Oregon Drone Laws

State Drone Laws

These laws are applicable within the state of Oregon. Every city, county, town, region etc. within Oregon has to follow these laws.

SB 5702 // 2016

According to this law, the renewed registration fee for public unmanned aerial vehicles is as follows (1):

For unmanned aircraft systems that weigh less than 55 lbs., the registration fee is $25.
For unmanned aircraft systems that weigh 55 lbs. or more, the registration fee is $50.

HB 2710 // 2013

This following things are included in this law (2):

If a person is operating their drone above someone’s property at an altitude lower than 400 feet, then the land owner has the authority to take action against the drone operator in certain situations.
Setting up weapons on unmanned aircraft systems is a crime.
Gaining access of a public unmanned aircraft systems without proper authorization is illegal.
All public drones must be registered with the Oregon Department of Aviation (DOA).
If law enforcement agencies wish to operate a drone, then they must obtain a warrant for their operation. A warrant is not required if the drone operation is for training purpose.

HB 4066 // 2016

According to this law, operating a weaponized unmanned aircraft system in Oregon is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year of imprisonment. This law also prohibits the use of drones near certain, sensitive locations (3).

HB 3047 // 2017

This law revised the previous law about weaponization of drones in Oregon. According to this law, firing a bullet from an unmanned aircraft system is considered to be a Class C felony, which is punishable by up to five years of imprisonment, a fine of $125,000, or both.
Flying an unmanned aircraft system over someone’s private property without their permission is also prohibited according to this law.
An accident scene can be recreated by the law enforcement agencies with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Local Drone Laws

These laws are only applicable in certain areas, counties, regions or cities. Presently, the following local laws are applicable in Oregon:

Oregon Metro Parks—Park Rules // 2016

This law is applicable on all the Metro Parks in the state of Oregon. According to this law, it is strictly prohibited to operate an unmanned aircraft system in any Metro Park. The operations of unmanned aircraft systems are only allowed in certain spots which are specifically assigned for this purpose.

City of Portland—Municipal Law // 2007

This law is only applicable in the city Portland, Oregon. According to this law, it is prohibited to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle in any city park in Portland. Such operations can only be done in specially designated areas.

Federal Drone Laws

Federal drone laws are imposed by the Federal Government and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the US. These laws are implementable on all states, including Oregon. These laws can be further be divided into three categories depending on the purpose of the drone operations. [4]

For commercial purposes of a drone

If a person wishes to operate a drone for commercial use, then they must follow three main rules:

The first step is that a commercial drone pilot must learn the Part 107 rules imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. These rules include all the instructions that must be followed for operating a drone commercially.
The second step for commercially operating a drone is obtaining a remote pilot certification from Federal Aviation Administration. In order to obtain this certification, an Aeronautical Knowledge Test has to be cleared which is conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration. Topics like applicable regulations for unmanned aircraft systems, impact of weather on UAS, loading and performance, radio communication, emergency operation, maintenance etc. are tested in this exam.
The third step for commercially operating a drone is that your drone must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. Drone registration costs around $5 and is valid for up to 3 years. After the registration process is complete, it is recommended that the registration number should be displayed on the drone. This way it is easier to identify it in case it gets lost or stolen.

For Government Operators

Government employees who wish to operate an unmanned aircraft system usually have two choices. 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. The Part 107 rules include the following:

It is mandatory to obtain a remote pilot certification by passing the Aeronautical Knowledge Test.
It is mandatory to operate within Class G airspace. A special permit of authorization is required to operate in any other airspace.
It is prohibited to operate an unmanned aircraft system above the altitude of 400 feet.
Getting you drone registered with the Federal Aviation Administration is compulsory.
Drone operations cannot be conducted at night time due to lack of proper visual in the dark.

For flying a drone as a recreational hobby

The “Recreational Model Aircraft” laws imposed by Federal Aviation Administration are applicable on people who wish to operate a drone for recreational purpose. The Reauthorization Act of 2018 passed by the Federal Aviation Administration also specifies all the rules that drone hobbyists need to follow while operating their unmanned aircraft systems. Some of the recreational flying rules are as follows:

If your drone weighs more than 0.55 lbs., then you must get it registered with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Operating a drone in any airspace other than Class G without a special permit is strictly prohibited.
It is obligatory for the drone pilot to always have a visual of their drone while it is airborne.
It is essential to keep the altitude of the unmanned aircraft system under 400 feet at all times.
Flying a drone over a person without their consent is strictly prohibited.