Ohio Drone Laws

Complete guide for commercial and recreational UAS operators

Moderate Regulatory Environment

State Overview

Ohio enacted comprehensive drone legislation through HB 77 (effective April 9, 2025), establishing criminal penalties for reckless operation, emergency-response interference, and critical-facility loitering with criminal intent. The state does not impose broad restrictions beyond federal FAA requirements but has targeted regulations on privacy, critical infrastructure, state parks, and wildlife use. Local governments retain authority to regulate drones on property they own.

State Drone Laws

ORC § 4561.51

Endangering Operation, Emergency-Response Interference, and Critical-Facility Loitering

criminal

Prohibits operating a drone in a manner that knowingly endangers any person or property or purposely disregards the rights or safety of others (up to 6 months jail, $500 fine). Prohibits interfering with law enforcement, firefighters, or EMS during emergency operations. Prohibits photographing, recording, or loitering over or near a critical facility with intent to further another criminal offense or to destroy/tamper with the facility. Intent standard applies; casual overflight is not automatically a crime.

Effective: Apr 9, 2025Endangering operation: up to 6 months jail / $500 fine. Emergency interference (reckless): 4th-degree misdemeanor. Emergency interference (knowing, 1st): 1st-degree misdemeanor. Emergency interference (knowing, repeat): 5th-degree felony. Critical facility + harm intent: 1st-degree misdemeanor (1st offense) to 5th-degree felony (repeat). Critical facility + destroy/tamper: 3rd-degree felony (9 months–3 years / $10,000).

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ORC § 4561.50

Critical Facility Definitions

Critical Infrastructure

Defines critical facilities subject to ORC § 4561.51, including critical infrastructure (power generation/transmission, petroleum/chemical, water treatment, telecommunications, natural gas), commercial distribution centers, courts, police/sheriff offices, jails/prisons, military installations, hospitals with air-ambulance service, and railroads.

Effective: Apr 9, 2025Not directly penalized; provides definitions for § 4561.51 violations.

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ORC § 4561.52

Local Government Authority to Regulate Drones

Preemption

Grants Ohio cities, counties, townships, and park districts explicit authority to adopt ordinances governing (a) hobby and recreational drone use above their own parks and public property and (b) their own drone fleets. Preempts local regulation outside these narrow categories.

Effective: Apr 9, 2025No direct penalty; establishes preemption framework.

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OAC 1501:46-13-11

State Parks Drone Rule

General

Requires written permission from the Chief of the ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft (or authorized agent) before flying a drone inside any Ohio state park boundary, or operation must be at a designated landing field. Rule applies broadly to unmanned aerial craft and bars flying over beaches, open-air assemblies, boats, and roadways on division-administered land. Harassing wildlife or people is a violation.

Effective: Jan 1, 2025Penalties determined by ODNR; contact (614) 265-6561 or parks@dnr.ohio.gov for permits.

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OAC 1501:31-15-02(B)

Wildlife: Prohibition on Using Drones for Hunting

hunting

Prohibits using any aircraft, including drones, to hunt, shoot, kill, take, or attempt to take wild birds or wild quadrupeds. Narrow exception: using a drone to recover a deer already harvested, provided no party is actively hunting or carrying hunting implements during recovery.

Effective: Invalid DatePenalties determined by Division of Wildlife; TIP line: 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945-3543).

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ORC § 2907.08

Voyeurism

Privacy

Prohibits secretly recording a person in a place with a reasonable expectation of privacy. Recording through or under clothing is a first-degree misdemeanor. Drone operators who film into fenced back yards or bedroom windows can be prosecuted under this section.

Effective: Invalid Date2nd-degree misdemeanor (standard voyeurism) or 1st-degree misdemeanor (through/under clothing). Up to 6 months–1 year imprisonment and/or fines.

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ORC § 2903.211

Menacing by Stalking

harassment

Drone-based surveillance can establish the 'pattern of conduct' element needed for menacing by stalking charges.

Effective: Invalid Date4th-degree misdemeanor or higher depending on circumstances.

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ORC § 2933.52

Audio Recording Consent

Privacy

Ohio is a one-party-consent state for audio recording, but a drone microphone capturing conversation without any party's consent violates this section.

Effective: Invalid DateCriminal penalties apply for unauthorized recording.

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ORC § 122.98

Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Technology Committee

General

Creates the Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Technology Committee with duties including research and development of unmanned aerial vehicles and promotion of the aviation/aerospace industry.

Effective: Jan 1, 2014No direct penalties; establishes committee authority.

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Cleveland Municipal Code Chapter 490

FAA Drone Law Enforcement Authority

General

Authorizes City of Cleveland police officers to enforce FAA regulations on drone operations within city jurisdiction.

Effective: Jan 1, 2016Enforcement per FAA and local ordinances.

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Local/Municipal Ordinances

Columbus and Franklin County

county

Metro Parks Drone Policy

Recreational drone flight allowed in all 20 Metro Parks except state nature preserves, subject to ranger approval. Commercial/filming use requires separate permit.

Restrictions

Check in with on-duty ranger before launching. Scioto Grove Metro Park has a dedicated 12-acre droning field. Commercial or filming operations need permit via info@metroparks.net.

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Cleveland

city

Cleveland Police Enforcement Authority

Police authorized to enforce FAA drone regulations.

Restrictions

FAA rules enforced by local police.

