Alabama drone laws

Alabama's drone law is narrow and specific. This page found no drone-specific privacy offense in the Code, no statewide "do not fly over private property" rule, and no state pilot license or registration. What the Code does contain is a tightly drawn article about prisons at Sections 13A-7-90 through 13A-7-95, a critical infrastructure statute at Section 13A-7-4.3 that is mostly about entry rather than overflight, and, from 1 October 2026, a new restriction around ticketed entertainment events.

For a Part 107 operator the good news is that the two most restrictive provisions carve out federally authorized operations by name. The prison rule at 13A-7-91 does not apply to "a person authorized by federal regulations to operate an unmanned aircraft system and who is operating the system in a lawful manner and consistent with federal regulations," and the 2026 entertainment-event act uses almost identical wording. The bad news is that everything else — where you stand, where you launch, whose land you are on — runs on conservation rules and ordinary trespass law, which are easy to overlook.

State drone law changes frequently. This page was last checked on 25 August 2026; verify against the current statute before you fly.

What federal law settles before Alabama gets a say

The FAA has exclusive authority over aviation safety and the efficient use of the navigable airspace. Its State and Local Regulation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Fact Sheet (14 July 2023) is the reference point: states and localities cannot set flight altitudes, flight paths, aerial routes, mandatory geofencing, or a licensing regime layered on the Part 107 certificate.

Outside those fields, states keep their police powers — land use and zoning, privacy, voyeurism, harassment, trespass, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, prison contraband, and photography of particular facilities such as prisons, refineries and energy infrastructure. States may also regulate where an aircraft takes off and lands, and where the operator may stand. Alabama's statutes sit largely inside that permitted space: contraband into prisons, weapons on aircraft, entry to critical infrastructure, and launching from state-managed land.

Commercial operators are more exposed to preemption than hobbyists, not less: the Airline Deregulation Act preempts state laws related to the prices, routes or services of an operator with economic authority to provide interstate transportation. That matters where a state frames a rule as a distance from a place — Alabama's new entertainment-event rule reaches an aircraft "within 400 feet of or above" the event — because a rule in those terms edges toward the airspace the FAA controls. The practical answer is the same either way: the act excepts federally authorized operators flying consistently with federal regulations.

Alabama's drone-specific laws

Sections 13A-7-90 to 13A-7-95 — the prison article. Section 13A-7-90 defines "facility" broadly: any facility as defined in Section 14-2-1, including those under construction; any real property owned or leased by the Department of Corrections or its contractors, out to the outermost conspicuous physical barrier; and any public road within 100 yards of that barrier. "Operate" is equally broad, covering flight operations, launching, landing, flying, dropping a payload, and discharging an attached weapon. Section 13A-7-95 gives the Commissioner rulemaking authority over the article.

Section 13A-7-91 makes it unlawful to operate a UAS within a horizontal distance of 500 feet or a vertical distance of 200 feet from a facility, or to operate one to conduct surveillance of, photograph or otherwise record images of a facility. It excepts the Department of Corrections, the Armed Forces, the Alabama National Guard, and a person authorized by federal regulations who is operating lawfully and consistent with federal regulations; DOC contractors, emergency responders and public utilities are excepted only with the Commissioner's prior written permission. A violation is a Class C felony carrying a fine of not less than $2,500 and a mandatory sentence, not subject to suspension or probation, of at least 30 days.

Sections 13A-7-92 and 13A-7-93 apply the same felony, fine and mandatory minimum to introducing contraband, as defined in Section 13A-10-30, into a facility by drone, and to introducing any individual piece of a UAS into a facility. Section 13A-7-94 lets the Department confiscate the aircraft and anything attached to or dropped from it, subject to civil forfeiture under Section 20-2-93. Section 13A-7-94.1, added by Act 2026-187, lets the Department take measures against an aircraft operating in violation of the article, including jamming consistent with federal law and FCC regulations, hacking, and physical capture.

Section 13A-7-4.3 — critical infrastructure. Read this one carefully, because it is often misdescribed. The offense is unauthorized entry of a critical infrastructure facility: entering without authority a structure or premises enclosed by a physical barrier or conspicuously signed against entry, using fraudulent identification to enter, remaining after being told to leave, or entering a marked restricted area. That is a Class A misdemeanor. Damaging critical infrastructure property or interfering with a critical infrastructure asset's operations is a Class C felony. The drone-specific hook is subsection (e): unauthorized entry while possessing or operating a UAS with an attached weapon, firearm, explosive, destructive device or ammunition is a Class C felony. The listed facilities run from refineries, pipelines and chemical plants through power generation, water systems, mines, ports, airports and railroads to dams and paper mills. The section also supplies the definition of "unmanned aircraft system" that the prison article and the 2026 act both borrow.

From 1 October 2026 — ticketed entertainment events. In the 2026 regular session the Legislature passed HB 429, making it unlawful to operate a UAS within 400 feet of or above a "ticketed entertainment event" — any music, sporting or performing arts event held in a location with gated entries or barriers that prevent access to the general public and for which a revocable license issued by an owner, operator or lessee is required to attend. A first violation draws a fine of up to five hundred dollars; a second or subsequent violation is a Class A misdemeanor. Seven exceptions apply, among them consent from someone with legal authority over the event; an operator authorized by federal regulations who is operating lawfully and consistently with them; property, utility, state agency, law enforcement, fire and emergency management personnel on official business; and middle school and high school sports events. The enrolled instrument records an effective date of 1 October 2026; this page could not confirm which act number it was assigned.

