applicable in certain cities, areas, or counties within the state of Arizona.

Town of Prescott Valley—Municipal Ordinance // 2018

This law is only applicable on Prescott Valley, a town in Arizona. The purpose of this law is to give instructions to town employees about how they need to operate their unmanned aircraft systems [2]. Some of the instructions include:

Having a remote pilot certificate
Always designating a remote pilot in command before the flight of any unmanned aircraft system
Always designating a visual observer for the flight of each unmanned aircraft system
Ensuring that no harm is caused to anyone’s property
Never flying at night without getting a certificate of wavier beforehand
The town employees can use unmanned aircraft systems for emergency situations like fires, search and rescue operations, police operations etc.

City of Phoenix—City Code Section 24-49 // 2016

This law is only applicable in Phoenix, Arizona. According to this law, no one is allowed to take off or land their unmanned aircraft systems in any park within Phoenix, Arizona. A few parks have been designated specifically for such activities [3]. They include Dynamite Park, El Prado Park, Esteban Park, Werner’s Field, and Grover’s Basin. The violation of this law is considered to be a Class 2 misdemeanor, which is punishable by either 4 months in jail, a fine of $750, or both.

Maricopa County—R-116 Aircraft and Engine Powered Models // 2016

This law is only applicable in a county called Maricopa. According to this law, it is prohibited to operate unmanned aircraft systems within any county owned park which is not specifically designated for this purpose. There are certain restrictions for operating unmanned aircraft systems within the designated parks as well. These limitations include not flying over the people in the park and ensuring that the resources of the park are not damaged during the flight of the UAS. Violating this law is considered to be a Class 2 misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of $750, 4 months in jail, or both. The person violating this law can also be evicted from the premises of the park [4].

Federal Drone Laws

These laws are enforced by the Federal Government and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the US. Every state is obligated to follow these laws, including Washington. The federal drone laws are divided into three categories based on the purpose of flying the drone. [5]

For flying a drone as a recreational hobby

If you are flying your drone for recreational purposes in Arizona, then Federal Aviation Administration’s “Recreational Model Aircraft” laws have to be obeyed. The “FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018” can also be used by drone hobbyists for detailed instructions about the timings, locations and other aspects of operating an unmanned aircraft systems. The rules stated by the Federal aviation authority include:

If your drone weighs more than 0.55 lbs., then it should be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration.
The unmanned aircraft systems should be operated within Class G airspace.
The altitude of the drone should not exceed 400 feet.
A permit is required for using any airspace other than Class G
It is necessary to constantly have a visual of the drone.
Flying directly over people is prohibited

For commercially operating a drone

There are three main steps that must be followed if a person wants to operate their drone for commercial use.

Knowing all the Part 107 rules given by the Federal Aviation Authority is essential for operating a drone commercially. These rules provide all the dos and don’ts of operating an unmanned aircraft system.
The next step is to become a FAA certified pilot. This certification can be obtained by passing an Aeronautical Knowledge Test conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration. The topics covered in this test include knowledge about applicable regulations for unmanned aircraft systems, impact of weather on UAS, loading and performance, radio communication, emergency operation, maintenance etc.
Finally, the last step is to get your drone registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. This registration has to be renewed after 3 years with a registration fee of $5. The registration number can be displayed on the drone as well as a mark of identity.

For Government operators

The government employees who wish to operate an unmanned aircraft system can either get a federal certificate of authorization (COA) from the Federal Aviation Administration, or can follow the Part 107 rules and regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration. The rules and regulation included in Part 107 are:

Becoming a certified drone pilot by passing the Aeronautical knowledge test.
Never entering any airspace other than Class G without authorization.
Flying below the altitude of 400 feet
Operating a drone that is registered with the Federal Aviation Administration
Never flying at nighttime without proper lighting in the drone and without a permit