Florida Statute 330.41 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

330.41 Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act.—

(1) SHORT TITLE.—This act may be cited as the “Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act.”

(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this act, the term:

(a) “Commercial property” means real property other than residential property. The term includes, but is not limited to, a property zoned multifamily residential which is comprised of five or more dwelling units, and real property used for commercial, industrial, or agricultural purposes.

(b) “Critical infrastructure facility” means any of the following, if completely enclosed by a fence or other physical barrier that is obviously designed to exclude intruders, or if clearly marked with a sign or signs which indicate that entry is forbidden and which are posted on the property in a manner reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders:

1. A power generation or transmission facility, substation, switching station, or electrical control center.

2. A chemical or rubber manufacturing or storage facility.

3. A water intake structure, water treatment facility, wastewater treatment plant, or pump station.

4. A mining facility.

5. A natural gas or compressed gas compressor station, storage facility, or natural gas or compressed gas pipeline.

6. A liquid natural gas or propane gas terminal or storage facility.

7. Any portion of an aboveground oil or gas pipeline.

8. A refinery.

9. A gas processing plant, including a plant used in the processing, treatment, or fractionation of natural gas.

10. A wireless or wired communications facility, including the tower, antennas, support structures, and all associated ground-based equipment.

11. A seaport as listed in s. 311.09(1), which need not be completely enclosed by a fence or other physical barrier and need not be marked with a sign or signs indicating that entry is forbidden.

12. An inland port or other facility or group of facilities serving as a point of intermodal transfer of freight in a specific area physically separated from a seaport.

13. An airport as defined in s. 330.27.

14. A spaceport territory as defined in s. 331.303(19).

15. A military installation as defined in 10 U.S.C. s. 2801(c)(4) and an armory as defined in s. 250.01.

16. A dam as defined in s. 373.403(1) or other structures, such as locks, floodgates, or dikes, which are designed to maintain or control the level of navigable waterways.

17. A state correctional institution as defined in s. 944.02 or a contractor-operated correctional facility authorized under chapter 957.

18. A secure detention center or facility as defined in s. 985.03, or a moderate-risk residential facility, a high-risk residential facility, or a maximum-risk residential facility as those terms are described in s. 985.03(44).

19. A county detention facility as defined in s. 951.23.

20. A critical infrastructure facility as defined in s. 692.201.

(d) “Drone delivery service” means a person or entity engaged in a business or profession of delivering goods via drone and who is governed by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(e) “Drone port” means a stand-alone building that does not exceed 1,500 square feet in area or 36 feet in height; is located in a nonresidential area; is used or intended for use by a drone delivery service for the storage, launch, landing, and observation of drones; was constructed using Type I or Type II construction as described in the Florida Building Code; and, if greater than one story in height, includes at least one stairwell that is compliant with the Florida Building Code.

(f) “Private property” means any residential or commercial property.

(g) “Property owner” means the owner or owners of record of real property. The term includes real property held in trust for the benefit of one or more individuals, in which case the individual or individuals may be considered as the property owner or owners, provided that the trustee provides written consent. The term does not include persons renting, using, living ¹in, or otherwise occupying real property.

(h) “Residential property” means real property zoned as residential or multifamily residential and composed of four or fewer dwelling units.

(i) “Sport shooting and training range” has the same meaning as in s. 790.333(3)(h).

(j) “Unmanned aircraft system” means a drone and its associated elements, including communication links and the components used to control the drone which are required for the pilot in command to operate the drone safely and efficiently.

(3) REGULATION.—

(a) The authority to regulate the operation of unmanned aircraft systems is vested in the state except as provided in federal regulations, authorizations, or exemptions.

(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided, a political subdivision may not enact or enforce an ordinance or resolution relating to the design, manufacture, testing, maintenance, licensing, registration, certification, or operation of an unmanned aircraft system, including airspace, altitude, flight paths, equipment or technology requirements; the purpose of operations; and pilot, operator, or observer qualifications, training, and certification.

(c) Except as otherwise expressly provided, a political subdivision may not withhold issuance of a business tax receipt, development permit, or other use approval to a drone delivery service or enact or enforce an ordinance or resolution that prohibits a drone delivery service’s operation based on the location of its drone port, notwithstanding part II of chapter 163 and chapter 205. A political subdivision may enforce minimum setback and landscaping regulations that are generally applicable to permitted uses in the drone port site’s zoning district. This paragraph may not be construed to authorize a political subdivision to require additional landscaping as a condition of approval of a drone port.

(d) This subsection does not limit the authority of a local government to enact or enforce local ordinances relating to nuisances, voyeurism, harassment, reckless endangerment, property damage, or other illegal acts arising from the use of unmanned aircraft systems if such laws or ordinances are not specifically related to the use of an unmanned aircraft system for those illegal acts.

(4) PROTECTION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES.—

(a) A person may not knowingly or willfully:

1. Operate a drone over a critical infrastructure facility, unless the operation is for a commercial purpose and is authorized by and in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations;

2. Allow a drone to make contact with a critical infrastructure facility, including any person or object on the premises of or within the facility; or

3. Allow a drone to come within a distance of a critical infrastructure facility that is close enough to interfere with the operations of or cause a disturbance to the facility.

(b) A person who violates paragraph (a) commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

1. A federal, state, or other governmental entity, or a person under contract or otherwise acting under the direction of a federal, state, or other governmental entity.

2. 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.

3. An owner, operator, or occupant of the critical infrastructure facility, or a person who has prior written consent of such owner, operator, or occupant.

(d) This subsection and paragraph (2)(b) shall sunset 60 days after the date that a process pursuant to s. 2209 of the FAA Extension, Safety and Security Act of 2016 becomes effective.

