Utah drone laws come from three layers: FAA rules, Utah state statutes, and land-manager rules for parks and other public property. Most pilots get into trouble by missing which layer applies where they stand.
Everything below is current as of September 2026 and linked to its official source.
Federal rules come first: Part 107 vs. recreational flying
Flying for fun: the recreational exception and the TRUST test
Purely recreational flights fall under 49 U.S.C. 44809. The FAA requires recreational flyers to pass the free Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), carry proof while flying, keep the drone in sight, and stay at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace (FAA recreational flyer rules).
Payment is not the test. Photos to sell a house or a roof inspection are not recreational even when nobody pays, and the FAA says to assume Part 107 when in doubt.
Flying for work: FAA Part 107
Any other flight with a drone under 55 pounds falls under 14 CFR Part 107. You must be at least 16, pass the FAA knowledge test, and hold a Remote Pilot Certificate (FAA Part 107 overview), with recurrent training every 24 calendar months (14 CFR 107.65).
Core FAA operating rules across Utah
- Registration. Recreational drones of 250 grams (0.55 pounds) or more must be registered. Under Part 107 every drone must be registered, whatever it weighs. Registration costs $5 and lasts three years (FAA drone registration).
- The 400-foot rule. Stay at or below 400 feet above ground level. Part 107 pilots may go higher within 400 feet of a structure, up to 400 feet above its top. Recreational flyers may not. Part 107 also caps speed at 100 mph and requires 3 statute miles of visibility (14 CFR 107.51).
- Visual line of sight. You, or a visual observer beside you, must keep the drone in unaided sight.
- Remote ID. Every registered drone must broadcast Remote ID, built in or via an add-on module, unless it flies inside an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FAA Remote ID rules). The rule has applied since September 16, 2023, and full enforcement began March 16, 2024 when the FAA ended discretionary enforcement (FAA enforcement notice).
- Night operations. Part 107 pilots may fly at night without a waiver if they have current training and anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles (14 CFR 107.29).
Controlled airspace and LAANC near Salt Lake City, Provo and Ogden
Much of the Wasatch Front sits under controlled airspace. Salt Lake City International is Class B, and Provo and Ogden-Hinckley are towered Class D airports. Flying in Class B, C, D or surface Class E airspace requires FAA authorization before takeoff.
LAANC, the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability, returns near-real-time approvals for flights at or below 400 feet in controlled airspace to Part 107 and recreational flyers. Part 107 pilots can also request altitudes above the grid ceiling, up to 400 feet, as much as 90 days ahead (FAA LAANC page).
Separately from LAANC authorization, Salt Lake City’s Department of Airports asks recreational flyers within five miles to call 801-531-4777 at least 24 hours ahead (SLC airport drone notification).
Provo asks pilots within five miles to request approval from its Airport Operations Manager (Provo Airport), and Ogden asks pilots to contact the airport before flying within five nautical miles of Ogden-Hinckley or Hill Air Force Base (Ogden drone information).
Temporary flight restrictions: wildfires and stadium events
A temporary flight restriction (TFR) closes airspace for a limited time. Active TFRs appear on the FAA’s TFR list and in LAANC and B4UFLY apps, so check before every flight (FAA TFR page).
Wildfires. When a drone is spotted near a fire, agencies ground airtankers and helicopters until it leaves. The U.S. Forest Service warns of civil fines of up to $25,000 and possible criminal prosecution (If You Fly, We Can’t).
Stadium events. A standing TFR bans drones within 3 nautical miles of a stadium from one hour before to one hour after NFL, MLB, NCAA Division I football and major motor speedway events (FAA stadium restrictions). That covers Rice-Eccles and LaVell Edwards home games, so event and venue drone coverage in that window needs FAA approval.
National parks are federal land: Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon and more
Utah’s Mighty 5 are run by the National Park Service. NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, issued in June 2014, prohibits launching, landing or operating uncrewed aircraft on NPS lands and waters without written approval from the superintendent. A violation is a misdemeanor with up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine (NPS uncrewed aircraft policy).
Zion’s rules page says drones are prohibited (Zion laws and policies), and Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef follow the same policy.
Utah drone laws at the state level
Older guides cite Utah Code Title 72, Chapter 14. It was repealed in 2023 and renumbered into Title 72, Chapter 10, Parts 7 through 10 (Utah Code Chapter 72-10).
Safe operation: Utah Code 72-10-1002
It requires visual line of sight, bars controlled-airspace flight without air traffic control authorization, mirrors the FAA 400-foot rule, and bans flying over critical infrastructure without permission or launching from transit rail platforms (Utah Code 72-10-1002).
Enforcement steps up: a written warning, then an infraction, then a class B misdemeanor after a conviction. The pilot is also liable for any damage.
