It’s Illegal to Fly Your Drone in THESE Arizona Places

As drones become more popular across Arizona, state and local agencies have added new rules about where and how you're allowed to fly them.

Here are some things you should know before you take your drone for a spin.

What’s the deal with the mystery drones?

Do you remember the mystery drones back in late 2024? Here's a quick catch-up in case you've slept since then.

Folks in New Jersey and nearby states began spotting strange drones buzzing all over the place. They were especially worried when drones were spotted around military bases and even near President Trump’s golf club.

Concern grew, and theories about where the drones were coming from ranged from foreign “motherships” to government spying. According to USAToday, federal officials later explained that many of these sightings were either FAA-authorized research drones, hobbyist flights, or, in some cases, even misidentified planes and stars. The FBI logged over 5,000 reports in just a few weeks, showing how quickly curiosity turned into mass confusion.

Where can you fly drones in Arizona?

Arizona is generally drone-friendly, but you’ve got to play by the rules. The FAA requires drones over 0.55 lbs to be registered, flown within visual line of sight, and kept below 400 feet.

Flying over people, moving vehicles, or restricted airspace—like airports and military bases—is a hard no. According to Arizona law, ARS §13-3729 makes it illegal to interfere with police, firefighters, or emergency services, or to intentionally hover near critical facilities like power plants or water treatment sites.

Where is it off-limits to fly drones in Arizona?

• National Parks and Wildlife Areas: Protecting ecosystems is the priority.
• Airports and Military Bases: Safety and security reasons keep drones grounded here.
• Crowded Public Spaces: Parks, stadiums, and events are too risky.
• Critical Infrastructure: Think dams, power plants, and communication towers.

If you've got a drone, you can get some great video from a great vantage point, but make sure you know the rules so you don't end up in hot water!