---
title: O.C.G.A. § 6-1-4. Regulation of the testing or operation of unmanned aircraft system; preemption; unauthorized operation at ticketed entertainment event; penalty; exemptions.
collection: code
id: 6-1-4
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 6-1-4 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/6-1-4
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/6-1-4.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/6-1-4/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t4-6-(v4)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=e24c7bd9_0#page=194
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/6-1.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/6-1-3.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/6-2-1.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: AVIATION / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 6-1-4. Regulation of the testing or operation of unmanned aircraft system; preemption; unauthorized operation at ticketed entertainment event; penalty; exemptions.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term:

(1) “Ticketed entertainment event” means any music, sporting, or performing arts event held in a location with gated entries or barriers that prevent access to the general public and in which a revocable license that has been issued by an owner, operator, or lessee of such property is required for attendance at such event.

(2) “Unmanned aircraft system” means:

(A) A powered, aerial vehicle that:

(i) Does not carry a human operator and is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft;

(ii) Uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift;

(iii) Can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely; and

(iv) Can be expendable or recoverable; and

(B) Such term shall not include a satellite.

(b) Any ordinance, resolution, regulation, or policy of any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state regulating the testing or operation of unmanned aircraft systems shall be deemed preempted and shall be null, void, and of no force and effect; provided, however, that a county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state may:

(1) Enforce any ordinance that was adopted on or before April 1, 2017;

(2) Adopt an ordinance that enforces Federal Aviation Administration restrictions; or

(3) Adopt an ordinance that provides for or prohibits the launch or intentional landing of an unmanned aircraft system from or on its public property except with respect to the operation of an unmanned aircraft system for commercial purposes.

(c) The state, through agency or departmental rules and regulations, may provide for or prohibit the launch or intentional landing of an unmanned aircraft system from or on its public property.

(d)(1) It shall be unlawful to operate an unmanned aircraft system within 400 feet of or above a ticketed entertainment event.

(2) A person who violates this subsection shall be guilty of the unauthorized operation of an unmanned aircraft system and shall be punished as for a misdemeanor.

(3) This subsection shall not apply when a person who operates an unmanned aircraft system:

(A) Has obtained consent by any person with legal authority over a ticketed entertainment event;

(B) Is authorized by federal regulations to operate an unmanned aircraft system and is operating such system in a lawful manner and consistent with federal regulations;

(C) Is an employee of the property where the ticketed entertainment event is held and is conducting official business;

(D) Is an employee of a water, sewer, electrical, telephone, cable, or other regulated utility service provider and is conducting official business; or

(E) Is an owner of private property who is operating an unmanned aircraft system that he or she owns above such property, provided that such operation is consistent with federal regulations and is not used for commercial purposes, to convey or communicate a message, or to record for purposes of commercial broadcasting or publication, monitor, or otherwise interfere in any way with a ticketed entertainment event.

## History

Code 1981, § 6-1-4, enacted by Ga. L. 2017, p. 758, § 1/HB 481; Ga. L. 2025, p. 2, § 1/HB 58, effective April 1, 2025.

## Cross References

Use of unmanned aircraft system to photograph or record incarceration facilities, § 42-5-18.

## Law Reviews

For annual survey on commercial transportation, see 69 Mercer L. Rev. 41 (2017).

For annual survey on commercial transportation: a two-year survey, see 71 Mercer L. Rev. 39 (2019).

## Amendments

The 2025 amendment, effective April 1, 2025, rewrote subsection (a) and added subsection (d).

## Effective Date

This Code section became effective July 1, 2017.