Mississippi Drone Laws
Complete guide for commercial and recreational UAS operators
State Overview
Mississippi maintains a permissive regulatory environment for drone operations with strong local preemption and explicit affirmation of drone rights. The state's primary regulations target specific illegal uses: drone surveillance of critical infrastructure or correctional facilities, voyeurism, and delivery of contraband to prisons. No state pilot licensing, registration, or insurance requirements exist beyond federal FAA rules.
State Drone Laws
Miss. Code Ann. § 97-29-61Voyeurism by Unmanned Aircraft
Felony offense to use a drone or other instrumentality to view the interior of a bedroom, bathroom, changing room, or other private space with intent to invade privacy and for a lewd purpose.
Miss. Code Ann. § 97-47-5(a)Unlawful Surveillance of Critical Infrastructure and Correctional Facilities
Misdemeanor offense to knowingly use a drone to conduct surveillance of, collect information from, or photographically or electronically record a critical infrastructure facility (petroleum, chemical, pipeline, electrical, water, telecommunications, ports, rail, or freight facilities) or a correctional facility without prior written consent of the owner or designee.
Miss. Code Ann. § 97-47-5(b)Unlawful Delivery of Contraband by Drone to Correctional Facility
Felony offense to deliver or attempt to deliver contraband by drone onto correctional-facility property or adjacent property with intent to introduce contraband into the facility.
Miss. Code Ann. § 31-7-67State Drone Procurement Requirements
Requires the State of Mississippi and its agencies and political subdivisions to purchase drones only from domestic manufacturers incorporated and headquartered in the United States with majority American citizen ownership, manufactured at a US facility. Drones must include collision-avoidance systems, with repairs handled by domestic companies. Prohibits purchase or operation of small drones manufactured in the People's Republic of China (with exemption for units purchased prior to January 1, 2025).
Miss. Code Ann. § 61-21-9Local Government Preemption of Drone Regulation
Political subdivisions (cities, counties, municipalities) are prohibited from enacting or enforcing ordinances that regulate drone ownership, operation, design, airspace, altitude, flight paths, equipment, or operator qualifications. Local governments retain authority to enforce FAA restrictions, regulate drones they own or operate, apply generally-applicable nuisance/voyeurism/harassment/trespass laws to drone operators, and govern launch and landing on city-owned property.
40 Miss. Admin. Code Part 6, Rule 12Mississippi State Parks — Aircraft Operations Prohibition
Administrative regulation of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks prohibiting the operation of aircraft (including drones) on park land or water, or air-delivery of persons or cargo by parachute, helicopter, balloon, or other means, without written permission of the MDWFP Executive Director, except in extreme emergency.
Local/Municipal Ordinances
No local ordinances on record. Check with your local city or county government for any drone-specific regulations.
Penalty & Fine Schedule
| Violation | Classification | Fine Range | Imprisonment | Enforcement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drone voyeurism (viewing private areas with lewd intent) | Felony | $5,000 (if victim under 16) | Up to 5 years (adult); up to 10 years (if victim under 16) | Local law enforcement, prosecutors | Civil liability also possible for damages. This is the strongest privacy protection for drones in Mississippi law. |
| Drone surveillance of critical infrastructure without written consent | Misdemeanor | Up to $1,000 | Up to 1 year | Local law enforcement, prosecutors, facility security | First offense. Covers petroleum, chemical, pipeline, electrical, water, telecom, ports, rail, and freight facilities. |
| Delivery of contraband by drone to correctional facility | Felony | Up to $25,000 | 3 to 15 years | Corrections officers, state/local law enforcement, prosecutors | Treated as serious crime. Mandatory penitentiary time. Single largest reason states enact drone restrictions. |
Drone voyeurism (viewing private areas with lewd intent)
Civil liability also possible for damages. This is the strongest privacy protection for drones in Mississippi law.
Drone surveillance of critical infrastructure without written consent
First offense. Covers petroleum, chemical, pipeline, electrical, water, telecom, ports, rail, and freight facilities.
Delivery of contraband by drone to correctional facility
Treated as serious crime. Mandatory penitentiary time. Single largest reason states enact drone restrictions.
Registration, Fees & Taxes
Mississippi imposes state-level registration, licensing, insurance, or fee requirements
Commercial operators: budget for the state fees below before operating here. Federal FAA registration is still required separately.
State Registration
Not Required
State Permit
Not Required
State Insurance
Not Required
Commercial License
Not Required
Sales Tax on Drones
Does Not Apply
- Other Fees
- State park or wildlife management area permit — Variable (contact MDWFP for details)Special use permit fee charged by Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks for drone flights on state park or wildlife management area property. Required before operating drones on these lands.
Mississippi explicitly prohibits state-level drone registration. FAA registration ($5 for 3 years) is required only at the federal level for drones over 250 grams. No state licensing requirements, insurance mandates, or commercial drone permits beyond FAA Part 107 certification exist. Special use permits required for flights on state parks and wildlife management areas.
