Recreational drone flying in Salt Lake County is governed primarily by FAA Part 107 / 49 USC §44809 (TRUST test, sub-400 ft AGL, visual line of sight, no flight in controlled airspace without LAANC authorization) and Utah state law. Critical Salt Lake County constraint: nearly the entire Salt Lake Valley sits within the Class B airspace of Salt Lake City International Airport (KSLC) — recreational pilots MUST obtain LAANC authorization before flying anywhere from downtown SLC east to Holladay and south to Sandy. Utah preempts local drone ordinances under Utah Code §72-14-103, but property owners and park managers may still restrict drones on their land. Drone flights are PROHIBITED in Antelope Island State Park (March–November), restricted in Great Salt Lake State Park (permit only), and require written permission from the park manager for all Utah State Parks per R651-602-8.
Federal rules: 49 USC §44809 requires recreational pilots to (1) pass the TRUST test (free online), (2) carry the certificate, (3) register drones over 0.55 lb with the FAA ($5/3yrs), (4) fly under 400 ft AGL, (5) maintain visual line of sight, (6) yield to manned aircraft, (7) not fly over people or moving vehicles, and (8) obtain LAANC authorization before any flight in controlled airspace. The Salt Lake Valley airspace problem: SLC International Airport's Class B airspace covers most of the valley floor below 10,000 ft MSL. Use the B4UFly app or Aloft to file a LAANC request — most ceilings near the airport are 0 ft (no recreational flight allowed). Utah state law: §72-14-103 preempts any city or county from enacting drone ordinances, but §76-6-206(2)(a) makes it criminal trespass to operate a drone over private property not open to the public without owner authorization (Class B misdemeanor). §76-10-2402 prohibits drones over correctional facilities. §65A-3-2.5 prohibits drone flight in wildfire temporary flight restrictions (TFR) — Class B misdemeanor up to second-degree felony if it interferes with firefighting aircraft. Utah State Parks (R651-602-8) require written permission from each park manager. Salt Lake County does not have a county-park-wide drone ban posted in the code, but individual park rules and the state preemption mean the practical rule is: get permission for any flight over a county or city park.
Federal: FAA can suspend a recreational TRUST certification or fine for unsafe operation up to $32,666 per violation. State: criminal trespass with a drone is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months jail + $1,000 fine) under Utah Code §76-6-206; voyeurism with a drone is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year + $2,500) under §76-9-702.7; wildfire TFR violations range from Class B misdemeanor ($2,500 fine) to second-degree felony ($15,000 fine + prison) per §65A-3-2.5; drone over a correctional facility is a Class A misdemeanor per §76-10-2402. Operating in SLC International's Class B airspace without LAANC authorization can trigger FAA enforcement plus airport-police response.
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