Oregon Statewide Rule

Oregon Recreational Drone Operation Statewide Statute Limits

Some RestrictionsApplies statewide across Oregon (2026)

Key Facts

Statutes: ORS 837.300-837.390
Weaponized UAS: Prohibited (ORS 837.365)
Infrastructure overflight: Barred at/below 400 ft (837.372)
Private property: After-warning lawsuit (837.380)
Federal layer: FAA Part 107

Last verified: September 5, 2026Source: Oregon Public Law

Summary

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.

837.365 Weaponized unmanned aircraft systems; penalties. (1) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, a person may not intentionally, knowingly or recklessly operate or cause to be operated an unmanned aircraft system that is: (a) Capable of firing a bullet or projectile; or (b) Specifically designed or modified to cause, and is presently capable of causing, serious physical injury as defined in ORS 161.015.

Source: Oregon Public LawView official code

Full Breakdown

ORS 837.365 prohibits operating a weaponized unmanned aircraft system that fires bullets, projectiles, or directed-energy weapons. ORS 837.380 lets a landowner sue an operator who repeatedly flies a UAS less than 400 feet over their property after a prior warning. ORS 837.372 makes it a Class A misdemeanor to fly a UAS at 400 feet or below over a critical infrastructure facility such as utilities, fuel storage, or correctional facilities. ORS 837.385 reserves to the state Legislative Assembly the authority to regulate UAS in Oregon airspace, leaving cities and counties only narrow tools such as regulating drone takeoff and landing in local parks. FAA Part 107 and the recreational rule (49 USC 44809) also apply to all flights nationwide.

Violations & Penalties

Operating a weaponized drone is a crime under ORS 837.365; flying over critical infrastructure at 400 feet or below is a Class A misdemeanor under ORS 837.372; repeated nuisance overflights expose operators to civil damages under ORS 837.380.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a city in Oregon pass its own drone ordinance?

Largely no. ORS 837.385 reserves UAS regulation to the state Legislative Assembly, leaving cities only narrow authority such as governing law-enforcement use of agency-owned drones.

Can my neighbor sue me for flying a drone over their yard?

Possibly. Under ORS 837.380, after one written warning, repeated drone flights below 400 feet over private property allow the owner to sue for damages and injunctive relief.

Sources

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