Drone Laws Tennessee [Updated: March 17, 2023]

Tennessee has two laws that apply to drone use. The first restricts how Tennesseans can use their drones, while the second prohibits Tennesseans from owning a drone in the first place.

Tennessee is a great state for drone pilots. There are no laws that restrict or prohibit the use of drones, which means you can fly them anywhere you want. You need to remember to follow all FAA rules, including staying away from certain areas, such as airports and military bases.

Drone Rules In Tennessee

Tennessee Law Imposes The Following Restrictions

• You must fly your drone at least 30 feet above ground level.

• Do not fly a drone in areas where it may interfere with first responders or operations at any airports, heliports, or seaplane bases.
• Do not fly a drone over assemblies of people. This includes sporting events, concerts, and gatherings on public property like parks and sidewalks.

Tennesseans Are Prohibited From Using Drones To Harass Wildlife

Tennessee law prohibits the use of drones to harass wildlife. If you’re using a drone and see an animal, it’s best to give the animal some space and land your drone.

If you’d like to take better photos of animals without disturbing them, we recommend finding a spot where they’re more likely to be comfortable with your presence.

Tennesseans Are Prohibited From Using Drones To Move Or Herd Wildlife

Tennesseans Are Prohibited From Using Drones To Move Or Herd Wildlife, unless authorized by a permit issued by the state. The law does not specify the kinds of wildlife that are prohibited from being moved or herded.

Tennesseans Are Prohibited From Using Drones Over Private Property

You are prohibited from using drones over private property for hunting or fishing purposes, or to interfere with lawful assault of game or fish. So, if you see your neighbor’s house from the sky, you can’t fly a drone into their backyard to try and scare away his cat.

You also cannot use drones over private property without permission from the owner of that land. For example, if you had rented out a beach house for the summer and wanted to fly a drone out at sea on one of your days off work (because why wouldn’t anyone do that?), then you would need written consent first.

Tennesseans Are Allowed To Use Drones In Sport Or Hobby

If you’re a Tennessean who likes to fly drones, you may be wondering if your hobby is legal. The answer is yes—as long as your drone is in the air and not on private property.

In fact, Tennessee law allows anyone to use drones in sport or hobby activities, so long as they follow FAA regulations. This includes things like flying a drone for fun at an event or taking photos with it from a public park (as long as you don’t trespass).

But there are some important limitations on drone use for commercial purposes: You can’t use them for hunting or fishing and must get permission from landowners if you want to take aerial photos on their property.

Tennessee’s Laws Only Restrict How You Can Use Your Drone

• Tennessee’s laws don’t restrict drone ownership.
• Tennessee’s laws only restrict how you can use your drone, not whether you can own it.
• Tennessee’s laws only restrict how you can use your drone for hunting or fishing, not where you can fly it or what kind of camera it has on it.
• Tennessee’s laws only restrict how you can use your drone over private property, not where there are no private properties (say in the middle of a desert).

How To Register Drones In Tennessee

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all drones that weigh more than 0.55 pounds and less than 55 pounds to be registered before being flown indoors or outdoors. The registration costs $5 and is valid for 3 years. You Must Be 13 Years Of Age Or Older To Register an unmanned aircraft.

Related: Gatlinburg Drone Laws

Drones That Weigh More Than 0.55 Pounds

Tennessee drone registration is required for drones flying outdoors. Drones That Weigh More Than 0.55 Pounds and less than 55 pounds must be registered before being flown indoors or outdoors.

Registering your drone with the FAA enables you to fly it legally, protects yourself from fines and legal penalties, allows you to take advantage of any special offers, and makes sure that if your drone crashes into someone’s property or causes property damage, insurance will cover those costs.

You can register with the FAA online at https://www.faa.gov/

You Must Be 13 Years Of Age Or Older To Register

You’ll need to be at least 13 years old in order to register a drone in Tennessee. But don’t worry, you can still get your hands on a drone if you’re younger than that. If you’re under the age of 18, it’s possible for someone else over the age of 18 to register your drone—but not anyone else who’s between 13 and 17 years old.

Registered owners can also give permission for other people (such as friends or family members) to fly their drones without registering them personally.

The same goes for businesses: if your business has multiple owners, each one will have to register separately unless they designate another person as the official owner whose name appears on all forms related to registration issues or inspections.

A government entity is also allowed to register drones without including any personal information about its staff members (including an address).

Owners Should Keep A Copy Of The Registration Certificate

You should keep a copy of your registration certificate with you when flying your drone. You may also want to keep a copy in the drone, its remote control and/or with the drone’s battery.

