Mississippi Drone Laws
Complete guide for commercial and recreational UAS operators
State Overview
Mississippi maintains a strongly permissive stance toward drone operations, actively protecting pilot rights through Senate Bill 2146, which preempts local governments from regulating drones and affirms the FAA as the primary regulatory authority. The state's only targeted drone-specific criminal statute addresses voyeurism offenses. State procurement law requires government agencies to purchase domestically-manufactured drones.
State Drone Laws
Miss. Code § 97-29-61Drone-Based Voyeurism
Drone-based surveillance of a person in a private area (bedroom, bathroom, changing room) with lewd or indecent intent constitutes voyeurism, a felony carrying the same penalties as traditional peeping tom offenses.
Miss. S.B. 2146 (2023)Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Rights and Authorities Act
Affirms that the FAA is the primary regulatory authority over drone operations in Mississippi. Defines aerial trespass as intentionally flying a drone in the immediate reaches of airspace above someone's property without consent while substantially interfering with their use and enjoyment of the land. Preempts all 82 Mississippi counties and municipalities from regulating drone ownership, operation, design, manufacturing, licensing, registration, certification, airspace, altitude, flight paths, equipment, or pilot qualifications.
Miss. Code § 31-7-67State Agency Drone Procurement – Domestic Manufacturer Requirement
Requires all drones purchased by the State of Mississippi or any political subdivision to be manufactured by a company incorporated and headquartered in the US with majority American citizen ownership and manufactured at a US facility. Provides 10% bid preference to Mississippi-based companies and effectively excludes DJI and other foreign-made drones from state government contracts.
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-based voyeurism (viewing private areas with lewd intent) | Felony | $5,000 (child victim) | Up to 5 years (adult victim); up to 10 years (victim under 16) | Mississippi law enforcement / District Attorney | Same penalties as traditional peeping tom offenses. Felony charge applies to both adult and child victims. |
| Aerial trespass (substantial interference with property use) | Civil violation | Not specified | None | Civil courts / property owner | Property owner may seek civil damages for intentional interference with use and enjoyment of land. |
Drone-based voyeurism (viewing private areas with lewd intent)
Same penalties as traditional peeping tom offenses. Felony charge applies to both adult and child victims.
Aerial trespass (substantial interference with property use)
Property owner may seek civil damages for intentional interference with use and enjoyment of land.
Registration Requirements
State Registration
Not Required
State Permit
Not Required
State Insurance
Not Required
Mississippi explicitly prohibits state-level drone registration under SB 2146. All drones over 250g must be registered with the FAA ($5 for 3 years). No additional state paperwork is required.
SB 2146 preempts local governments from requiring drone-specific permits. Standard business licensing applies for commercial operations.
Not required but recommended for both recreational and commercial operations.
Applicable Federal Regulations
FAA Registration
All drones over 250g must be FAA-registered
Mississippi requires compliance with federal FAA registration ($5 for 3 years). Penalty for non-compliance: Up to $27,500 civil or $250,000 criminal.
Remote ID Compliance
Remote ID required on all registered drones since March 2024
All registered drones must broadcast Remote ID information. Penalty for non-compliance: Up to $27,500 civil.
Recreational UAS License
TRUST test required for recreational pilots
Recreational pilots must pass the free TRUST test before flying. No direct penalty for flying without test passage, but it is a violation.
Commercial Operations
FAA Part 107 certificate required for commercial drone operations
Commercial pilots need FAA Part 107 certificate ($175 test fee). Certificate valid for 24 months. Penalty for non-compliance: Up to $32,666 per violation.
Altitude Restrictions
400 feet AGL maximum enforced
All drone operations must maintain altitude of 400 feet AGL or below. Violations subject to certificate action and civil penalty.
Visual Line of Sight
VLOS requirement for all operations
Pilots must maintain visual line of sight or use authorized observer physically present. Violations subject to certificate action and civil penalty.
Night Flying
Allowed with anti-collision lighting visible for 3 statute miles
Both recreational and Part 107 pilots can fly at night if drone has anti-collision light visible for 3 statute miles. Airspace authorizations required for controlled airspace night operations under 400 feet.
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 available at 726 airports nationwide. In Mississippi, LAANC authorization required for flights under 400 feet in controlled airspace around Jackson (JAN – Class C airspace) and Gulfport-Biloxi (GPT – Class D airspace) airports.
Major Airports
JAN — Jackson-Medgar Wiley Hartsfield International AirportGPT — Gulfport-Biloxi International AirportPIB — Keesler Air Force Base (Biloxi) – Restricted military airspace
TFR Notice
Keesler Air Force Base near Biloxi is restricted military airspace with no LAANC authorization available. FAA issues Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) over large events (Biloxi Mardi Gras, major sporting events). Gulf Islands National Seashore, Vicksburg National Military Park, and Natchez Trace Parkway have NPS bans on drone operations.
Recent Enforcement Actions & News
Hernando Backyard Drone Complaints
enforcementMultiple residents in DeSoto County (Hernando) near the Tennessee border reported a drone repeatedly flying over their backyards and hovering near children playing outside. The drone fled when spotted and incidents repeated over months. Case highlighted enforcement challenges when drone operator cannot be identified and prompted discussion of broader unauthorized photography penalties.
Pending Legislation
SB 2282PendingDrones; allow use of for observing, trapping and taking wild hogs
Would authorize the use of drones to observe, trap, and take nuisance wild hogs on private land year-round, except during deer season. Expands drone use for wildlife and nuisance animal management.
Last action: January 21, 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 has a TFR during football games. Restrictions: UPD coordination required for all campus flights. No-fly zone over Vaught-Hemingway Stadium during athletic events. | Yes | University Police Department |
| Mississippi State University | MSU operates an active UAS research program through the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory. Campus drone operations require approval from the Office of Regulatory Compliance. Restrictions: Approval required from Office of Regulatory Compliance. Davis Wade Stadium has TFR during athletic events. Commercial and research flights coordinated through Raspet Flight Research Lab. | 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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