Senate Bill 766
A person, state agency, or political subdivision may not use a drone to capture an image of privately owned real property or of the owner, tenant, occupant, or invitee with the intent to conduct surveillance without written consent if a reasonable expectation of privacy exists.
Florida Administrative Code 5I-4.003
It is prohibited to launch or land any aircraft on state-managed lands (including parks and forests) except at runways or helispots and with authorization from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Such authorizations are granted only if the operations do not interfere with forest management. Emergency situations and official business are exempted from these restrictions.
Florida Administrative Code 40C-9.320
It is prohibited to launch or land any aircraft on District Lands managed by the St. Johns River Water Management District unless authorized by a Special Use Authorization.
Florida Statutes 330.41
- Local governments are not allowed to create restrictions on the operations of unmanned aircraft systems except in relation to voyeurism, harassment, nuisances, reckless endangerment, property damage, or other illegal acts.
- It is prohibited to operate drones over a critical infrastructure, to make contact with the facility (including any object or person within the premises), or to come within a distance that is close enough to interfere with the operations of the facility
Critical facilities include—but are not limited to—power plants, military installations, water
treatment plants, oil and gas facilities, and courthouses, etc.
Florida State Legislature maintains pre-emption for all rules and regulations that concern recreational and
commercial drone use.
Florida Statutes 934.50
- A law enforcement agency may not use drones to gather evidence or information, or to record an image of privately owned real property except if a search warrant has been granted authorizing the use of the drone, to counter a high risk of a terrorist attack, if swift action is needed to prevent imminent danger to life or property damage, or to provide law enforcement with an aerial perspective of a crowd of 50 people or more.
- Other allowed uses of drone include the assessment of damage due to natural disasters, vegetation or wildlife management, to capture images of electric, water, or natural gas utility facilities, for aerial mapping, to deliver cargo, or for property appraisal.
- By January 2023, all government agencies must discontinue the use of drones not produced by an approved manufacturer. This shall be consistent with any federal guidance on drone security and minimum security requirements for governmental agency drone use. The list of approved manufacturers is available at the Department of Management Services website.
Ref List of approved drone manufacturers
House Bill 659
Exempts the use of drones by Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or the Florida Forest Service from laws prohibiting drone use by government employees for the purposes of managing or eradicating invasive plants or animals on public lands, as well as suppressing wildfire threats.
Senate Bill 1536
Drones are not allowed to operate over a public or private school serving students in any grade from voluntary pre-kindegarten through grade 12. A drone is also not allowed to make contact with a school, including any person or object on the premises of or within the school facility.
Exceptions apply to persons acting under the prior written consent of the school principal, district school board, superintendent, or school governing board, as well as a law enforcement agency that is in compliance with s. 934.50 or a person under contract with or otherwise acting under the direction of such law enforcement agency.
