Drone laws Ohio (Updated May-2023)

Drone Laws Ohio are designed to keep the skies clear. The Federal Aviation Administration or FAA has strict definitions for the use of recreational drones, or UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).

You must be accredited by the academy of aviation science and have a remote pilot certificate to fly a drone commercially.

For example, if you own a promotional marketing firm and have been hired to film an event, you would need to obtain your FAA certificate before flying. I’m sure you want to stay on the right side of the law so read on!

Summary of The Drone Laws in Ohio

• You must register your drone with the FAA and pay a $5 fee before flying it in Ohio.
• Drones cannot be flown within 5 miles of an airport, heliport, or runway, and must be kept within visual line-of-sight.
• Drones must be kept below 400 feet in elevation, cannot be flown directly over people, and cannot be flown at night or in bad weather.
• Permission is needed before flying over someone’s home, business, or school.
• Drones can be used for emergency response and search and rescue missions, such as mapping areas of difficult terrain or boosting cell phone reception.

Drone Laws Ohio

There Are A Number Of Laws And Regulations In Ohio

The state of Ohio has a number of laws and regulations that apply to drone use. There are federal laws and state laws, which are both more restrictive than local regulations.

In general, federal aviation authorities have the final say on drone operations in America. It is important to know what each law or regulation entails before operating a drone in Ohio or any other state.

You Must Register Your Drone

You will be required to register your drone with the FAA. The process is simple and straightforward, and it only takes about five minutes online.

There is a $5 fee for registering your drone, which covers the costs of creating and maintaining a database of all registered drones in use around the country.

Once you have successfully registered your drone with the FAA, make sure that you do not fly it until you have done so! You can also check out these common mistakes that new pilots make when flying their drones (and how they can avoid them).

You Can’t Fly Drones Around Airports

You cannot fly a drone within 5 miles of an airport or near manned aircraft.

• Drones are prohibited from being flown within 5 miles of an airport’s approach or departure paths.
• Drones are prohibited from being flown within 5 miles of an airport’s runway.
• Drones are prohibited from being flown within 5 miles of an airport’s heliport.

You Have To Keep Your Drone Within Visual Line-of-sight

• You can’t fly drones over 400 feet in elevation.
• You can’t fly drones over people.
• You can’t fly drones at night, unless the drone has a visible light and the FAA approves of it being flown at night.
• You can’t fly drones in bad weather (aka, any wind speed above 15 miles per hour for small aircrafts) or with precipitation (rain, snow).
• You can’t fly your drone within 5 miles from an airport without notifying the tower first and getting permission from them to do so.

If you want to learn more about these rules, check out this article from Drone Girl!

Keep The Drone Below 400 Feet In Elevation

• You have to keep the drone below 400 feet in elevation.
• Also, you must stay at least five miles away from heliports and seaplane bases.
• If the area you’re flying in is remote, or unpopulated, or both—like a forest—you can go higher than 400 feet. If there are houses nearby, though, then you’ll need to make sure that your drone stays below 400 feet so it doesn’t interfere with tower-mounted antennas for cell phones or other communication devices that might be near your flight path.*

You Can’t Fly Directly Over Other People

You can’t fly your drone directly over other people, crowds or sporting events. You also need to get permission before flying over someone’s home (or a business or school).

You can’t fly your drone within 25 feet of another person, either—and you should always maintain visual contact with your drone at all times.

That means that if a person is standing outside and has their back turned to you, they may be considered “within 25 feet” of you.

That same logic applies if they are standing in front of a car window and the sun is behind them: They’re still within 25 feet of where the drone is flying!

Additionally, don’t hover over groups of people unless it’s necessary for accomplishing an action like filming them or taking photos from above. And don’t hover over busy streets just because it’s cool; there are plenty more places where drones aren’t allowed than those where they are!

Laws Pertaining To Emergency Response And Search And Rescue Missions

The state has passed laws pertaining to emergency response and search and rescue missions. If you or a loved one finds themselves in an emergency situation, you may use a drone to provide assistance.

The drone can help with mapping areas of difficult terrain, boosting cell phone reception, providing information about the area’s topography, measuring distances between points on the ground and more.

By Following These Rules, You’ll Stay Safe And Legal When Flying Your Drone In Ohio

First and foremost, the most important thing to remember is that you are responsible for your actions. If you follow all of these rules, you’ll stay safe and legal when flying your drone in Ohio.

