Despite their growing popularity, drones are still a new phenomenon across the world and they aren’t always viewed in the most favorable light. Many places and countries have strict drone laws or ban their use in a bid to protect privacy and infrastructure, among other things.
Some regions/cities have also limited drone use for the time being until legislation can catch up to properly regulate this new technology. So let’s take a quick look at which countries have banned drone use, as well as a more detailed look at where drone use is prohibited within the US.
Countries Where Drones are Outright Banned
Drones aren’t equally beloved everywhere. There are still plenty of countries where drone use is greatly limited, looked down upon by authorities, and even outright banned. Here are the countries where drone use is currently banned (in alphabetical order):
- Algeria
- Argentina
- Barbados
- Brunei
- Cuba
- Cote d’Ivoire
- India
- Iran
- Iraq
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Madagascar
- Morocco
- Nicaragua
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Slovenia
- Syria
- Uzbekistan
Keep in mind that, even if a country doesn’t have strict official drone laws, that doesn’t mean drone flying has been given the thumbs-up there. At the time of writing, around 70 countries still didn’t have any drone laws in place. Yet, authorities may still crack down on drone use regardless, which can result in you getting a fine or even having your drone confiscated.
No one wants that. So be sure to do ample research about the country you’re traveling to/living in beforehand. If there aren’t any laws to speak of, try to find accounts from fellow drone owners instead who may be able to provide some insight through their own experiences.
Are Drones Prohibited Anywhere in the US?
Drone laws in the US can be tricky to navigate because the country has some pretty strict drone regulations. You can’t just look at the federal regulations either, but need to be aware of the state and local laws as well.
Overall, drones are allowed to fly in class G airspace in the US, so long as it’s more than 5 miles away from airports. Many states also prohibit drone flying over critical infrastructure and along beaches. The National Parks Service has also banned drone flying over any national state park.
Then there are many cities and towns that have their own regulations. With some banning drones entirely while others ban drone flight over private property and/or other specific locations like stadiums, government buildings, and schools for example. Some even ban drone flying in certain parks or areas of the town/city. So be sure to look up the drone laws in your specific area or the area that you plan to fly before setting out.
But aside from that, there is still plenty of open space across the country where drone owners can practice their flying skills.
