Utah has one of the largest state-level drone code frameworks in the US, with 20+ sections spread across Title 72 Chapter 14 and Title 65A. Here are the statutes that set Utah apart from the federal baseline.
| Restriction | Statute | Penalty |
|---|
| State registration for commercial drones | SB-24 (2023) / SB-195 (2025) | Fee structure set by UDOT (in addition to FAA registration) |
| Criminal trespass with drones (intent to annoy, injure, or cause fear) | 72-14-301/302 | Class B misdemeanor: up to 6 months jail, $1,000 fine |
| Attaching weapon to drone | 72-14-303 | Class B misdemeanor: up to 6 months jail, $1,000 fine |
| Dropping items into correctional facility | 72-14-304 | Third-degree felony: up to 5 years prison, $5,000 fine |
| Harassing livestock with drone | 72-14-403 | Class B misdemeanor (first); Class A misdemeanor if repeat or livestock killed |
| Flying over wildfire zone without permission | 65A-3-2.5 | Class B misdemeanor to second-degree felony (tiered) |
| Using foreign-made drones for government infrastructure inspections | SB-135 (2024) | Administrative restrictions on government agencies |
Warning: Utah's wildfire drone law is one of the strictest in the country. If your drone causes a manned firefighting aircraft to collide, you face a second-degree felony: 1 to 15 years in prison and up to $15,000 in fines. Incident commanders are also authorized to disable or destroy your drone on sight.
The four-tier wildfire penalty system
Utah Code 65A-3-2.5 stands alone among state drone laws for its severity. The penalties escalate based on the consequences of your flight:
- Flying in a wildfire zone without incident commander permission: Class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months jail, $1,000 fine)
- Causing firefighting aircraft to divert or drop outside intended area: Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year jail, $2,500 fine)
- Drone contacts a firefighting aircraft: third-degree felony (up to 5 years prison, $5,000 fine)
- Drone is the proximate cause of a manned aircraft collision: second-degree felony (up to 15 years prison, $15,000 fine)
On top of these criminal penalties, a judge can order restitution for damages to persons or property, costs of the flight, and loss of fire retardant. The statute also gives incident commanders explicit authority to "neutralize" civilian drones, meaning they can disable, destroy, take control of, or otherwise interfere with your aircraft.
The SB 111 local preemption
Since 2017, SB 111 has pre-empted all local drone ordinances in Utah. Cities and counties cannot create their own drone regulations. Every municipal drone law enacted before July 1, 2017 was superseded. This creates uniform rules statewide, which is a significant advantage over states like South Dakota or California where city-by-city regulations create a patchwork of restrictions.
Enforcement: Washington County wildfire grounding
In June 2016, unauthorized civilian drones entered the airspace over a wildfire in Washington County, Utah. Authorities suspended water-dumping aircraft sorties after the flight zone became crowded with unmanned drones. Governor Gary Herbert publicly called for harsher punishments. This incident was the primary catalyst for the passage of 65A-3-2.5 and the shoot-down authority for incident commanders. During the 2020 wildfire season, six additional drone incursions were reported, with helicopters grounded and aircraft diverted four times.
Law enforcement warrant requirement
Utah Code 72-14-201 through 205 requires law enforcement agencies to obtain a warrant before using drones where an individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Agencies must also create official records of each drone deployment, documenting what data was gathered and how it was used. Exceptions exist for locating missing persons in areas without a privacy expectation and for purposes unrelated to criminal investigation. This is one of the stronger LE drone oversight frameworks at the state level.
For more on privacy law, see our drone spying laws guide and flying over private property guide.
