Nevada Drone Laws

There are three types of drone laws within Nevada that you need to be aware of – state laws, local laws, and federal laws.

State Drone Laws

These laws are applicable on the entire state of Nevada. They are enforced by Nevada Department of Transportation and Nevada Legislature. Currently, there is only one state drone law in Nevada.

AB 239 // 2015

The following points are included in this law (1):

Weaponization of unmanned aircraft systems in Nevada is strictly prohibited
Operating unmanned aircraft system near critical facilities is strictly prohibited
Operating unmanned aircraft systems near airports is strictly prohibited.
The use of unmanned aircraft systems is restricted for law enforcement agencies in Nevada.

Local Drone Laws

These laws are enforced only in certain cities, counties, towns etc. Presently, there is only one local drone law in Nevada.

Las Vegas City Parks – Municipal Ordinance (2010)

This law is only applicable in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to this law, operating an unmanned aircraft system in any city park within Las Vegas is strictly prohibited (2).

Federal Drone Laws

The federal drone laws of the United States of America are created and implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal Government. They are enforced on all states in the country, including Nevada. These laws are categorized into three main groups based on the purpose of the drone operations.

For commercial operations of an unmanned aerial vehicle

The people who wish to fly an unmanned aerial vehicle for commercial use must follow these three steps:

The first requirement for commercial drone operations is that the drone operators must learn all the Part 107 rules enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration. These rules provide them with understanding about how they can legally fly their drones in the US.
Secondly, the commercial drone operators must obtain a remote pilot certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. An Aeronautical Knowledge Test which is conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration must be passed in order to obtain this certification. The topics covered in this test are: applicable regulations for unmanned aircraft systems, impact of weather on UAS, loading and performance, radio communication, emergency operation, maintenance etc.
Drone operators also need to get their unmanned aircraft systems registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. The registration is valid for three years and costs around $5. Drone operators are encouraged to display the registration number on their unmanned aircraft system. This helps them to identify their unmanned aircraft system in case it gets stolen or lost.

For Government Operators

The government employees who wish to operate an unmanned aircraft system in the US have two choices i.e. they can either follow FAA’s Part 107 rules, or they can obtain a Federal Certificate of Authorization (COA) which is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. Some of the rules included in FAA’s Part 107 are as follows:

An Aeronautical Knowledge Test which is conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration has to be passed by the drone operators in order to obtain a remote pilot certification.
It is mandatory for drone operators to restrict the operations of their unmanned aircraft systems within class G airspace.
The altitude of the unmanned aircraft system should be kept below 400 feet.
It is essential to get your unmanned aircraft system registered with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Operating an unmanned aircraft system at night is strictly prohibited to avoid the risk of accidents.
A special permit is required for operating unmanned aircraft systems during nighttime. The UAS should have a proper light system as well.

For flying a drone as a recreational hobby

In order to operate an unmanned aircraft system for recreational purposes, Federal Aviation Administration’s “Recreational Model Aircraft” laws have to be followed. The “FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018” which is a guide for drone hobbyists can also be consulted in this regard. Some of the recreational drone rules are as follows:

It is essential to get your unmanned aircraft system registered with the Federal Aviation Administration if it weighs more than 0.55 lbs.
It is prohibited to operate an unmanned aircraft system directly above a person without their consent.
Drone operators are only allowed to operate their drone within Class G airspace. A special permit is needed if a person wishes to operate their unmanned aircraft system in any airspace other than Class G.
The altitude of the unmanned aircraft system must not exceed 400 feet.
It is mandatory for drone operators to maintain visual on their drone while it is airborne.

Drone Regulation Compliance Tips

Here are some drone regulation compliance tips that are universally accepted.

Never operate more than one drone at any given time.

The civil aviation rules of many countries state that operating more than one drone at a time is strictly prohibited. This rule helps reduce the risk of accidents.

Never operate an unmanned aircraft system behind trees and buildings

Buildings and trees usually obstruct the visual of the drone operators and can increase the risk of accidents. For this reason, flying a drone behind them is discouraged.

Never operate an unmanned aircraft system near an airport or manned aero planes

Operations involving unmanned aircraft systems near manned aircraft systems are strictly prohibited. Such operations are extremely risky as they disrupt the visuals of the manned aircraft and increase the chance of accidents.

Never operate an unmanned aircraft system near places where emergency operations are underway

It is prohibited to operate unmanned aircraft systems near places in places where public safety can be compromised, alongside places where emergency operations such as police operations, firefighter operations, bushfires, and search and rescue operations are underway.

Awareness about the Airspace Restrictions is essential

While operating an unmanned aircraft system in the US, it is extremely important to be aware of the airspace restrictions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Drone operations are restricted in several airspaces, and violation of these restrictions is a legal offense (3)