Special use permits required for flights on Mississippi state parks and wildlife management areas (contact MDWFP for permission). No statewide commercial permit required beyond FAA Part 107.
No state-mandated insurance requirement.
Applicable Federal Regulations
Remote ID Compliance
Remote ID became mandatory on March 16, 2024 for all registered drones
All drones over 250 grams must broadcast Remote ID information via direct broadcast module or internet-connected broadcast module, or operate inside a Federal Flight Identification Area (FRIA). Standard Remote ID, network broadcast, or FRIA operation are acceptable alternatives.
Part 107 Commercial Operations
FAA Remote Pilot Certificate required for commercial drone operations
Commercial pilots must pass FAA aeronautical knowledge test ($175 fee) and maintain Part 107 certification (valid 24 months). Mississippi hosts PSI testing centers in Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, and Tupelo.
Recreational Pilot Compliance
TRUST test required for all recreational drone flyers
Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) is free, online, and one-time. Completion certificate must be carried when flying. Test available through FAA-approved administrators.
Airspace Authorization in Controlled Areas
LAANC authorization required for operations in controlled airspace
Jackson (JAN) and Gulfport-Biloxi (GPT) airports have Class C and Class C/D airspace respectively. LAANC authorization available near real-time. Ceiling altitudes may be restricted inside controlled airspace.
Military Airspace Avoidance
Keesler AFB, Columbus AFB, and Camp Shelby have restricted and special-use airspace
Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Columbus Air Force Base in the northeast, and Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg all have designated restricted or special-use airspace that prohibits civilian drone operations. Violations carry federal criminal penalties.
National Park Service Drone Restrictions
Drones are prohibited on all National Park Service lands in Mississippi
Gulf Islands National Seashore, Vicksburg National Military Park, and Natchez Trace Parkway all ban drone operations. Violations result in federal petty offense citations (up to 6 months imprisonment and $5,000 fine) under 36 CFR § 1.5.
Part 108 Beyond Visual Line of Sight Rulemaking
BVLOS operations currently require individual FAA waivers
The FAA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Part 108 (BVLOS rules) but has not yet published a final rule. Until Part 108 is finalized, commercial operators requiring BVLOS capability (e.g., Delta ag scouts, utility powerline inspection) must obtain specific FAA waivers.
For complete federal regulations, see our Federal Regulations page.
Federal Preemption & Critical Infrastructure
Miss. Code § 97-47-5 — Mississippi Unmanned Aircraft Systems Protection Act of 2021 — Unlawful use of unmanned aircraft system
Penalty: First offense: misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or $1,000). Subsequent offense or contraband delivery to corrections: felony (3–15 years and/or up to $25,000)
FAA authorization carve-out: Yes
Covered categories
Airspace & LAANC
LAANC Coverage
LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) is available at 726 FAA airports nationwide. In Mississippi, major airports with LAANC coverage include Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International (JAN) in Class C airspace and Gulfport-Biloxi International (GPT) in Class C/D airspace. Authorization typically available near real-time through FAA-approved service providers.
Major Airports
JAN — Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (Class C)GPT — Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (Class C/D)PIB — Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional AirportCBM — Columbus Air Force Base (military, restricted)KES — Keesler Air Force Base (military, restricted)
TFR Notice
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are issued by the FAA for large events, VIP movements, and security incidents. Stadium TFRs are common during major sporting events (Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford for Ole Miss football, Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville for MSU football). Check B4UFLY and FAA Temporary Flight Restrictions website before every flight.
Recent Enforcement Actions & News
No recent enforcement actions or news on record.
Pending Legislation
SB 2282Pending (2025 Session)Drones; Allow Use of for Observing, Trapping and Taking Wild Hogs
Proposed legislation that would amend Mississippi wildlife regulations to allow landowners to use drones to observe, trap, and take nuisance wild hogs on private land year-round, except during deer season. Currently prohibited under MDWFP hunting regulations.
Last action: March 5, 2025
University & College Drone Policies
| Institution | Policy Summary | Permit Required | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mississippi | Ole Miss requires coordination with the University Police Department for all drone operations on campus. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium operates a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) during football games and major athletic events. Restrictions: Drone operations require prior approval from UPD. No flights over Vaught-Hemingway Stadium during games or events. Stadium TFR during athletic events. | Yes | University Police Department |
| Mississippi State University | Mississippi State operates an active UAS research program through the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory. Campus drone operations require approval from the Office of Regulatory Compliance. Davis Wade Stadium operates a TFR during games. Restrictions: All campus drone operations must be coordinated with Office of Regulatory Compliance. Research flights coordinated through Raspet Flight Research Laboratory. Davis Wade Stadium TFR during athletic events. | Yes | Office of Regulatory Compliance / Raspet Flight Research Laboratory |
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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