What Alabama does not have. this page found no drone-specific privacy or voyeurism offense in the Code. The nearest general provision, Section 13A-11-32, makes criminal surveillance a Class B misdemeanor only where a person "intentionally engages in surveillance while trespassing in a private place" — the trespass element does the work, so it does not reach observation from the air on its own. An aerial photography complaint in Alabama tends to be a civil nuisance or trespass matter rather than a criminal drone charge.

Where you can and cannot take off

Wildlife management areas and related lands. Rule 220-2-.55(1)(mm) of the Alabama Administrative Code makes it unlawful "for any unauthorized person to launch, land or possess or use any unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)/drone on any AREA without first obtaining written permission from the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division." The rule's "AREAS" are all Division-managed wildlife management areas, community hunting areas, special opportunity areas, physically disabled hunting areas and refuge areas. This is a launch-and-possession rule, so simply carrying the aircraft onto one of those properties is caught.

State Lands Division tracts. Rule 220-4-.15(1)(u) makes it unlawful on any state-owned land under State Lands Division jurisdiction for an unauthorized person to launch, land, possess or use a UAV or drone without first obtaining written permission from the Alabama State Lands Division, except as otherwise authorized in writing by the Division's Director.

State parks. Chapter 220-5, the State Parks Division chapter, contains no drone or unmanned aircraft provision — I read the whole chapter. Its only aircraft rule is 220-5-.18, which makes it unlawful to operate any aircraft or seaplane on any lake within Gulf State Park, excepting official emergency, governmental or military aircraft. With no published statewide park drone rule, individual park management practice governs. Contact the park before a commercial shoot rather than assuming permission.

What still applies everywhere

Alabama changes nothing about Part 107. You need a remote pilot certificate, an FAA-registered aircraft, and compliance with the federal rules: 400 feet above ground level or within 400 feet of a structure, visual line of sight, three statute miles of flight visibility, cloud clearance of 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontally, and authorization before entering controlled airspace. That compliance is load-bearing here, because both the prison exception and the 2026 entertainment-event exception depend on operating consistent with federal regulations. Start with how to get a drone license, then LAANC authorization and TFRs and special use airspace.

Frequently asked questions

How close can I fly to an Alabama prison?

Not within 500 feet horizontally or 200 feet vertically of a facility, and you may not use a drone to photograph or record one, under Section 13A-7-91. "Facility" reaches DOC-owned or leased property to its outermost barrier and any public road within 100 yards of it. Violation is a Class C felony.

Does the Part 107 exception really apply to the prison rule?

That is what the text says: Section 13A-7-91(b)(2) excepts a person authorized by federal regulations to operate a UAS who is operating in a lawful manner and consistent with federal regulations. The condition is the whole exception, so if a TFR or other federal restriction covers the site, the exception falls away with it.

Is it illegal to photograph a refinery in Alabama?

Section 13A-7-4.3 is an entry offense, not an overflight offense. It penalizes unauthorized entry to a critical infrastructure facility, damage to critical infrastructure property, and unauthorized entry while operating a drone carrying a weapon or explosive. Lawful aerial photography from outside the fence is not the conduct it describes — but do not enter the property.

Can I fly a job at a college football game after October 2026?

Not within 400 feet of or above the event without consent, unless an exception applies. HB 429 fines a first violation up to $500 and makes a second a Class A misdemeanor, while excepting operators authorized by federal regulations who are operating consistently with them, and operators with consent from someone with legal authority over the event.

Can I launch from an Alabama wildlife management area?

Not without written permission. Rule 220-2-.55(1)(mm) makes it unlawful for an unauthorized person to launch, land, possess or use a drone on those areas without prior written permission from the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, and Rule 220-4-.15(1)(u) does the same for State Lands Division property. Ask well before the shoot date, in writing.

Return to the state drone law index, or check your federal knowledge with the Part 107 practice test.

Sources

• FAA, State and Local Regulation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Fact Sheet, 14 July 2023
• Code of Alabama 1975, § 13A-7-4.3, Unauthorized entry of a critical infrastructure facility
• Code of Alabama 1975, § 13A-7-90, § 13A-7-91, § 13A-7-92, § 13A-7-93, § 13A-7-94, § 13A-7-94.1 and § 13A-7-95
• Code of Alabama 1975, § 13A-11-32, Criminal surveillance
• Alabama Legislature, HB 429 (2026 Regular Session), enrolled — unmanned aircraft systems near ticketed entertainment events, effective 1 October 2026
• Alabama Administrative Code, Rule 220-2-.55, Wildlife Management Areas Of Alabama
• Alabama Administrative Code, Rule 220-4-.15, Regulation Of Certain Conduct On Lands Under State Lands Division Jurisdiction
• Alabama Administrative Code, Chapter 220-5, State Parks Division, including Rule 220-5-.18, Aircraft At Gulf State Park