Nebraska Drone Laws
Before you take off with your new drone, read through this list of laws and regulations first to make sure your operation is legal in the state off Nebraska. Make sure to check back regularly, as new laws may be put into effect at any time.
Nebraska State Drone Laws
This act makes first responders and their agencies immune from being held liable for damages caused to any drone if the damage was caused while the responders were performing their duties and they believed the drone was causing interference.
Under this law, it is also illegal to use a drone to knowingly enter into, upon, or above any property or person where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy with the intention to record or photograph them. On top of that, it is illegal to use a drone to peep on people through windows or doors or any other aperture of any dwelling.
This bill also makes it unlawful to fly a drone at 300 feet or less above any critical infrastructure facility or school without a permit. It goes further to make exceptions to this rule and describe what is considered a critical infrastructure facility. The bill makes it illegal to fly a drone within a horizontal distance of 500 feet or a vertical distance of 300 feet above any penal institution.
It’s illegal to fly a drone with any type of weapon attached. It is also illegal to use a drone to interfere with another person who is lawfully hunting or trapping any mammal or bird or engaged in activity associated with hunting, trapping, or fishing. Drones are also not allowed to be used to chase, harass or cause distress to livestock.
Finally, the bill states that law enforcement is allowed to disclose any information that was gained by using a drone if the drone was operated with a warrant or the agency believes that there is an imminent threat to the safety of an individual.
Purposefully violating these rules is considered a Class 1 misdemeanor. Although there are circumstances under which it can be considered a Class 2 misdemeanor. The law also makes some exceptions for law enforcement officials.
This bill makes revisions to several sections across different statutes of Nebraska, to include unmanned aircraft in privacy provisions. It makes it a violation of privacy to use a drone in the airspace overlaying privately owned property, below 200 feet above the ground level of the property and without the permission of the property owner.
Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
This regulation prohibits anyone from flying a drone in state parks, state recreation areas, and state historical parks.
Nebraska Local Drone Laws
We couldn’t find any local drone laws in the state of Nebraska at this time, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any bills currently in circulation or that new laws won’t be applied in the future. So even though there aren’t any local restrictions right now, this may change at any time and you need to check regularly for new updates.
Also, you should still ideally check with the property owner or manager before you fly on any stretch of land. This is especially important when it comes to any crowd gatherings or events – always contact event managers first to get permission to fly there, or you could get into trouble regardless of whether there are any local laws prohibiting the use of drones.
Federal Drone Laws
Federal laws always take precedence over any state or local laws if you ever encounter any conflicting regulations regarding drone laws. These US-wide laws are enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration, and if you’re ever confused about how or where you’re allowed to fly – their website is a great resource. There are several federal laws that you have to be aware of when you buy a drone in the US, even before you take your first flight. Here’s a breakdown of the important ones.
The FAA requires that every drone owner registers their device with the agency and get a flying permit. It costs $5 to register and you’ll receive a registration number that you have to put on your drone and a certification that you have to keep with you when flying. Commercial flyers also have to pass an aeronautical knowledge test when they register and have to be at least 16 year old. You have to register your drone via DroneZone in the US.
In the US, airspace below 400 feet above the ground is considered uncontrolled and appropriate for drone use. This excludes a 5-mile radius around airports and often also about 500 feet radius around critical infrastructure like petroleum, power, and chemical facilities. You can get a permit to fly in controlled airspace (meaning within 5 miles of an airport) by applying on the LAANC platform. It’s an automated system for airspace authorization application and approval. The great thing about that is you can get approval in less than a minute. If you need to fly above 400 feet, can also apply for a waiver via DroneZone.
All recreational drone operators in the US have to comply with the list of rules on the FAA’s website for recreational flyers. These rules mainly set out limitations and safety requirements.
These regulations only apply to commercial flyers and they set various rules that drone operators need to abide by. These include rules like:
- You have to keep the drone within visual line of sight (VLOS) at all times. This can be VLOS of the pilot or any visual observers that are working in tandem with the pilot.
- You have to fly in daylight or civil twilight hours.
- You’re not allowed to fly directly over people who are not part of the operation.
- You have to yield right of way to other aircraft.
- You cannot operate from a moving vehicle unless few other people are around.
- Your drone is not allowed to exceed 100 mph.
- You are not allowed to fly carelessly or recklessly.
- You’re not allowed to transport hazardous materials using a drone.
There are plenty more rules to go through, including a detailed list of requirements and limitations for drones that are used to carry any loads, so be sure to check out the Par 107 summary on the FAA website.
