Idaho Drone Laws

State Drone Laws

These laws are applicable on the entire state of Idaho. They fall under the jurisdiction of Idaho Department of Transportation and Idaho Legislature. Currently, there are three state drone laws in Idaho.

IDAPA 13.01.03

According to this law, operating an unmanned aircraft system above Wildlife Management Areas without obtaining prior permission is strictly prohibited. Such operations can only be conducted in areas dedicated for these activities (1).

Idaho Code 36-1101

According to this law, using an unmanned aircraft system for the purpose of hunting animals and birds is strictly prohibited (2).

Idaho Code 21-213

According to this law, if a law enforcement agency wishes to make use of an unmanned aircraft system, they must obtain a proper warrant beforehand (3).

Local Drone Laws

These laws are applicable on specific cities, counties, towns, districts etc. Currently, there are two local drone laws in Idaho.

Canyon County Parks // 2016

According to this law, operating an unmanned aircraft system within any park in Canyon County is strictly prohibited. A special permit issued by the Director of Canyon County Department of Parks can provide an exemption from this law.

Ada County Ordinance No. 883 // 2018

According to this law, it is mandatory for all drone operators to register their unmanned aircraft systems with the Federal Aviation Administration. This law also prohibits drone operations that can cause damage to people’s private property (4).

Federal Drone Laws

The federal drone laws comprise of a set of laws which must be obeyed by drone operators all over the country. These laws are created by the Federal Government and Federal Aviation Administration. There are three different types of federal drone laws i.e. laws for commercial drone operators, laws for recreational drone operators, and laws for government drone operators.

For пovernment operators

Within the US, government employees can obtain a Federal Certificate of Authorization (COA) from the Federal Aviation Administration in order to conduct their drone operations. However, it is not mandatory for them to obtain this certification. They can also choose to operate under the Part 107 rules of FAA. Following are the Part 107 rules of FAA:

All operations of unmanned aircraft systems must be conducted within class G airspace. A special authorization is required for operating in any other airspace.
Nighttime drone operations are restricted due to safety reasons. A proper training process has to be completed for conducting such operations. The drone should also be fully equipped for conducting nighttime operations.
Flying the drone above the altitude of 400 feet is banned by the civil aviation authorities.
The pilots have to obtain a proper certification from the Federal Aviation Administration for their drone operations. In order to obtain this certification, they have to pass a special knowledge test.

For commercial operations of an unmanned aerial vehicle

If a drone operation is being conducted for commercial purposes, the operator is liable to follow these drone rules:

The Federal Aviation Administration has enforced the Part 107 rules which specifically address operations involving unmanned aircraft systems. It is compulsory for all commercial drone operators to be fully aware of these rules.
Commercial drone operators are not allowed to operate unmanned aircraft systems without possessing a remote pilot certification. This certification is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. FAA conducts an Aeronautical Knowledge Test to determine which drone operators are knowledgeable enough to obtain the certification. They primarily test topics like drone regulations, drone maintenance, drone emergency operations, drone radio communication, etc.
Federal Aviation Administration has deemed it mandatory for commercial drone operators to get their unmanned aircraft system registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. They must pay $5 in order to obtain this registration. The registration has to be renewed after every 3 years.

For flying a drone as a recreational hobby

Recreational drone operators do not have to follow the Part 107 rules. However, they must obey the Recreational Model Aircraft laws which are implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration. They can also consult with FAA’s Reauthorization Act of 2018 if they require a detailed guide on how to operate their drones recreationally. Following are the recreational drone laws:

Operating an unmanned aircraft system over a person without their permission is strictly prohibited.
Recreational drone operators must obey the airspace restrictions which have been imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Drone operations are only permitted in Class G airspace.
Drone operators are not allowed to fly their drones above the height of 400 feet.
If the drone weighs more than 0.55 lbs., it is mandatory to get it registered for recreational drone operations.

Drone Regulation Compliance Tips

Here are some general drone rules that must be obeyed by all drone operators.

Maintain safe distance from people:

It is compulsory to make sure that the safety of public is not compromised while conducting drone operations. Hence, it is mandatory to keep the drone at least 30 feet away from people while it is airborne.

Invading the privacy of others is a legal offense:

Drone operators have to make sure that they do not use their unmanned aircraft system in a way that invades the privacy of others. According to the drone laws of many countries, photographing and filming others using UAV’s without their permission is illegal. Using a UAV to stalk a person is also strictly prohibited.

Drone operations in private properties:

If a person wishes to operate their unmanned aircraft system within the premises of someone else’s property, they need to obtain proper permission from the owner. Public properties come under the jurisdiction of the state government. The government regulates which area can be used for drone operations.

Do not operate unmanned aircraft system in fog:

Fog and smoke can significantly reduce the visibility of a pilot. This is not safe because it can result in severe accidents. For this reason, drone operators are encouraged not to operate their unmanned aircraft systems in foggy areas.