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Drone Authority

Drone laws by state

Oregon drone laws

Start with Oregon's state, local, and land-manager rules. Then use the federal baseline as the floor before you launch.

Primary sources reviewed September 18, 2026State preempts local drone rules
Golden coastal aerial landscape seen from drone altitude, used as regional context for Oregon drone lawsSTATE · OREGON
All states
By Reviewed September 18, 2026State and agency primary sources checked claim by claim

State answer first

What changes in Oregon

You can generally fly a drone in Oregon if you follow the FAA rules and then add the state, local, and land-manager restrictions below.

Federal FAA rules apply across Oregon. Oregon generally preempts local regulation of drone ownership and operation but preserves local authority over launch and landing in locally owned parks. State law separately addresses private-premises harassment, critical infrastructure, aircraft interference, managed lands, and drone-assisted hunting.124

Local rules
State preempts local drone rules
Parks and land
Verify each launch site
Airspace
FAA rules still control

Oregon drone laws at a glance

Can I fly here?Yes, generally. Follow the FAA rules, then add the Oregon restrictions on this page.
Local ordinancesState preempts local drone rules
State parks & landOregon State Parks uses designated UAS operation areas and special-use permits. Check the live agency page because openings, closures, and effective dates can change by property.23
License & registrationFederal, same in every state: Part 107 or TRUST, plus registration and Remote ID when the aircraft must be registered.
Where to flyFlying sites, clubs, and FRIAs in Oregon
Last reviewedSeptember 18, 2026 · claim-level primary sources below

State-specific rules to check

  • 01

    ORS 837.385 generally preempts local drone ownership and operation rules, while ORS 837.387 preserves local authority to regulate takeoff and landing in locally owned parks.1

  • 02

    ORS 837.370 addresses intentional drone harassment over private premises, ORS 837.372 restricts listed critical-infrastructure operation at or below 400 feet AGL, and ORS 837.374 prohibits reckless interference with aircraft.1

  • 03

    OAR 736-010-0040 creates designated UAS operation areas and a special-use permit path on Oregon State Parks property.2

  • 04

    Since August 8, 2026 Oregon State Parks allows recreational drone operation at a published list of about twenty properties, including Sumpter Valley Dredge, L.L. Stub Stewart, and coastal sites such as Sunset Beach and Bob Straub. Every other state park property and the ocean shore remain closed to drone launch and landing without a permit, and new openings are posted 30 days in advance.3

  • 05

    Oregon prohibits using a drone for angling, hunting, or trapping, including locating, scouting, and harassing wildlife. No general public wounded-game recovery exception was identified.45

Launch-day workflow

Before you fly in Oregon

Work through these state-specific checks before the usual FAA airspace, weather, aircraft, and crew review.

  1. 01

    Check the local park exception

    Although Oregon broadly preempts local operation rules, a city or county can regulate takeoff and landing in a park it owns.1

  2. 02

    Map private premises and infrastructure

    Review the private-premises harassment provision and identify covered critical infrastructure before setting a route at or below 400 feet AGL.1

  3. 03

    Open the current State Parks page

    Confirm the exact property is on the current open list on the flight date or obtain a special-use permit. Commercial, research, and other non-recreational use needs an OPRD permit everywhere.23

  4. 04

    Exclude hunting, fishing, and trapping uses

    Do not use the drone to locate, scout, harass, or otherwise aid in taking wildlife or fish.45

Beyond the airspace layer

Land access and wildlife are separate decisions

Managed land

Oregon State Parks uses designated UAS operation areas and special-use permits. Check the live agency page because openings, closures, and effective dates can change by property.23

Compare public-land managers

Wildlife and hunting

Oregon prohibits using a drone for angling, hunting, or trapping, including locating, scouting, and harassing wildlife. The cited rules do not provide a general public wounded-game recovery exception.45

Read the wildlife guideCheck recovery rules
Local preemptionState preempts local drone rules
A statewide law reserves drone regulation to the state, so cities and counties generally cannot add their own drone ordinances.
Parks and launch sitesCheck the land manager
Oregon State Parks uses designated UAS operation areas and special-use permits. Check the live agency page because openings, closures, and effective dates can change by property.

Primary sources

These sources support the material state claims above. State laws, local park rules, and emergency restrictions can still change faster than a static guide.