By: Peggy Kirk Hall, Attorney and Director, Agricultural & Resource Law Program, OSU Extension
Unidentified drones flying over property have raised many concerns recently, but new laws in Ohio may ease those concerns. The new laws aim to enhance safety, protect privacy, and align state laws with federal regulations for “unmanned aerial vehicles” (UAVs), or “drones.” Passed late last year as H.B. 77 and effective on April 9, 2025, the new laws amend Ohio’s aircraft safety laws to prohibit operating UAVs in certain ways and also address local government use and regulations for UAVs.
Legal definition of UAV
A UAV, according to the new law, is commonly referred to as a drone and is a vehicle that does not carry a human operator, is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the vehicle, uses aerodynamic forces to provide lift, can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely, and is either expendable or recoverable. The law clarifies that a satellite is not a UAV.
Prohibited drone operations
The law establishes four prohibited actions by UAV operators in Ohio and sets penalties for violating the prohibitions:
- Knowing endangerment. A person shall not operate a UAV “on the land or water or in the air space over this state in a manner that knowingly endangers any person or property or purposely disregards the rights or safety of others.” A violation of this provision can result in a $500 fine and/or up to six months of imprisonment.
- Interference with law enforcement and emergency responders. The law prohibits operating a drone in a way that disrupts, interrupts, or impairs the operations or activities of law enforcement, fire department, or emergency medical services. Criminal misdemeanor or felony charges are possible, depending on whether the interference was committed knowingly or the result of recklessness.
- Operation over critical facilities. Two new provisions apply to “critical facilities,” which includes hospitals that receive air ambulance services; military installations; commercial distribution centers; courts, jails, and prisons; and police stations, sheriff’s offices, state highway patrol stations, and premises controlled by the bureau of criminal investigation. The law prohibits a person from operating a drone to photograph, record, or loiter over or near a critical facility in two situations. The first situation is operating a drone with the purpose of tampering with or destroying the facility and the second is operating a drone to further another criminal offense involving harm to a person. Violations of these laws can lead to criminal misdemeanor and felony charges, depending on the operator’s intent and whether the action is a repeated violation.
- Compliance with federal law. The new law ties into federal law and regulations that require registration of UAVs and licensing for certain UAV operators. Ohio law prohibits a person from operating a UAV in Ohio if those federal laws or FAA regulations would prohibit the operation, which allows the state to enforce the federal law requirements.
Local governments and drones
Another provision of the new law provides authority to municipalities, counties, townships, and park districts. These local governments can now adopt local ordinances or regulations for UAVs in two situations: for hobby or recreational uses of drones above a park or other public property and for the use and operation of drones by the local government.
What do the new laws mean for agriculture? The laws place new responsibilities on drone operators to use drones responsibly and for legitimate purposes while providing remedies for those whose safety or privacy are endangered by drone operations. In those situations, a person should contact local law enforcement. Federal law requires registration and “Remote ID” tracking technology for UAVs, which can allow identification of the drone operator from an on-the-ground transmitter. With the new laws, there are now legal options for pursuing enforcement against bad actors. Local governments can also now enact additional laws to ensure safe drone operation in their public areas.
What the laws don’t do is authorize the “shooting down” of suspicious drones. It is a federal crime to shoot or intentionally harm a drone, even if the drone is flying over someone’s private property. Shooting a drone from the sky can also create safety risks and potential civil liability. Read more about options for dealing with suspicious drone activity in our previous blog post.
