South Carolina Drone Laws
Complete guide for commercial and recreational UAS operators
State Overview
South Carolina maintains a generally permissive stance toward drone operations, with limited state-level restrictions beyond federal FAA requirements. The state has enacted targeted legislation protecting corrections and detention facilities from drone incursions, applies existing voyeurism laws to drone surveillance, and explicitly permits drone use for feral hog and coyote management. Pending comprehensive drone regulation (H4679) would significantly expand state-level restrictions if enacted.
State Drone Laws
S.C. Code § 24-1-300Unlawful Operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle at Corrections Facilities
Prohibits operating an unmanned aerial vehicle within a horizontal distance of 500 feet or vertical distance of 250 feet from any Department of Corrections facility without written consent from the Director. Drone can be confiscated.
S.C. Code § 24-5-175Unlawful Operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle at Local Detention Facilities
Prohibits operating an unmanned aerial vehicle within a horizontal distance of 500 feet or vertical distance of 250 feet from any local detention facility without written consent from the jail administrator. Drone can be confiscated.
S.C. Code § 16-17-470Eavesdropping, Peeping, Voyeurism, and Related Offenses
Applies to drone-based surveillance and voyeurism. Prohibits recording or photographing persons in locations with reasonable expectation of privacy. Includes aggravated voyeurism (distribution of images).
S.C. Code § 50-1-130Feral Hog and Coyote Management by Unmanned Aircraft
Explicitly authorizes the use of unmanned aircraft (drones) for counting, photographing, relocating, capturing, hunting, or taking of feral hogs and coyotes. South Carolina is one of few states with explicit statutory authorization for drone-assisted wildlife management.
Local/Municipal Ordinances
Charleston
cityDrone Operation Restrictions (City Code Chapter 21-115, Chapter 22-5)
Restricts drone operations in multiple areas of the city. Note: Chapter 21-115 is proposed; Chapter 22-5 is in effect.
Restrictions
Drones cannot operate within one-quarter mile of any school while in session, hospitals, parks, recreation facilities, sporting events, road races or walks, outdoor festivals, fireworks shows, stadiums, public gatherings of more than 50 people, moving vehicles, highways, bridges, or busy streets. Drones with cameras must maintain at least 200 feet distance from any person, vehicle, building, or structure. Owner and operator names and addresses must be affixed to the outside of the aircraft.
Mount Pleasant
townDrone Ban at Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park
Prohibits drone operations at this specific park facility.
Restrictions
No drone launching or landing at Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park
Seabrook Island
townDrone Pilot Certification Requirement
Requires commercial licensing for drone operations within town limits.
Restrictions
Launching or landing a drone within the town limits requires a valid FAA Remote Pilot Certificate and aircraft must be registered with the FAA according to Part 107 requirements.
Penalty & Fine Schedule
| Violation | Classification | Fine Range | Imprisonment | Enforcement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating drone within 500 ft horizontal or 250 ft vertical of Department of Corrections facility (S.C. Code § 24-1-300) | Misdemeanor | Up to $500 | Up to 30 days | South Carolina Department of Corrections / SC Law Enforcement Division | Drone subject to confiscation. Exemption applies to commercial operators notifying the Director 2-5 days before infrastructure inspection flights. |
| Operating drone within 500 ft horizontal or 250 ft vertical of local detention facility (S.C. Code § 24-5-175) | Misdemeanor | Up to $500 | Up to 30 days | Local jail administrator / SC Law Enforcement Division | Drone subject to confiscation. Exemption applies to commercial operators notifying the jail administrator 2-5 days before infrastructure inspection flights. |
| Voyeurism via drone (S.C. Code § 16-17-470) | Misdemeanor to Felony (Aggravated Voyeurism) | Up to $5,000 | Up to 10 years | South Carolina Law Enforcement Division / Local Law Enforcement | Felony classification applies when images are distributed or recorded with intent to harm. |
Operating drone within 500 ft horizontal or 250 ft vertical of Department of Corrections facility (S.C. Code § 24-1-300)
Drone subject to confiscation. Exemption applies to commercial operators notifying the Director 2-5 days before infrastructure inspection flights.
Operating drone within 500 ft horizontal or 250 ft vertical of local detention facility (S.C. Code § 24-5-175)
Drone subject to confiscation. Exemption applies to commercial operators notifying the jail administrator 2-5 days before infrastructure inspection flights.
