2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Orange County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Recreational drone flying in Orange County runs on federal FAA rules: register a drone over 0.55 lb, pass the TRUST test, stay under 400 feet and in sight. North Carolina adds no recreational permit, but state law N.C.G.S. 15A-300.1 bars using a drone to spy on people or private property.
N.C.G.S. 15A-300.1(b)
no person, entity, or State agency shall use an unmanned aircraft system to do any of the following: (1) Conduct surveillance of: a. A person or a dwelling occupied by a person and that dwelling's curtilage without the person's consent. b. Private real property without the consent of the owner, easement holder, or lessee of the property.
Commercial drone work in Orange County requires the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. North Carolina scrapped its extra state operator permit on December 1, 2024, so Part 107 is now the only license. Flights near RDU need LAANC, and N.C.G.S. 15A-300.1 limits aerial surveillance and photography.
N.C.G.S. 15A-300.1(b)(2)
Photograph an individual, without the individual's consent, for the purpose of publishing or otherwise publicly disseminating the photograph. This subdivision shall not apply to newsgathering, newsworthy events, or events or places to which the general public is invited.
1 cities in Orange County have their own drone rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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