Federal Drone Laws in Montana
These are drone laws that apply to every state in the U.S., including Montana, and were created by the federal government.
To fly a drone as a commercial pilot in the state of Montana (i.e. for work / business purposes) you are required to follow the requirements of the FAA’s Part 107 Small UAS Rule (Part 107), which includes passing the FAA’s Aeronautical Knowledge Test to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate.
To fly a drone as a hobbyist in the state of Montana (i.e. for fun / pleasure) you are required by the FAA to take The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). You are also required to follow the FAA’s recreational model aircraft rules. One of those rules is that if your drone weighs more than 0.55 lbs (250g), you’ll need to pay $5 to get it registered. There are additional rules when it comes to airspace and altitude, keeping your drone within line-of-sight while you’re flying, and more.
To fly a drone as a government employee in the state of Montana (i.e., for a police or fire department) you may either operate under the FAA’s Part 107 rule or obtain a federal Certificate of Authorization (COA).
Note: The content on this page is meant for informational purposes only, and is not meant to take the place of legal counsel.
State Drone Laws in Montana
These are drone laws that apply to the entire state of Montana, and were created by the Montana Legislature.
According to the Montana Department of Transportation and the Montana Legislature, Montana has two state-wide laws concerning the use of drones in the state.
This law prohibits using UAS to interfere with wildfire suppression efforts. Anyone who violates this prohibition is liable for the amount of money equivalent to the costs of their interference. This law also prohibits local governments from enacting an ordinance addressing the use of UAS in relation to a wildfire.
This law limits when information gained from the use of UAS may be admitted as evidence in any prosecution or proceeding within the state as only information that was obtained with a search warrant, or through a judicially recognized exception to search warrants.
All drone pilots operating commercially in the state of Montana are subject to the FAA’s Part 107 rules.