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Cleveland Metroparks

county

Cleveland Metroparks Drone Regulation

Drones allowed only at four designated locations with strict restrictions.

Restrictions

Only at: The Polo Fields (South Chagrin), Top O' Ledges (Hinckley), Main Street Diamond (Mill Stream Run), and golf-course fairways (Sleepy Hollow, Manakiki excluded) from Nov 1–Mar 15 when courses closed. Max 20 lbs. Under 400 feet AGL. Visual line of sight required.

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Cincinnati and Hamilton County

county

Great Parks of Hamilton County Drone Policy

Drones require written CEO permission at eligible parks.

Restrictions

Six eligible parks: Miami Whitewater, Mitchell Memorial, Triple Creek, Sharon Woods, Winton Woods, Woodland Mound. Applications take up to two weeks. Commercial ops require Part 107, FAA registration, and $1M liability coverage naming Great Parks as additional insured. City of Cincinnati parks closed except with Park Board permission.

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Celina

city

City of Celina Drone Ordinance

City-wide ban on drones in airspace over city-owned property.

Restrictions

Drones prohibited in airspace over all city-owned property including parks.

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Avon Lake

city

Code of Ordinances 10.6.1070

Prohibits launching or landing drones in municipal parks without authorization.

Restrictions

Launching or landing prohibited in Municipal parks unless authorized by Recreation Department.

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Anderson Township Parks

township

Anderson Township Park District Rule

Drones prohibited in all township parks and facilities without written permission.

Restrictions

Written permission from Executive Director required. Permission may be granted under certain circumstances.

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Butler County Metro Parks

county

Butler County Metro Parks Rule

Drones prohibited except in designated areas or with special permit.

Restrictions

No drones outside designated areas. Special use permits may be issued by Executive Director under certain conditions. Exceptions for law enforcement/medical responders on duty.

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Toledo

city

Toledo Metroparks Drone Prohibition

System-wide ban on drones with limited exceptions.

Restrictions

Drones prohibited across Toledo Metroparks system. Permits issued only for Westwinds Metropark.

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Dayton

city

Five Rivers MetroParks Drone Policy

Site-specific drone policies managed individually.

Restrictions

Confirm site-specific rule before flying; policies vary by location.

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Lorain County

county

Lorain County Metro Parks Drone Prohibition

System-wide ban on drones and remote-controlled aircraft.

Restrictions

Drones and remote-controlled aircraft prohibited across Lorain Metroparks.

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Penalty & Fine Schedule

Violation	Classification	Fine Range	Imprisonment	Enforcement	Notes
Endangering operation (ORC § 4561.51(A))	1st-degree misdemeanor	Up to $500	Up to 6 months	Ohio State Highway Patrol, Local Police, Prosecutors	Applies to operation that knowingly endangers persons or property or purposely disregards safety/rights of others.
Emergency-response interference—reckless (ORC § 4561.51(B))	4th-degree misdemeanor	Up to $250	Up to 30 days	Ohio State Highway Patrol, Local Police, Prosecutors	Disrupting law enforcement, firefighters, or EMS while working.
Emergency-response interference—knowing, 1st offense (ORC § 4561.51(B))	1st-degree misdemeanor	Up to $1,000	Up to 180 days	Ohio State Highway Patrol, Local Police, Prosecutors	Knowing interference with emergency response operations.
Emergency-response interference—knowing, repeat offense (ORC § 4561.51(B))	5th-degree felony	Up to $2,500	6–12 months	Ohio State Highway Patrol, Local Police, Prosecutors	Subsequent knowing interference offense.
Critical facility + intent to further another crime, 1st offense (ORC § 4561.51(C))	1st-degree misdemeanor	Up to $1,000	Up to 180 days	Ohio State Highway Patrol, Local Police, Prosecutors	Photographing, recording, or loitering over critical facility with purpose to further criminal offense.
Critical facility + intent to further another crime, repeat (ORC § 4561.51(C))	5th-degree felony	Up to $2,500	6–12 months	Ohio State Highway Patrol, Local Police, Prosecutors	Subsequent offense with criminal intent near critical facility.
Critical facility + destroy/tamper intent (ORC § 4561.51(C))	3rd-degree felony	Up to $10,000	9 months–3 years	Ohio State Highway Patrol, Local Police, Prosecutors, Federal Authorities	Intent to destroy or tamper with critical facility.
Voyeurism by drone (ORC § 2907.08)	2nd-degree misdemeanor (general); 1st-degree misdemeanor (through/under clothing)	Up to $1,000+	Up to 6 months–1 year	Local Police, Prosecutors	Secretly recording person in place with reasonable expectation of privacy.
Menacing by stalking via drone (ORC § 2903.211)	4th-degree misdemeanor or higher	Varies	Varies	Local Police, Prosecutors	Pattern of conduct establishing stalking charges.
Unauthorized audio recording (ORC § 2933.52)	Criminal violation	Varies	Varies	Local Police, Prosecutors	Drone microphone capturing conversation without consent.
Hunting/wildlife use (OAC 1501:31-15-02)	Varies per Division of Wildlife	Varies	Varies	ODNR Division of Wildlife	TIP line: 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945-3543).
State park flight without permission (OAC 1501:46-13-11)	Varies per ODNR	Varies		ODNR Park Rangers, Wildlife Officers	Contact parks@dnr.ohio.gov or (614) 265-6561 for permits.