ORS 837.300-837.390 govern recreational drone use in Oregon, banning weaponized UAS, restricting flights over critical infrastructure and private property, and largely preempting local drone-specific ordinances except those tied to law enforcement use.
ORS 837.310 prohibits operating an unmanned aircraft system that fires bullets, projectiles, or directed energy weapons. ORS 837.380 lets a landowner sue an operator who flies a UAS less than 400 feet over their property after a prior warning. ORS 837.374 makes it a Class A misdemeanor to fly a UAS over a critical infrastructure facility (utilities, refineries, jails) below 400 feet. ORS 837.385 reserves to the state Legislative Assembly the authority to regulate UAS in Oregon airspace, leaving cities and counties only narrow tools. Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 and recreational rule (49 USC 44809) also apply to all flights nationwide.
Weaponizing a drone is a Class C felony under ORS 837.365; flying over critical infrastructure below 400 feet is a Class A misdemeanor; nuisance overflights expose operators to civil damages under ORS 837.380.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Deschutes County, OR
Deschutes County is one of Oregon's highest wildfire-risk jurisdictions, surrounded by Deschutes National Forest and dominated by dry ponderosa pine and high...
Deschutes County, OR
Deschutes County (the unincorporated areas surrounding Bend, Redmond, Sisters, and La Pine, including the unincorporated resort community of Sunriver) does N...
Deschutes County, OR
Unincorporated Deschutes County allows one rural accessory dwelling unit (ADU) per qualifying lot under DCC 18.116.355 and DCC 19.92.160, adopted in 2023 to ...
Deschutes County, OR
Deschutes County enforces the Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) Appendix G for residential swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs, which requires a barrie...
Deschutes County, OR
Deschutes County, Oregon regulates floodplain development under Title 18, Chapter 18.96 (Flood Plain Zone) of the Deschutes County Code. The Community Develo...
See how Deschutes County's recreational drones rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.