Boulder City, NV Drone Rules: Recreational Drones (2026)

Recreational drone (Unmanned Aircraft System or UAS) operation in Boulder City is governed primarily by federal rules from the Federal Aviation Administration under Public Law 112-95 and 49 USC 44809 for recreational flyers, combined with 14 CFR Part 107 if the flight becomes commercial in nature. Recreational flyers must pass the Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), register drones over 0.55 lbs with the FAA, fly below 400 feet AGL, maintain visual line of sight, avoid flying near other aircraft, and comply with airspace restrictions around airports including Boulder City Airport (KBVU) which has Class E airspace requiring LAANC authorization in controlled segments. Critically, Lake Mead National Recreation Area which surrounds Boulder City has a federal ban on launching, landing, or operating UAS within its boundaries under 36 CFR 1.5, administered by the National Park Service. Violating the Lake Mead drone ban can result in federal citations, fines up to several thousand dollars, and drone confiscation. Boulder City municipal code may have additional restrictions on drone use in city parks and over crowds. Flying over private property at low altitude without permission can also create nuisance and trespass issues under Nevada law. The surrounding Hoover Dam area also has security-related no-fly restrictions.