Vermont Drone Laws
Complete guide for commercial and recreational UAS operators
State Overview
Vermont maintains a moderate regulatory approach toward drone operations with targeted restrictions on private property overflight, law enforcement use, and wildlife harassment. The state requires recreational pilots to maintain 100 feet altitude above private property without written consent and prohibits drones in state parks without Commissioner approval. Law enforcement use is tightly controlled with warrant requirements and annual reporting mandates.
State Drone Laws
20 V.S.A. § 4622Law Enforcement Drone Use and Weaponization Prohibition
Regulates law enforcement drone use by prohibiting investigation, detection, or prosecution of crimes without warrant authorization under Vermont Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 41. Prohibits data collection on citizens exercising constitutional rights to assembly and free speech. Bans facial recognition or biometric matching on non-target persons during authorized surveillance. Prohibits weaponization of drones through equipping with dangerous weapons or firing projectiles.
20 V.S.A. § 4623Compliance with Federal Aviation Administration Requirements
Requires all drone use by any person, including law enforcement agencies, to comply with all applicable Federal Aviation Administration requirements and guidelines.
20 V.S.A. § 4624Law Enforcement Annual Drone Use Reporting
Requires all law enforcement agencies that have used drones within the previous 12 months to file annual reports to the Department of Public Safety by September 1. Reports must document number of deployments, types of incidents, nature of information collected, rationale for each deployment, arrests aided, incidental data collection on non-targets, and program costs.
20 V.S.A. § 4625Prohibition on Drones Over Correctional Facilities
Prohibits flying a drone over or within the airspace of any correctional facility.
20 V.S.A. § 4626Recreational Drone Overflight and Surveillance Restrictions
Prohibits recreational drone flights below 100 feet AGL over privately owned property without prior written consent from the property owner. Also prohibits using drones to record images of private property or occupants with intent to conduct surveillance without consent. Creates a legal presumption that persons not observable from ground level have reasonable expectation of privacy. Part 107 commercial operations, emergency responders, and authorized government agencies are exempt.
10 App. V.S.A. § 20Prohibition on Aerial Hunting and Wildlife Harassment
Prohibits using drones or aircraft to take, locate, surveil, drive, or harass any wild animal. Applies to all drone operators, including recreational flyers and wildlife photographers. Covers any attempt to aid in locating, surveilling, or assisting in the taking of wildlife using drones or aircraft.
Local/Municipal Ordinances
Town of Colchester
townPark Drone Restrictions
Prohibits landing, launching, or operating drones within town park property without authorization.
Restrictions
No drone operations in parks except in emergency law enforcement situations or with written permission from the Parks Director
Penalty & Fine Schedule
| Violation | Classification | Fine Range | Imprisonment | Enforcement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weaponization of drone or unauthorized law enforcement surveillance (§ 4622) | Criminal | Up to $1,000 | Up to 1 year | Vermont State Police / Local Law Enforcement | Facial recognition banned on non-target data; warrant required for investigations |
| Recreational drone flight below 100 feet over private property without written consent (§ 4626) | Civil Violation | $50 first offense; $250 subsequent | None | Local Law Enforcement / Property Owner | Property owners can pursue civil remedies; applies only to recreational flights |
| Drone overflight of correctional facility (§ 4625) | Civil Violation | $500 | None | Department of Corrections | Applies to any airspace over correctional facilities |
| Using drone for hunting, locating wildlife, or wildlife harassment (10 App. V.S.A. § 20) | Criminal | Up to $1,000 | Up to 1 year | Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife / State Police | Applies to all drone operators, not just licensed hunters; includes photography intent |
Weaponization of drone or unauthorized law enforcement surveillance (§ 4622)
Facial recognition banned on non-target data; warrant required for investigations
Recreational drone flight below 100 feet over private property without written consent (§ 4626)
Property owners can pursue civil remedies; applies only to recreational flights
Drone overflight of correctional facility (§ 4625)
Applies to any airspace over correctional facilities
Using drone for hunting, locating wildlife, or wildlife harassment (10 App. V.S.A. § 20)
Applies to all drone operators, not just licensed hunters; includes photography intent
Registration Requirements
State Registration
Not Required
State Permit
Required
State Insurance
Not Required
Vermont does not require separate state drone registration. Federal FAA registration is required for drones over 250 grams.
Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation requires written approval from the Commissioner for any drone operations on state lands including state parks, state forests, and recreation areas. Commercial operators may apply for Special Use Permits on a case-by-case basis.
No state-mandated insurance requirement, though insurance is recommended for commercial operations.
Applicable Federal Regulations
Remote ID Compliance
All registered drones must broadcast Remote ID information as of March 2024
Vermont state law § 4623 requires compliance with all FAA requirements, including Remote ID mandates for all registered drones over 250 grams.
Part 107 Commercial Operations
Commercial drone operations require FAA Part 107 certification
Vermont does not impose additional state-level licensing for commercial operations beyond FAA Part 107 requirements. Part 107 certified pilots are exempt from the 100-foot private property overflight restriction under § 4626.
TRUST Recreational Licensing
All recreational flyers must pass the Recreational UAS Safety Test
Recreational pilots in Vermont must pass the free TRUST test before flying and carry proof of passage. This requirement is enforced under federal law and mandated by § 4623 compliance requirement.
Altitude and VLOS Requirements
400 feet AGL maximum altitude with Visual Line of Sight requirement
Vermont adopts federal 400-foot altitude limit and VLOS requirement. State law § 4626 adds an additional 100-foot altitude restriction over private property for recreational flights without owner written consent.
For complete federal regulations, see our Federal Regulations page.
Federal Preemption & Critical Infrastructure
Vermont 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 nationwide, including facilities in the Burlington area. Burlington International Airport Class C airspace requires LAANC authorization for flights under 400 feet. Most Burlington city parks fall under controlled airspace except Starr Farm Park (Class G uncontrolled).
Major Airports
BTV — Burlington International Airport (Class C)
TFR Notice
Temporary Flight Restrictions may be issued for special events and emergency operations. Green Mountain National Forest allows drones except in designated wilderness areas (Lye Brook, Bread Loaf, Big Branch).
Recent Enforcement Actions & News
No recent enforcement actions or news on record.
Pending Legislation
H0654In Committee — House Government Operations and Military AffairsVermont Airspace Safety and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task Force
Would establish a task force to review Vermont airspace safety and investigate unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP/UFO). Related to drone and airspace regulations.
Last action: January 13, 2026
University & College Drone Policies
| Institution | Policy Summary | Permit Required | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Vermont | University of Vermont requires drone operators to coordinate with the Department of Risk Management and Safety and campus police before operating on university property. Drone flights over university events are prohibited. Restrictions: Mandatory coordination with Department of Risk Management and Safety and campus police prior to any flight. No flights over university events, gatherings, or buildings without explicit approval. | Yes | Department of Risk Management and 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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