It’s Important To Ensure Your Drone Will Not Collide

• Ensure that you have enough space to fly your drone. Flying too close to an airport is a violation of federal law, and flying within five miles of a stadium can cause problems if the game ends up being delayed.
• Request permission from all relevant authorities before flying in any airspace other than your own property or public spaces like parks and beaches. Even if you’re sure that no one will notice or care about your drone, it’s best to play it safe by ensuring that everyone else nearby is okay with what you’re doing.

Are Drones Allowed In Tennessee

Drones are a popular toy for many people, but they can also be dangerous. Drones that fall from the sky have been known to cause injury and property damage. In Tennessee, there are several rules that govern drone use.

Drones Cannot Be Flown Near Airports

To keep the skies safe, drones are not permitted to fly near airports, power plants and other sensitive areas. The FAA’s official list of restricted airspace includes:

• Airports (within a 15-mile radius)
• Power plants and refineries (with certain exceptions)

Drones can also be flown over prisons, which are considered “critical assets” for security reasons. In addition, it’s illegal to fly over military bases unless you have permission from the Commander of that base or the FAA itself.

Drones Can Only Be Flown During Daylight Hours.

In Tennessee, you can fly your drone during daylight hours. However, there are some restrictions on night flying. If you plan to fly at night, the FAA recommends that you use an anti-collision light system or other lights that make your drone easily visible from the air and on the ground. You can read more about this here

Personal Drones Cannot Be Outfitted With Weapons

If you’re a drone enthusiast, you may be wondering if it’s legal to use your drone in Tennessee. Fortunately, the answer is yes!

While it’s illegal to use a drone to hunt or harass wildlife in Tennessee, other states have different rules about drone use around wildlife. For example, California allows hunters to use drones for scouting purposes and Pennsylvania allows them for scouting as well as hunting purposes.

And if you want to travel abroad for your next big adventure with your personal drone, keep in mind that many other countries have even more relaxed regulations about using unmanned aircrafts for hunting purposes than we do here in America.

Many Restrictions On Drone Use Apply In Tennessee

Many Restrictions On Drone Use Apply In Tennessee, and breaking these rules could result in a fine or even jail time.

Drone pilots should be aware that it is illegal to fly drones near airports, power plants and prisons. You should also be cautious of flying drones over private property without permission.

Many towns have passed laws restricting drone usage as well—if you’re unsure whether your town has such restrictions or if you are trying to fly your drone somewhere that isn’t covered by federal regulations (such as national parks), check your local ordinances first before taking off with your new gadget!

Conclusion

Tennessee drone laws are pretty straightforward. You can’t fly a drone over 400 feet above ground level (AGL). You can only fly your drone within your line of sight at all times. Drones cannot be flown over prisons, correctional facilities, or law enforcement facilities.

As you can see, Tennessee’s drone laws are fairly straightforward. They don’t allow Tennesseans to use drones to harass animals or interfere with lawful hunting or fishing activities. But all other uses of drones, including recreational uses, are perfectly legal in the state.

Frequently Asked Questions (drone Laws Tennessee)

What Are The Drone Laws Tennessee?

If you’re in Tennessee, there are no drone laws that apply specifically to your state. Instead, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations apply here.

These FAA rules can be found on their website and they cover everything from how high you can fly your drone to what kind of lights it needs at night and what types of drones require registration.

Do I Need To Register My Drone In Tennessee?

In Tennessee, you do not need to register your drone with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) if you are a resident of Tennessee. However, if you are a resident of Tennessee and fly in another state that requires drone registration, then you must register with them as well.

Are There Other Restrictions In Tennessee?

As you might imagine, there are many other restrictions on where and how you can fly your drone. You cannot:

• Fly over a prison or jail (Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-8-204)
• Fly over a school (Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-741)
• Fly over a hospital (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-6-103)
• Fly over a disaster area if requested by the National Weather Service or local authorities (Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security)
• Take pictures at night of people who aren’t aware they’re being photographed (Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security).

Where Can I Fly My Drone In Tennessee?

You can fly your drone in the air, over private property, and over public property.

• You may not fly your drone over a person’s head or within 25 feet of any individual.
• You may not fly your drone in a no-fly zone (see “No Fly Zones” below).

What Are The Rules Around Flying A Drone In Tennessee?

• You must be able to see your drone at all times.
• You cannot fly over people, drones or stadiums.
• You cannot fly over emergency response scenes, such as fires, accidents and crime scenes.
• You cannot fly over prisons or correctional facilities in Tennessee.
• And finally: no flying within 5 miles of an airport without contacting the airport first!