Kansas Drone Laws
Complete guide for commercial and recreational UAS operators
State Overview
Kansas maintains a permissive approach to drone operations with minimal state-level restrictions beyond federal FAA requirements. The state has one drone-specific statute that folds drone surveillance into its harassment and stalking laws, a blanket administrative ban on state park and wildlife area flights, and wildlife restrictions on drone-assisted hunting. There is no state drone registration, commercial licensing requirement, or insurance mandate.
State Drone Laws
K.S.A. 60-31a02Harassment by Unmanned Aircraft System
Expands the definition of harassment under the Protection from Stalking Act to include operating a drone in a course of conduct over or near a dwelling, occupied vehicle, or other place where a person may reasonably expect to be safe from uninvited surveillance or intrusion. Requires two or more separate acts to constitute harassment.
K.A.R. 115-8-13Drone Use Prohibited on KDWP Land
Prohibits the use of drones on any Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks property, including all state parks, wildlife areas, and KDWP-managed land. Limited designated UAS operating areas may be approved by the KDWPT Secretary, but this is not a permit-on-request system. Applies to all KDWP-owned or managed property statewide.
K.S.A. 32-1003Unlawful Methods of Taking Wildlife
Prohibits the use of aircraft, including drones, to hunt, scout for game, or locate game. Also prohibits using drones to locate wounded or harvested game and prohibits drone-assisted fishing. Applies to all game species under Kansas law.
HSub SB 9 (Session Laws ch. 68)Kansas Land and Military Installation Protection Act
Prohibits any governmental agency (state, county, or local subdivision) from purchasing drones or critical drone components from foreign principals or manufacturers in countries of concern (China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Venezuela). Compliance deadline July 1, 2025. Establishes Kansas Drone Rehabilitation Fund to assist agencies in transitioning to compliant equipment.
Local/Municipal Ordinances
Wichita
cityRemote-Controlled Aircraft and Aeronautical Devices
City ordinance prohibits the launch, release, or operation of unmanned aerial vehicles and other aeronautical devices at or from airport property or property immediately adjacent to and bordering airport property without prior written consent from the airport director. Applies to Wichita Eisenhower National Airport area.
Restrictions
UAS operation prohibited at/near airport property without airport director's written authorization. Violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 fine and/or up to 6 months imprisonment. Contact: Wichita Airport Authority (316-946-4710).
Prairie Village
cityUnmanned Aerial Vehicle Ordinance
City ordinance prohibits flying drones in proximity to people to a degree that is offensive to reasonable expectations of safety from bodily harm, over private property without owner consent, and over open-air events with more than 100 people without venue owner or event organizer consent. Exception for recreational use over city-owned parks.
Restrictions
No flying within close proximity of people; no flying over private property without consent; no flying over events with 100+ people without organizer permission. Recreational flights allowed over city parks. Violations subject to municipal penalties up to $500 fine and/or up to 1 month imprisonment.
Penalty & Fine Schedule
| Violation | Classification | Fine Range | Imprisonment | Enforcement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drone harassment (course of conduct over dwelling/vehicle/private place) | Class A Misdemeanor (first offense); Severity Level 7 Person Felony (second+ offense) | Up to $2,500 (Class A misdemeanor); up to $300,000 (felony) | Up to 1 year (Class A misdemeanor); 31-136 months (felony) | County and District Attorneys; Local Law Enforcement | Enforced through civil protection-from-stalking orders and criminal charges. Requires course of conduct (two or more separate acts). Does not apply to single transient overflights. |
| Unlawful drone use on KDWP state park or wildlife area land | Class C Misdemeanor | Up to $500 | Up to 1 month | Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens | Applies to all Kansas state parks, wildlife areas, and KDWP-managed property. Can be reported to Operation Game Thief at 877-426-3843. |
| Hunting, scouting, or locating game with a drone | Wildlife Violation | Varies per K.S.A. 32-1031 | Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks | Prohibited under K.S.A. 32-1003. Includes locating wounded or harvested game and drone-assisted fishing. | |
| Wichita: UAS operation near/at airport without director consent | Misdemeanor | Up to $500 | Up to 6 months | Wichita Police Department | Applies to launch, release, or operation at Wichita Eisenhower National Airport and adjacent property. Prior written consent from airport director required. |
| Prairie Village: UAS flight violations (over property, near people, over events) | Municipal Violation | Up to $500 | Up to 1 month | Prairie Village Police Department | Enforces restrictions on flying near people, over private property without consent, and over large events. |
Drone harassment (course of conduct over dwelling/vehicle/private place)
Enforced through civil protection-from-stalking orders and criminal charges. Requires course of conduct (two or more separate acts). Does not apply to single transient overflights.
Unlawful drone use on KDWP state park or wildlife area land
Applies to all Kansas state parks, wildlife areas, and KDWP-managed property. Can be reported to Operation Game Thief at 877-426-3843.
Hunting, scouting, or locating game with a drone
Prohibited under K.S.A. 32-1003. Includes locating wounded or harvested game and drone-assisted fishing.
Wichita: UAS operation near/at airport without director consent
Applies to launch, release, or operation at Wichita Eisenhower National Airport and adjacent property. Prior written consent from airport director required.
Prairie Village: UAS flight violations (over property, near people, over events)
Enforces restrictions on flying near people, over private property without consent, and over large events.
Registration, Fees & Taxes
No additional state registration or fees in Kansas
Only standard federal FAA registration applies. No state registration, licensing, or drone-specific fees on record.
State Registration
Not Required
State Permit
Not Required
State Insurance
Not Required
Commercial License
Not Required
Sales Tax on Drones
Does Not Apply
Kansas does not require state-level drone registration, commercial licensing, or insurance mandates. Operators must comply with federal FAA registration ($5 for 3 years for drones over 250g). Commercial operators need FAA Part 107 certification; recreational operators need TRUST certification. Both are federal requirements with no additional state layer.
