House Bill 522 (2026)

• Makes it a misdemeanor to fly a drone in the restricted airspace of a state prison: from the surface to 400 feet above ground inside the facility's perimeter.
• Penalty: a fine of up to $1,000, up to 6 months in county jail, or both, and the court may order the drone forfeited. Not knowing about the restriction is no defense.
• The Department of Correction and law enforcement may jam or otherwise disable a drone they reasonably suspect is being used for a harmful purpose, where federal law allows. "Drone No Fly Zone" signs are posted on nearby roads.
• 2026 Session Law Chapter 233. In effect from July 1, 2026.

Ref House Bill 522 (2026)

IDAPA 02.03.03, Aerial UAS Pest Control License (2026)

• Applying any pesticide by drone requires a pesticide applicator license that includes the new Aerial UAS Pest Control (AU) category.
• The person piloting the drone is treated as the applicator, and the licensed applicator must be on site during the application. Drone applications must also comply with FAA rules.
• In effect from July 1, 2026.

Ref IDAPA 02.03.03 Rules Governing Pesticide and Chemigation Use and Application

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

House Bill 1249

Restricts the operations of unmanned aerial vehicles over the property of another person, in a manner that subjects another person to harassment, that disperses substances over the property person, or in a reckless manner.

Ref House Bill 1249