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Drone Authority

Drone laws by state

South Carolina drone laws

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

Primary sources reviewed September 18, 2026Check local city and park rules
Golden coastal aerial landscape seen from drone altitude, used as regional context for South Carolina drone lawsSTATE · SOUTH-CAROLINA
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By Reviewed September 18, 2026State and agency primary sources checked claim by claim

State answer first

What changes in South Carolina

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

Federal FAA rules apply throughout South Carolina, and current law does not yet contain the broad preemption framework enacted for 2027. Current rules restrict operation near correctional and detention facilities, while state parks, wildlife management areas, heritage preserves, and wildlife activity require separate review.123456

Local rules
Check local city and park rules
Parks and land
Verify each launch site
Airspace
FAA rules still control

South Carolina drone laws at a glance

Can I fly here?Yes, generally. Follow the FAA rules, then add the South Carolina restrictions on this page.
Local ordinancesCheck local city and park rules
State parks & landSouth Carolina State Parks requires site-specific contact. Heritage preserves and wildlife management areas prohibit drone launch and landing except for listed law-enforcement and emergency uses.45
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 South Carolina
Last reviewedSeptember 18, 2026 · claim-level primary sources below

State-specific rules to check

  • 01

    Current §§ 24-1-300 and 24-5-175 restrict drone operation within 500 horizontal feet and 250 vertical feet of covered correctional and local detention facilities, subject to statutory exceptions.12

  • 02

    Act 150 (H. 4679, the South Carolina Drone Regulation and Public Safety Act) was signed May 15, 2026 and takes effect January 1, 2027. On that date it repeals §§ 24-1-300 and 24-5-175, bars local ordinances that conflict with the act or FAA rules, and makes it an offense to fly directly above or within 1,500 feet of a correctional, detention, or military facility without written authorization. A first offense is a misdemeanor of up to $1,000 or six months. Contraband delivery and facility surveillance are felonies of up to five years, and weaponizing a drone is a felony of up to ten years. Local governments may still set reasonable takeoff, landing, and operating limits on public property. Until then the current 500-foot and 250-foot rules apply.3

  • 03

    South Carolina State Parks directs operators to contact the individual park rather than offering blanket statewide launch permission.4

  • 04

    Heritage preserves and wildlife management areas prohibit drone launch and landing except for law-enforcement and emergency uses.5

  • 05

    Current law prohibits intentional killing or attempted killing of wildlife from flight without the required permit. A proposed feral-hog drone bill is not current law.67

Launch-day workflow

Before you fly in South Carolina

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

  1. 01

    Use the current facility buffers

    On flights before January 1, 2027, apply the current 500-foot horizontal and 250-foot vertical correctional and detention-facility restrictions.123

  2. 02

    Check local and property rules

    The future preemption framework is not yet effective. Review current city, county, venue, and land-manager requirements for the exact site.34

  3. 03

    Classify the managed land

    Contact the individual state park, and do not launch or land on a heritage preserve or wildlife management area unless a listed emergency or law-enforcement exception applies.45

  4. 04

    Keep the mission separate from taking wildlife

    Do not rely on a proposed feral-hog bill or use the aircraft to intentionally kill or attempt to kill wildlife without direct current authority.67

Beyond the airspace layer

Land access and wildlife are separate decisions

Managed land

South Carolina State Parks requires site-specific contact. Heritage preserves and wildlife management areas prohibit drone launch and landing except for listed law-enforcement and emergency uses.45

Compare public-land managers

Wildlife and hunting

Current law does not create a general public drone-recovery or feral-hog hunting authorization. It prohibits intentional killing or attempted killing of wildlife from flight without the required permit.67

Read the wildlife guideCheck recovery rules
Local preemptionCheck local city and park rules
We could not verify a clear statewide preemption posture; assume local rules may apply and verify before flying.
Parks and launch sitesCheck the land manager
South Carolina State Parks requires site-specific contact. Heritage preserves and wildlife management areas prohibit drone launch and landing except for listed law-enforcement and emergency uses.

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.