Drone Laws in Kentucky: Registration, Permits, and Privacy Rules (2026)

Kentucky's approach is distinctive because it protects citizens from both private and government drone surveillance. The warrant requirement for law enforcement is stricter than most states, and the evidence inadmissibility clause gives the law real teeth. For recreational pilots, the main hurdles are the state park permit process and the infrastructure trespass statute.

Every FAA rule applies in Kentucky as the regulatory baseline. State laws add restrictions on top, but they cannot override or relax federal requirements.

For a full breakdown of federal costs, see our drone license cost guide. For airspace restrictions, check the drone no-fly zones guide.

Kentucky has a layered set of drone statutes that go well beyond the federal baseline. The state is unusual because it addresses government drone use, private surveillance, infrastructure trespass, and criminal liability all in separate statutes.

The Citizens' Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act

KRS 500.130 is Kentucky's primary drone statute, and it is more detailed than most state laws. Recreational and professional drone use is explicitly allowed as long as there is no intent to conduct surveillance on private property and no unauthorized use or publication of images. The law also contains an insurance exception: companies may use drones for underwriting risk assessment and damage investigation.

The most notable provision is the warrant requirement for law enforcement. Police must obtain a warrant that specifically authorizes the use of an unmanned aircraft system. A general search warrant is not enough. When law enforcement does use a drone, KRS 500.130(7) requires them to minimize data collection on people who are not suspects. Disclosure of that data is prohibited except by court order. And under KRS 500.130(8), evidence from unauthorized drone surveillance is inadmissible in civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings.

Key infrastructure trespass

KRS 511.100 targets drone flights over power plants, correctional facilities, military bases, and energy installations. Flying over these locations with intent to cause harm, damage, or conduct surveillance without the owner's consent is a Class B misdemeanor on the first offense. The second offense escalates to a Class A misdemeanor with up to 12 months jail. Proposed legislation (SB 16, 2024) would expand this list to include concentrated animal feeding operations and food processing facilities, though that bill faced significant opposition from civil liberties groups.

Hunting and fishing ban (301 KAR 3:140)

Effective October 16, 2025, this regulation makes it unlawful to use drones in the "take" of fish or wildlife. "Take" is broadly defined to include pursuing, hunting, catching, trapping, and any lesser act to lure or attract game. This also covers using drones to drive or herd wildlife and harassing animals. There are limited exceptions for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife employees conducting research, authorized landowners managing wildlife damage, and commercial fishers locating invasive carp.

The "Drone Slayer" case: Hillview, Kentucky (July 2015)

One of the most famous drone cases in US history happened in Bullitt County, Kentucky. On July 26, 2015, William Merideth shot down a camera-equipped drone that was hovering over his property in Hillview (a suburb of Louisville) with a 12-gauge shotgun after his daughter reported it near their home. Merideth was arrested and charged with two felonies: first-degree criminal mischief and first-degree wanton endangerment.

In October 2015, Bullitt County Judge Rebecca Ward dismissed all charges, ruling Merideth had a right to shoot the drone. The judge stated the drone was an invasion of privacy. The drone owner, John David Boggs, filed a federal lawsuit in January 2016 demanding payment for the drone. In March 2017, Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas B. Russell dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice for lack of jurisdiction. This case directly influenced Kentucky's subsequent drone legislation and remains a landmark in the national debate over airspace rights versus property and privacy rights.

For more on privacy law, see our drone spying laws guide and flying over private property guide.

Kentucky's mix of national parks, state parks with permit requirements, and military installations creates a varied flying map. Here are the key locations to check before flying.

State park permit process

Kentucky requires three documents before you can fly in a state park: a completed permit application, proof of liability insurance, and a copy of your pilot license (either TRUST completion for recreational or Part 107 for commercial). All three must be submitted before the application can be processed. This is stricter than most states, which typically require only one or two of these documents. Submit your application through parks.ky.gov and allow processing time before your planned visit.

Bowling Green parks

Bowling Green has the most specific local drone rules in Kentucky. The city's Parks Department requires written consent from the Parks Director for any drone use. Your request must specify dates, times, and intended purpose. The Parks Director can limit flights to specific parks, locations, and time windows. Drones are permanently banned over the Russell Sims Aquatics Center, city golf courses, and any other location the Director designates. Check the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport (BWG) website at bgwcairport.org/drones-uas/ for additional airspace guidance.

For more on airspace rules, see our guides on drone no-fly zones and where you can fly a drone.

Commercial drone operations in Kentucky require the standard FAA Part 107 certificate. Kentucky does not add any state-level commercial licensing requirements on top of federal rules, but the state park insurance requirement applies to commercial and recreational operators alike.

Part 107 basics

The Part 107 test costs $175, covers 60 multiple-choice questions on airspace, weather, and regulations, and is valid for 24 months before requiring a recurrent test. Kentucky has PSI testing centers in Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, and several other cities across the state.

Insurance considerations

Kentucky does not mandate drone insurance statewide, but state parks require proof of insurance for any drone operation. If you plan to do commercial work in or near state parks, you will need a policy in place. Most commercial clients in Kentucky also require at least $1 million in general liability coverage, which is standard across the industry.

Kentucky commercial opportunities

Kentucky offers several strong commercial drone markets:

• Coal mine and reclamation site inspection in eastern Kentucky
• Horse farm and equine facility aerial photography in the Bluegrass region
• Bourbon distillery marketing and tourism content (Kentucky produces 95% of the world's bourbon)
• Agricultural monitoring across the state's tobacco, corn, and soybean farms
• Real estate photography in Louisville, Lexington, and Northern Kentucky
• Infrastructure inspection along the Ohio River corridor
• Utility and power line inspection across the state's rural areas

For a full guide on getting started, see our how to start a drone business guide and drone pilot salary guide.