(5) PROTECTION OF SCHOOLS.—

(a) A person may not knowingly or willfully:

1. Operate a drone over a public or private school serving students in any grade from voluntary prekindergarten through grade 12; or

2. Allow a drone to make contact with a school, including any person or object on the premises of or within the school facility.

(b) A person who violates paragraph (a) commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. A person who commits a second or subsequent violation commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(c) A person who violates paragraph (a) and records video of the school, including any person or object on the premises of or within the school facility, commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. A person who commits a second or subsequent violation commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(d) This subsection does not apply to actions identified in paragraph (a) which are committed by:

1. A person acting under the prior written consent of the school principal, district school board, superintendent, or school governing board.

2. 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.

(6) PROTECTION OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS.—

(a) A person may not knowingly or willfully do any of the following on lands classified as agricultural lands pursuant to s. 193.461:

1. Operate a drone.

2. Allow a drone to make contact with any person or object on the premises of or within the boundaries of such lands.

3. Allow a drone to come within a distance close enough to such lands to interfere with or cause a disturbance to agricultural production.

1. The owner of the agricultural lands.

2. A person acting under the prior written consent of the owner of the agricultural lands.

3. A person or entity acting in compliance with the provisions of s. 934.50.

(7) PROTECTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY AND STATE HUNTING LANDS.—

(a) A person may not knowingly or willfully allow a drone to make contact with private property, state wildlife management lands, or a sport shooting and training range or any person or object on the premises of or within such property with the intent to harass.

(c) A person who violates paragraph (a) and records video of the private property, state wildlife management lands, or sport shooting and training range, including any person or object on the premises of or within the private property, state wildlife management lands, or sport shooting and training range, commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. A person who commits a second or subsequent violation commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(d) This subsection does not apply to actions identified in paragraph (a) which are committed by:

1. The property owner of the private property or sport shooting and training range, or a person acting under the prior written consent of the property owner.

2. A person or entity acting in compliance with the provisions of s. 934.50.

(8) CONSTRUCTION.—This section shall be construed in accordance with standards imposed by federal statutes, regulations, and Federal Aviation Administration guidance on unmanned aircraft systems.

History.—s. 8, ch. 2017-150; s. 1, ch. 2019-113; s. 2, ch. 2021-165; s. 1, ch. 2023-137; ss. 1, 2, ch. 2023-147; s. 24, ch. 2024-2; s. 7, ch. 2024-84; s. 1, ch. 2024-133; s. 2, ch. 2024-155; s. 30, ch. 2025-6; s. 5, ch. 2025-22; s. 1, ch. 2025-29.

¹Note.—The word “in” was inserted by the editors to improve clarity.

Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 330.41
M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd
§330.41(4a1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 10778M · 2nd
§330.41(4a1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9045M · 1st
§330.41(4a1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESREMOVED.M · 1st
§330.41(4a1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESOPER DRONE OVER CRITICAL INFASTRUCTRE FACILITYF · 3rd
§330.41(4a2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 10779M · 2nd
§330.41(4a2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESREMOVED.M · 1st
§330.41(4a2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9046M · 1st
§330.41(4a2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESDRONE MAKE CONTACT W CRIT INFASTRUCT FACILITYF · 3rd
§330.41(4a3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 10780M · 2nd
§330.41(4a3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9047M · 1st
§330.41(4a3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESREMOVED.M · 1st
§330.41(4a3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESDRONE INTERF OPERATNS DISTURB CRIT INFAS FACILF · 3rd
§330.41(4b)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC #8698M · 2nd
§330.41(5a1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESOPERATE DRONE OVER SCHOOL PRE K-GRADE 12M · 2nd
§330.41(5a1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESOPERATE DRONE OVER SCHOOL PRE K-12TH 2ND SUBSQM · 1st
§330.41(5a2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESALLOW DRONE MAKE CONTACT W/ SCHOOL PRE K-12THM · 2nd
§330.41(5a2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESALLOW DRONE TO MAKE CONTACT W/ SCHOOL 2ND SUBM · 1st
§330.41(5c)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESDRONE OPERATE/MAKE CONTACT W/ SCHOOL REC VIDEOM · 1st
§330.41(5c)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESDRONE OPER/CONTACT W/ SCHOOL REC VIDEO 2ND SUBF · 3rd
§330.41(6a1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESOPER DRONE OVER AGRICULTURAL LANDSM · 2nd
§330.41(6a1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESOPER DRONE OVER AGRICULTURAL LANDS 2ND/SUBSQM · 1st
§330.41(6a2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESDRONE CONTACT W AGRICULTURAL LANDSM · 2nd
§330.41(6a2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESDRONE CONTACT W AGRICULTURAL LANDS 2ND/SUBSQM · 1st
§330.41(6a3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESDRONE INTERF OPERATION DISTURB AGRICULTL LANDSM · 2nd
§330.41(6a3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESDRONE INTERF OPERTNS AGRICULTL LANDS 2ND/SUBSQM · 1st
§330.41(7a)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESDRONE CONTACT W PRIVATE PROPERTY/WILDLIFE LANDM · 2nd
§330.41(7a)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESDRONE CONTACT W PRIVATE PROP/LAND 2ND/SUBSQM · 1st
§330.41(7c)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESVIOLATE DRONE OPERATION LAW RECORD VIDEOM · 1st
§330.41(7c)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESVIOLATE DRONE OPERATION LAW REC VIDEO 2ND/SUBF · 3rd
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This Florida statute resource is curated by Florida Bar member Graham W. Syfert, a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney (Florida Bar No. 39104). For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.