Voyeurism via drone (S.C. Code § 16-17-470)
Felony classification applies when images are distributed or recorded with intent to harm.
Registration Requirements
State Registration
Not Required
State Permit
Not Required
State Insurance
Not Required
South Carolina does not require separate state-level drone registration. FAA registration is required for any drone over 250 grams ($5 for 3 years).
No state permit required beyond FAA registration and Part 107 certificate for commercial operations. Some local jurisdictions (Charleston, Seabrook Island) have additional restrictions.
Not required but recommended for commercial operations.
Applicable Federal Regulations
FAA Registration
All drones over 250 grams must be registered with the FAA ($5 for 3 years)
Applies to all South Carolina drone operators. Registration via FAA Drone Zone.
Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107)
Required for all commercial drone operations
Commercial operators must pass the Part 107 knowledge test ($175). Testing centers available in Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach.
Remote ID
Required on all registered drones since March 2024
All drones must broadcast Remote ID information. Applies to recreational and commercial operators.
Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST)
Required for recreational drone operators
Free online test administered by FAA-approved test administrators. Mandatory before flying recreationally.
Visual Line of Sight (VLOS)
Must maintain VLOS at all times unless using a visual observer
Applies to all recreational and Part 107 operations under standard rules.
Altitude Restrictions
400 feet AGL maximum in uncontrolled airspace
Standard FAA rule applies throughout South Carolina. LAANC authorization required for controlled airspace operations.
For complete federal regulations, see our Federal Regulations page.
Federal Preemption & Critical Infrastructure
South Carolina 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 is available at 726 airports nationally. South Carolina has coverage at major airports including Charleston International (CHS), Greenville-Spartanburg International (GSP), Myrtle Beach International (MYB), and Columbia Metropolitan (CAE).
Major Airports
CHS — Charleston InternationalGSP — Greenville-Spartanburg InternationalMYB — Myrtle Beach InternationalCAE — Columbia Metropolitan
TFR Notice
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) apply around major events and stadiums (Williams-Brice Stadium at USC, Death Valley at Clemson during games, etc.). Check NOTAMs before flying.
Recent Enforcement Actions & News
Prison Drone Smuggling Arrests
enforcementSouth Carolina Department of Corrections reported 18 arrests across multiple facilities in 2023 for attempted drone contraband delivery, following a November 2022 incident where a drone carrying methamphetamine crashed at a federal facility. The department deployed Dedrone counter-drone detection systems statewide in response.
Pending Legislation
H4679Passed both chambers, awaiting governor's signatureSouth Carolina Drone Regulation and Public Safety Act
Would add Section 55-1-110 to the state code to establish comprehensive drone regulations. Key provisions include: codifying FAA registration and Part 107 compliance at state level; prohibiting surveillance and recording in locations with reasonable expectation of privacy; prohibiting weaponization of drones with penalty of up to $25,000 fine and/or 10 years imprisonment; preempting local ordinances that conflict with state or FAA rules. Exemptions apply for law enforcement, emergency responders, military, FAA-authorized commercial work, and state-approved research/agricultural operations.
Last action: May 8, 2026
H3945In Committee — Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental AffairsAerial Management of Wild Animals
Would add Section 50-9-580 to codify and potentially expand state authorization for using unmanned aircraft for counting, photographing, relocating, capturing, hunting, or taking of feral hogs or coyotes. (Note: S.C. Code § 50-1-130 already provides this authorization.)
Last action: March 5, 2025
University & College Drone Policies
| Institution | Policy Summary | Permit Required | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina | USC requires all unmanned aircraft system operations on campus and affiliated facilities to be approved by the Office of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS). Williams-Brice Stadium operates a TFR during football games. Restrictions: No drone operations without prior approval from EHS. TFR enforced at Williams-Brice Stadium during athletic events. No flights over buildings, crowds, parking areas, or other restricted zones without separate approval. | Yes | Office of Environmental Health & Safety — ehs@sc.edu |
| Clemson University | Clemson requires drone operators to obtain approval from the Office of Risk Management and Environmental Health & Safety before conducting UAS operations on campus. Death Valley (Memorial Stadium) operates a TFR during football games. Restrictions: No drone operations without Risk Management and EHS approval. TFR enforced at Death Valley during athletic events. No flights over buildings, crowds, or other restricted zones without separate approval. | Yes | Office of Risk Management / Environmental Health & Safety |
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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