Mississippi Commercial Drone Operations State Framework

Commercial drone operators in Mississippi must hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and follow federal operating rules including daylight or civil twilight flight, 400-foot altitude ceilings, and visual line-of-sight requirements unless waived. State law layers Miss. Code Section 97-29-63 prohibiting unauthorized aerial imaging of critical infrastructure such as refineries, chemical plants, and electrical substations. Privacy protections under Miss. Code 97-29-61 also apply to commercial flights. Federal FAA authority preempts local airspace regulation, so cities cannot impose their own altitude or operational rules, though they may regulate launch and recovery from city property and address ground-based nuisance concerns.

Violating critical infrastructure imaging law under Miss. Code 97-29-63 is a misdemeanor; FAA rule violations can lead to certificate suspension and federal civil penalties up to $32,666 per violation.