Applicable Federal Regulations
FAA Part 107 Commercial Operations
Commercial drone pilots operating in Kansas must hold a current FAA Remote Pilot Certificate
All commercial drone operations in Kansas fall under FAA Part 107 rules. No additional state commercial license or state permit is required. Part 107 certification costs $175 for the knowledge test and is valid for 24 months. Recreational and commercial pilots operating for business, government, or public safety need this certification.
Recreational Drone Operations
Recreational flyers must pass the free TRUST test and carry proof of completion
Kansas does not impose additional recreational licensing beyond the federal Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). All recreational flyers must carry proof of TRUST completion and comply with FAA altitude (400 ft AGL), VLOS, daylight/civil twilight, and Remote ID requirements.
Remote ID Requirements
Remote ID mandatory for all registered drones since March 16, 2024
All drones over 250g must broadcast Remote ID information in real-time. Compliant methods include Standard Remote ID (Part 89), broadcast module, or operation within a FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA).
Controlled Airspace Authorization
LAANC authorization required for Class C and D airspace
Flights in Class C airspace (Wichita ICT, KC metro MCI) and Class D airspace (Topeka FOE, Salina SLN, Manhattan MHK) require prior FAA authorization via LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) or manual submission. Wichita and Kansas City metro areas are the most heavily regulated zones in Kansas.
National Park Service Units
No drones allowed on NPS land in Kansas
36 CFR § 1.5 prohibits drone launches and landings on all National Park Service units, including Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Fort Larned, Fort Scott, Brown v. Board, and Nicodemus. NPS rangers enforce this ban with federal petty offense citations.
For complete federal regulations, see our Federal Regulations page.
Federal Preemption & Critical Infrastructure
Kansas has not enacted a drone-specific critical infrastructure statute as of this writing. Pilots remain subject to general state laws on trespass, voyeurism, privacy, and reckless endangerment, and to all federal regulations including FAA Part 107.
Read the federal preemption guide →Airspace & LAANC
LAANC Coverage
LAANC available at Wichita Eisenhower National (ICT, Class C), Kansas City International (MCI, Class C, just across line in Missouri), Topeka Forbes Field (FOE, Class D), Salina (SLN, Class D), and Manhattan (MHK, Class D). Outside controlled airspace, 400 feet AGL in uncontrolled airspace (Class G).
Major Airports
ICT — Wichita Eisenhower National AirportMCI — Kansas City International Airport (Missouri, Class C extends into Kansas)FOE — Forbes Field, TopekaSLN — Salina Regional AirportMHK — Manhattan Regional AirportMcConnell Air Force Base (Wichita southeast side)
TFR Notice
McConnell Air Force Base adds restricted military airspace around Wichita. Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth have military restricted airspace with no LAANC. College football stadiums (David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium at KU, Bill Snyder Family Stadium at K-State) operate temporary TFRs during games.
Recent Enforcement Actions & News
Kansas Completes First Long-Range BVLOS Medical Supply Delivery
newsKansas flew its first long-range beyond-visual-line-of-sight medical supply delivery in August 2025, demonstrating advanced UAS capability. Kansas had been an FAA UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP) and BEYOND lead state.
Sumner County Mystery Drone Sightings
newsMultiple residents of Sumner County reported large quadcopter drones flying over homes and private properties in grid patterns throughout December 2024. Drones were reported flying non-stop over some properties. Sumner County Sheriff's Office received multiple calls but was unable to observe the drones directly or identify operators. No arrests or charges filed as of the report date.
Pending Legislation
HB 2423In Committee — House Federal and State AffairsAllowing Federally Licensed Drone Operators to Locate Wounded Deer
Would create an exception to K.S.A. 32-1003 allowing hunters who hold a federal Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107) to use drones to locate wounded or recently deceased deer. Current law prohibits all drone use for hunting-related purposes.
Last action: January 27, 2026
HB 2293In Committee — House Commerce, Labor and Economic DevelopmentProhibiting Acquisition of Critical Drone Components from Countries of Concern
Would prohibit the acquisition of critical components of drone technology and procurement of final or finished drone goods and services from countries of concern. Similar to the enacted HSub SB 9 but may apply broader restrictions.
Last action: February 26, 2026
SB 453In Committee — Senate Federal and State AffairsKansas Critical Infrastructure Protection Act
Would enact the Kansas Critical Infrastructure Protection Act to prohibit access to state critical infrastructure by countries of concern and restrict acquisition of critical software and technology used in state infrastructure from countries of concern.
Last action: February 4, 2026
University & College Drone Policies
| Institution | Policy Summary | Permit Required | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Kansas | University of Kansas requires approval from the Office of Environment, Health, Safety & Risk Management for all drone operations on campus. David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium operates a TFR during Jayhawk football games and athletic events. Restrictions: Prior approval required from EHS. No flights permitted over David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium during athletic events. Flights over buildings, crowds, sensitive facilities, or residential areas require additional coordination and approval. | Yes | Office of Environment, Health, Safety & Risk Management — ehs@ku.edu |
| Kansas State University | Kansas State University requires coordination with the Division of Public Safety and campus Environmental Health & Safety for drone flights on campus. K-State operates a recognized UAS research program through the Applied Aviation Research Center. Restrictions: Coordination with Division of Public Safety required for all flights. Bill Snyder Family Stadium operates a TFR during athletic events. Flights over academic buildings, residence halls, and other sensitive areas require special approval. | Yes | Division of Public Safety — k-state.edu/police |
Last Updated
This page is automatically verified and updated weekly by our AI-powered legal research agent (v1.0.0). While we strive for accuracy, always verify critical information with official state sources.
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