Recreational drone flying over Clay County is governed mainly by the FAA, not the county. Federal law (49 U.S.C. 44809) requires flying below 400 feet within visual line of sight, and drones over 0.55 pounds must be registered with the FAA.
Missouri has no broad drone statute, so recreational flights over Clay County follow federal rules under 49 U.S.C. 44809: fly strictly for recreation, keep the drone in visual line of sight, stay below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace, and pass the FAA's TRUST test. Drones over 0.55 pounds must be registered. Kansas City International Airport sits across the river in Platte County, but its controlled airspace reaches into the metro and requires LAANC authorization. Local control is limited to takeoff and landing: Kansas City and Clay County parks can restrict launches from their grounds, and Missouri's invasion-of-privacy law (RSMo 565.253) covers voyeuristic recording.
FAA penalties for unsafe or unregistered operation can reach tens of thousands of dollars. Launching from a park that bans it draws a local citation, and voyeuristic recording under RSMo 565.253 is separately chargeable.
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Clay County, MO
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