Drone Rules in St. Louis, MO (2026)
3 verified drone rules for St. Louis, Missouri, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Recreational Drones
St. Louis exempts recreational and educational drone flying from its commercial-drone ordinance, so hobbyist pilots who receive no compensation aren't subject to the city's licensing, buffer-distance, or penalty rules.
St. Louis Recreational Drone Exemption
Few RestrictionsSt. Louis Revised Code § 15.190.050(3)
This chapter shall not apply to individuals who operate model aircraft, drones, and other UAs for recreational or educational purposes for which no compensation is received.
Commercial Drones
St. Louis requires commercial drone operators to hold an FAA remote pilot certificate and a City business license, and bars flights within 25 feet of people or 300 feet of permitted public events without permission.
St. Louis Commercial Drone Rules
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis Revised Code § 15.190.030
All persons and entities operating a drone within the limits of the City of St. Louis for commercial or business purposes shall first obtain the required licensure in order to operate, including (a) a remote pilot certificate from the FAA and (b) a business license obtained from the License Collector's Office pursuant to Chapter 8.02... no person shall take off, land, or operate a drone for com...
Event Drone Restrictions
St. Louis bars commercial drone operators from flying within 300 feet of any City-permitted public event unless the event holder or the City's Special Events Office grants permission first.
St. Louis Drone Rules Near Public Events
Significant RestrictionsSt. Louis Revised Code § 15.190.040(5)
5.No person shall operate a drone for commercial or business purposes within an altitude of three hundred (300) feet over events that have been permitted by the City that are open to the public, unless the operator is granted permission by either the event permit holder or the City's Special Events Office.