Illinois Drone Laws

Drones have become popular, hence, the need to regulate their use. There are drone laws in Illinois in which every drone operator within the state must follow. The laws include state, federal, and local.

State Drone Laws

The State Drone Laws apply to every region in Illinois. The Illinois General Assembly came up with the laws as a way of protecting citizens in the area. The laws are in line with the laws made by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

S.B. 2937//2014– The law makes it easy for law enforcers to focus on how the UAS should respond in a disaster or a health emergency. There are regulations on how law enforcers can gather information using drones. The law enforcers should adhere to warrant protocols. Also, authorities must keep the data and details from the drone safely. Not every person should access vital information from the drones.

H.B. 1652//2013-The law restricts flying drones in certain areas where economic activities occur. It prevents the flying of drones in areas that may interfere with people’s livelihood.

S.B. 1587//2013-The law permits flying drones if you are a law enforcer on a state protection mission. You must get a warrant, which will help counter a suspect. After an agency uses a drone, it must ensure the information gathered must not reach a third party. They must destroy the information within 30days. If the information is essential, a supervisor can keep it to conduct an investigation.

S.B. 3291//2018– The law gives authority to the State of Illinois to pass drone laws that may affect the area. Regions like cities, towns, or municipalities can’t pass such laws. If your municipality has over a million residents, it can pass laws about flying drones.

Local Drone Laws

The Local Drone Laws in Illinois apply to specific areas in the state. Authorities within the state came up with these laws.

Crystal Lake Park District—Park Ordinance (2015) – It restricts the flying of drones in any properties owned by the park district.

The law is effective in Crystal Lake Park District. You can access permissions to such areas from the relevant authorities. The Special parks district program will help you get a permit for the specified areas.

Village of Schaumburg—Municipal Law (2016) – The city ordinance restricts flying drones in the village of Schaumburg. You cannot fly a drone within a 100 feet perimeter of the village. Also, there is a restriction to flying drones within a village organizing a special event.

McHenry County Conservation District—County Ordinance – The law applies to the McHenry county conservation district. It restricts the flying of drones in properties owned by the district. You can get permission from the Executive Director, which should be in written form.

Federal Drone Laws

Federal drone laws apply to all states found in the U.S. The federal government came up with these laws. It focuses on how to avoid disrupting normal activities while flying drones.
If you fly a drone for commercial purposes in Illinois, you need to adhere to the FAA’s part 107 Small UAS Rule. Some steps help you fly under part 107 rules. They include:
Be familiar with the rules- You need to read the rules and understand them.
Some parts receive waivers, and they make you incur extra costs, you need to know them. An example is an operation over people. You need to know the part 107 waiver application process if you will have a waiver.
It would help if you did not fly drones near airports because there might be an accident. Manned aircraft can’t see flying drones, which makes it difficult to avoid it.
You must pass the knowledge test- The knowledge test is an essential part of getting your Remote Pilot Certificate.
You can’t get the certificate if you don’t pass the test. To sit for the test, you must be over 16years, eloquent in English, and in good health.
You must read the process you need while going through your Remote Pilot Certificate. You need a tracking number, which might help you in the future.
You need training to learn how to fly your drone well. It would be best if you learned how to fly a drone before sitting for the test. If you do not pass the test, you can’t fly a drone in any state. Studying for the test is also an essential step to passing the test.
You need to register your drone- The registration should be through the FAA, which will cost you $5 for 3years. You can register through their website. After registration, you can mark your drone using your registration number. It will help you in case the drone gets stolen.
It would be best if you follow the FAA guidelines while flying your drone. It will help you be safe and avoid accidents or lawsuits. The restricted areas will not be safe for you to fly drones. A pilot needs to avoid these areas unless they get permission according to the FAA laws.
If you are flying a drone as a fun sport in Illinois, you need to know the FAA recreational model aircraft rules. These rules will help you know the requirements of flying drones for fun purposes. You must pay $5 to register a drone that is over 250g. You also need to learn the different rules that apply to airspace and altitude. You need to ensure your drone is within sight while flying it to prevent it from damaging property.
Flying a drone as a government employee requires getting a federal COA. The certificate (COA) proves that certain restrictions do not apply to you. As a law enforcer, drones play an essential role just like surveillance cameras.
You must take all these laws into account if you are a drone pilot in Illinois. It will help if you visit the FAA’s website to gain more information about the topic. To avoid any legal problems, learn the FAA part 107 rules.