Drone Laws
in Idaho (2023)

Welcome to this wiki. The goal of this wiki is to crowd-source drone information. Having said that, information may be inaccurate, out-of-date, and should not be relied upon for legal advice.

Idaho State Drone Laws
These laws apply in the entire state.

Idaho Statutes Section 21-213

  • It is illegal for any person, entity, state agency, or federal agency to use an unmanned aircraft system to photograph or record an individual without the individual’s written consent for the purpose of publishing or otherwise publicly disseminating such photograph or recording.
  • An exception can be applied if there is a civil cause of action or if an appropriate warrant has been issued.
  • This rule does not apply to crime scene investigations, search and rescue, or emergency response when there is imminent threat to lives and property.

Ref Idaho Statutes Section 21-213

 

IDAPA 13.01.03

Landing or launching any aircraft is prohibited in all lands owned or controlled by the Department of Fish and Game, except on public airstrips or if specific authorization has been granted by the Commission, Director, or Regional Supervisor.

Ref IDAPA 13.01.03

 

Idaho Statutes Section 36-1101

  • It is illegal to make use of any aircraft (including drones) to locate any big game animal for the purpose of hunting the animals on the same calendar day that those animals were located from the air.
  • An exception to this rule is the hunting of wolves or predatory or unprotected wildlife as a mean of lawful control as deemed necessary by federal or state agencies.

Ref Idaho Statutes Section 36.1101

 

House Bill 486

Authorizes the use of drones by law enforcement, fire departments, or other local and state governments units for the following purposes:

  • Traffic crash documentation or reconstruction
  • Crowd management
  • Damage assessment after a fire or natural disaster
  • Search and rescue missions
  • Training

Ref House Bill 486

City and County
Drone Laws
These laws apply in some areas.

Local drone laws in Idaho refer to policies and regulations that are enacted and enforced at the county, city, or town levels.

 

Ada County

  • Every individual operating a UAS must register the same, excluding model aircraft, with the FAA and must obtain a remote pilot certificate based on currently prevailing FAA rules.
  • No person shall operate a UAS for the purpose of capturing a person’s visual image, audio recording or other physical impression in any place where the person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
  • UAS operations shall not interfere with the lawful efforts of a firefighter or other public safety officer to extinguish a fire or respond to a medical or other emergency. 

Ref Statutes 5-4-10. Unmanned Aircraft

 

Canyon County

Launching, landing, or operating a drone is forbidden in all Canyon County parks, natural, and cultural resources. Drones flying within Canyon County park airspace cannot fly below 500 feet AGL. An official authorization from the Director of Canyon County Department of Parks can be granted to be exempt from this rule.

Ref Ordinance No. 96-012

 

Boise State University

All drone operators must submit an application which will be reviewed by the University Drone Committee. Liability coverage will be required for approval of applications.

Ref University Policy 12120 – Drone Operations