Recreational drone use in Nashville is primarily governed by FAA regulations. The FAA requires recreational drone pilots to pass the TRUST exam, fly below 400 feet, maintain visual line of sight, and avoid restricted airspace. Nashville does not have a specific local drone ordinance, but flying drones in Metro Parks may be restricted and Nashville International Airport airspace requires LAANC authorization.
Nashville sits near BNA (Nashville International Airport), placing much of Davidson County under controlled airspace requiring LAANC authorization for drone flights. Recreational pilots must comply with 49 USC § 44809, pass the FAA TRUST exam, and register drones weighing over 0.55 pounds. Metro Parks and Recreation does not broadly permit drone flying in parks, and individual park policies may restrict use. Flying over crowds, near emergency response scenes, or near the State Capitol may draw law enforcement attention. Tennessee law (T.C.A. § 39-13-903) makes it a crime to use drones for surveillance of private citizens.
FAA violations carry fines up to $27,500 for civil penalties or criminal penalties up to $250,000. Using a drone for surveillance is a Class C misdemeanor under Tennessee law. Flying in Metro Parks without authorization may result in citations.
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See how Nashville's recreational drones rules stack up against other locations.
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