North Carolina General Statute 15A-300.1 and Chapter 63 Article 10 set statewide rules for unmanned aircraft, including a knowledge test, no-surveillance protections, and limits that preempt cities from imposing inconsistent recreational drone ordinances.
Recreational drone operators in NC must pass the state UAS knowledge test administered by the Department of Transportation Division of Aviation, in addition to FAA TRUST. State law bans using drones to conduct surveillance of a person or private property without consent and prohibits weaponizing drones. Operators may not photograph people on private property in ways that intrude on reasonable privacy expectations. Local governments cannot regulate flight altitude, paths, or pilot qualifications because those are preempted by state and federal law, though they may regulate takeoff and landing on city property.
Surveilling a person without consent, weaponizing a drone, flying without the state knowledge test, or interfering with manned aircraft can result in misdemeanor or felony charges.
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See how Cabarrus County's recreational drones rules stack up against other locations.
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