Can you shoot down a drone over your SC house? Here’s what the FAA says

With more than 1 million drones registered in the United States, the chances of you seeing one flying overhead have increased in recent years.

Just ask the folks in the Northeast, where drone incursions have prompted fear in residents. The phenomenon has spread to California and Utah in recent days. Federal authorities, including President Biden have said the flights are not nefarious.

But what about when one comes over your house? Can you shoot it down?

That would be a firm no, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which has jurisdiction over drones across the United States.

Here’s what the FAA says, “A private citizen shooting at any aircraft — including unmanned aircraft — poses a significant safety hazard. An unmanned aircraft hit by gunfire could crash, causing damage to persons or property on the ground, or it could collide with other objects in the air. Shooting at an unmanned aircraft could result in a civil penalty from the FAA and/or criminal charges from federal, state or local law enforcement.”

People have done it, according to How Stuff Works website, and they’ve faced charges.

If you see one hovering for a long time over your house your recourse is to call local law enforcement and report it as stalking. Or file a report with the FAA. Get a photo, if possible.

There are myriad other FAA rules governing the use of drones. Pilots must be 16 to get a remote pilot certificate and the drone registered with the FAA if it weighs more than 0.55 pounds. Registration costs $5 for three years.

Recreational drone pilots must pass a safety test while commercial pilots must pass a knowledge test and obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate.

Controlled airspace around an airport is prohibited without FAA authorization. Also, prohibited over designated national security sensitive facilities, certain military bases, infrastructure and national landmarks; or in airspace covered by Temporary Flight Restrictions, which the FAA typically implements at the request of law enforcement for safety or security reasons.

They cannot be flown higher than 400 feet by a recreational pilot but certificated pilots can fly higher above structures as long as they are within 400 feet of the structure and not within controlled air space.

This story has been corrected to further explain the age at which someone can fly a drone and the height limit for flying.

This story was originally published December 20, 2024 at 6:00 AM.