The following information covers many of the laws and regulations that apply to drone pilots in Ohio:

• Know where you can fly your drone. You’re allowed to fly your UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) over private property if the owner gives permission or within 400 feet above ground level (AGL), but not within five miles from an airport or heliport without contacting air traffic control beforehand. Remember, it’s up to the pilot’s discretion whether or not they think it’s safe to fly in certain conditions—if there are clouds around or if there is rain coming soon; use good judgement before taking off!
• Use common sense while operating a drone at night time because it can be hard for other people on the ground below who may have never seen one before see clearly due to glare from lights nearby as well as having difficulty distinguishing colors due to darkness surrounding them at night time hours when trying sight something such as an object coming towards them fast moving towards them which could lead someone being seriously injured if hit by accidently colliding with something else such as another person walking by themselves outside late into evening hours when they’re tired after work hours had been spent working long hard hours throughout day looking forward getting home earlier than usual so they want leave work early instead staying late again like normal days work schedule requires – just goes proves how important being responsible person means always doing what needs done regardless how tired feel afterwards since end result always benefits everyone involved.

Registration Of Drones In Ohio

You Can Register Online Or In Person

You Can Register Online Or In Person, but either way there are certain steps to follow.

To register your drone with the FAA, use this link: https://www.faa.gov/uas/registration/application/

You’ll need your drone and its associated equipment (charger, etc.) on hand before you start the registration process. You’ll also need a credit card or debit card that’s valid for at least one year from the date you submit your application. If you’re registering by mail, send payment by check or money order made out to “FAA Registry.”

The FAA accepts cashier’s checks or money orders only—not personal checks or cash payments at this time (though it says it’s working on accepting those options).

Find Out If You Need To Register Your Drone With The State Of Ohio

If your drone weighs less than 55 pounds, you don’t need to register it. However, if your drone weighs 55 pounds or more and is used for commercial purposes, you must register with the State of Ohio.

If you are a hobbyist and use your drone for personal use only (no commercial use), you may still be required to register with the State of Ohio depending on where you plan on flying.

Figure Out What Type Of Operator You Will Be

Before you apply for a drone registration, you need to figure out what type of operator you will be. A hobbyist is someone who flies drones as a pastime and not for profit. Commercial operators use drones in their business activities. Recreational operators fly drones just for fun or recreation.

Depending on which category you fall into, there are different rules that apply to your drone flying: Hobbyists must follow the same rules as recreational or commercial pilots; commercial operators must follow the same rules as hobbyist and recreational pilots; and recreational pilots can fly without any special requirements at all!

Determine The Weight Of Your Aircraft

Determine The Weight Of Your Aircraft. To do this, you will need to find the manual for your drone, if you have not already done so.

The manual should tell you what the maximum weight limit is for that particular model and type of aircraft. If there is no specific information on maximum weight limits, look up other similar models by name or number (for example, “DJI Phantom 3” or “DJI Phantom 4”, etc.).

This will help give you an idea as to how much each unit weighs without having to guess too much yourself.

If there is no information about maximum weight limits in your instruction manuals and online searches, then it may be necessary to weigh your drone directly using a scale (or purchasing one specifically designed for weighing drones).

Fill Out A Registration Form

To register your drone, you must complete and submit a registration form. You can fill out this registration form online or in person at any of the following locations:

• A county treasurer’s office
• A state police office
• A local police department
• A drone dealer

Get A Validation Code

To register your drone, you’ll need a validation code. The FAA provides validation codes for drones that weigh less than 55 pounds and have not been altered from their original configuration. If your drone does not meet these requirements, you will have to register directly with the FAA.

The state of Ohio also offers validation codes for drones up to 55 pounds that have not been altered from their original configuration and are operated within 50 miles of an airport or military base.

Again, if your drone weighs more than 55 pounds or has been significantly modified from its original design (e.g., it now has retractable landing gear), then you’ll need to get a validation code directly from the FAA instead of going through this process with our office.”

Make Sure Your Drone Is Visible

From the ground—the FAA requires drones to be visible from the ground by either day or night. If someone on the ground should see you flying, they will know it’s a drone and not an airplane, helicopter or other aircraft.

• From the air—this is another way of saying that if you can’t see it from below then neither can anyone else flying above your head. The easiest way to accomplish this is by using brightly colored tape or something similar on all sides of your aircraft (except for directly underneath).
• You can also use other methods such as lights or reflective material but these are not required by law so long as whatever you choose makes it easy for anyone else around to spot you quickly and easily when needed most urgently (such as during takeoffs and landings).
• From front & rear sides—make sure there are no obstructions blocking visibility between yourself while operating inside cockpit area with windows open fully during daylight hours when visibility conditions are optimal; this means having proper clearance measurements between airframe surfaces like wings/tail fins etcetera – otherwise anything could potentially interfere with how clearly each side shows up in return towards outside observers who might happen upon them unexpectedly while passing overhead during flight operations hours only (not necessarily during takeoff/landing stages themselves though).

Are Drones Allowed In Ohio?

The Faa Has Regulated Drone Use Since 2012

The Faa Has Regulated Drone Use Since 2012, when it passed the Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. The FAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation, with a mission to keep America’s airspace safe and efficient.