Wildfire interference: Utah Code 65A-3-2.5
In force since July 2016, this section makes recklessly flying inside a wildfire TFR or designated fire scene without the incident commander’s permission a class B misdemeanor with a fine of up to $2,500.
Forcing a retardant drop off target or grounding a firefighting aircraft raises it to a class A misdemeanor and up to $5,000. Contact with a manned aircraft is a third degree felony and up to $10,000, and causing a crash is a second degree felony and up to $15,000 (Utah Code 65A-3-2.5).
Trespass and privacy: Utah Code 76-6-206 and 76-12-302
Utah’s criminal trespass statute covers drones by name. Flying over private property with intent to annoy, recklessly causing fear, or after notice by signs, fencing or a direct request is a class B misdemeanor, or class A at a dwelling. Owners can also sue for three times their damages or $500, whichever is greater (Utah Code 76-6-206).
The privacy statute, renumbered in 2025 from 76-9-402 to 76-12-302, makes recording inside a private place a class B misdemeanor. It exempts drones flown for legitimate commercial or educational purposes under FAA rules when any capture is solely incidental (Utah Code 76-12-302).
Utah State Parks rules
Rules vary park by park:
- Antelope Island bans drones from March through November. From December through February, recreational permits for select areas cost $15 for one day or $30 for several days, and commercial use needs a Special Use Permit (Antelope Island drone guidelines).
- Dead Horse Point bans drones from March through October. From November 1 through February, flights are allowed by permit at $10 per day, never at the main viewpoint (Dead Horse Point drone regulations).
- Jordanelle sells a $10 personal-use permit at the park office. Commercial pilots need a Special Use Permit with a $100 base fee and a remote pilot certificate (Jordanelle special use permits).
City rules: what Salt Lake City and other cities can do
Utah Code 72-10-701 preempts local drone ordinances. Cities and counties may not regulate private drone use unless the state chapter allows it, though airport operators may regulate flights on airport property (Utah Code 72-10-701).
Cities can still control activity on land they own. Salt Lake City requires an Event Permits application for any film or photo activity on city property, filed at least four business days ahead with a $137 fee, while private property needs only the owner’s approval (Salt Lake City event permits FAQ).
Utah drone laws at a glance
| Rule | Who it applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pass TRUST and carry proof | Recreational flyers | FAA recreational flyers |
| Remote Pilot Certificate and recurrent training | Part 107 pilots | FAA Part 107 |
| Register your drone (250 g or more if recreational, any weight under Part 107) | All flyers | FAA registration |
| Broadcast Remote ID | Registered drones | FAA Remote ID |
| 400 ft cap and visual line of sight | All flyers | Utah Code 72-10-1002 |
| Authorization in controlled airspace | All flyers near towered airports | FAA LAANC |
| Wildfire and stadium TFRs | All flyers | FAA TFRs, Utah Code 65A-3-2.5 |
| No drones in national parks | All flyers on NPS land | NPS Policy Memo 14-05 |
| State park bans and permits | All flyers in Utah State Parks | Utah State Parks |
| Trespass and privacy offenses | All flyers | Utah Code 76-6-206, 76-12-302 |
| Local drone ordinances preempted | Cities and counties | Utah Code 72-10-701 |
This article is general information, not legal advice. Utah drone laws and FAA rules change, parks update closures, and TFRs appear with little notice. Check the linked sources before every flight.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to fly a drone in Utah?
Recreational flying needs the free TRUST certificate and, for drones of 250 grams or more, FAA registration. Any work-related flight, even unpaid listing photos, needs a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
Can I fly a drone in Zion or Arches?
No. Launching, landing or operating a drone on National Park Service land is prohibited without the superintendent’s written approval, and that covers all five Utah national parks.
How high can I fly a drone in Utah?
400 feet above ground level under both FAA rules and Utah Code 72-10-1002, and no higher than the LAANC grid ceiling in controlled airspace. Part 107 pilots may exceed 400 feet within 400 feet of a structure or with an FAA waiver. Recreational flyers may not.
Do Utah cities have their own drone laws?
Generally no. Utah drone laws are set at the state level, and Utah Code 72-10-701 blocks city and county drone ordinances. Airports and city parks can still set permit rules for their own property.
Hire a Part 107 crew that knows the rules
A commercial shoot often touches several layers of Utah drone laws at once: LAANC authorization, land-manager permission and a TFR check on the day.
Our pilots at Utah Drone are FAA Part 107 certified, and we check airspace, TFRs and land-manager rules before every flight, from aerial photography and videography to real estate drone services, anywhere in Utah.
Call (385) 417-4017, email contact@utahdronevideo.com, or use our contact page. We confirm what the location allows before we quote.