The FAA regulates commercial drone use through Section 333 exemptions, which are granted by the DOT under certain circumstances; recreational users must follow Part 101 rules that apply to pilots operating small aircraft (less than 55 pounds) at low altitudes (under 400 feet).

Commercial Drone Pilots

To fly a commercial drone in Ohio, you must pass an FAA-administered test with a score of at least 70% within 60 days of registering.

The test is available online and requires reading, speaking, writing and understanding English. The FAA also requires all applicants to be at least 16 years old at the time of enrollment.

All Commercial Drones Must Be Registered With The Faa

Commercial drones are required to be registered with the FAA. You can register your drone online at faa.gov for $5 per device, or by mail for a one-time fee of $5 per device (make sure you include the name and address of each user).

Once you have submitted the registration form, it may take up to 24 hours for your device to appear in the UAV database.

Flying In A Park Could Result In A Fine For Disturbing The Peace

Flying drones in parks or other public areas may violate local ordinances or state laws. The FAA has rules about flying drones and where you can fly them, but these rules don’t apply to state laws.

When you fly a drone in a park, you could disturb other people who are trying to enjoy the peace and quiet of nature or wildlife habitat. You might also be breaking park rules by disturbing wildlife, which could result in fines or even jail time if you harm an animal with your drone.

If your drone crashes into someone else’s property (like their home), they would likely be able to sue for damages incurred as a result of the crash.

Ohio Law Does Not Include Drone Regulations

In Ohio, drone regulations are nonexistent. In fact, only 19 of the 50 states have yet to create any drone laws or regulations.

This means that all drone pilots in Ohio must follow federal rules established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Since 2012, these rules have required commercial users to pass a test administered by the FAA and register their drones with them before they can use them commercially.

There Is No Registry For Purchasing A Drone In Ohio

The FAA regulates all recreational drones over .55 pounds and up to 55 pounds commercially.

There is no database or registry for purchasing a drone in Ohio, however the FAA regulates all recreational drones over .55 pounds and up to 55 pounds commercially.

If you are flying in your own yard it is okay as long as you don’t fly over other people’s property without their permission.

You Can Fly A Drone In Your Own Yard

You Can Fly A Drone In Your Own Yard, but not over other people’s property unless you have permission from them.

The same rules apply if you are flying the drone while on someone else’s property: You must be able to see it at all times and keep it within sight. If you lose sight of your drone, don’t fly it until you can regain visual contact with it.

Drone Use Is Legal In Ohio Now

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned drone use under a new federal law that prohibits the use of drones in national parks, national wildlife refuges and all other areas under their control.

The FAA has also banned drone use in all national monuments and at least 19 states have prohibited or restricted the use of drones.

Conclusion

In Ohio, drones can be used for recreational purposes by anyone 16 years or older. You must, however, register your drone with the FAA if it weighs over .55 pounds. As a resident of Ohio, you can also use your drone at work or school as long as your employer allows it and it doesn’t interfere with other employees’ rights.

If you’re an employee who wants to use a drone to do your job, you will have to ask permission from your employer and get permission from the FAA. The FAA recommends that you check back periodically for updated legislation concerning drones so that you are always in compliance with the law.

Frequently Asked Questions (drone Laws Ohio)

What Is The Ohio Drone Law?

The Ohio Drone Law is the legal requirement for operating drones in Ohio. This includes drone registration, as well as restrictions on where you can fly them.

To fly a drone in Ohio, it must be registered with the FAA and you must abide by all of their rules. You cannot fly a drone within five miles of an airport or above 400 feet without special permission from air traffic control (ATC).

If ATC grants you permission to go above 400 feet, they may require that you use certain equipment such as transponders and ADS-B out technology to help them identify your aircraft while it’s flying around in their airspace or near airports.

What Are Drones’ Legal Restrictions In Ohio?

In Ohio, drones must be flown under 400 feet. They also cannot fly outside of the pilot’s line of sight and cannot interfere with manned aircraft. Additionally, it is illegal to fly a drone within 5 miles of an airport or over stadiums or sports venues during sporting events.

Can I Fly Over Private Property in Ohio?

Yes, but only if you are not trespassing. If you are flying on private property and the owner asks you to leave, it is important to respect their wishes and make an attempt to do so. Or else, you could get charged with a misdemeanor for trespassing in Ohio.

Can I Fly My Drone For Work Or Business Operations In Ohio?

Yes. You can use your drone for work or business operations in Ohio. However, you must follow FAA regulations, state laws and local laws when flying a drone for work or business purposes.

Do I Need To Register My Drone In Ohio With The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)?

Yes, you need to register your drone with the FAA. Registration is completely free and can be done online in just a few minutes. Before flying your drone, make sure it is registered with the FAA.