New in SC Law | New Drone Rules Take Effect January 1

South Carolina's new drone law adds state crimes for flying near prisons and military sites, weaponizing a drone, and more. It takes effect January 1, 2027.

Drones have gotten cheap, capable, and common. South Carolina is about to regulate them a lot more closely.

On January 1, 2027, the South Carolina Drone Regulation and Public Safety Act (H.4679) takes effect. It sets a baseline of rules for anyone operating a drone in the state, and it creates several new crimes, some of them felonies.

Start with the FAA

The foundation of the law is federal. Operators have to follow FAA rules. That means registering a drone when the FAA requires it, which covers recreational drones over about half a pound (250 grams) and all drones flown for commercial purposes, flying within FAA regulations, passing the FAA's recreational safety test when required, and respecting airspace restrictions.

In other words, the state is not replacing the FAA. It is adding state penalties on top of federal rules.

Where you cannot fly

The law creates new state crimes around sensitive locations. It becomes an offense to operate, take off, or land a drone in controlled airspace, or within 1,500 feet of the outer boundary of a jail, prison, or correctional facility, or within 1,500 feet of a military installation, without consent from the relevant authority. 

It is also an offense to fly a drone that is required to be registered but has not been.

These are misdemeanors, and the penalties climb with each offense. A first offense carries up to a one thousand dollar fine or six months. A second carries up to twenty-five hundred dollars or a year. A third carries up to five thousand dollars or two years.

The serious crimes

The law reserves felony penalties for the uses it treats as most dangerous.

Using a drone to transport contraband into a jail or prison, or to surveil a military installation or correctional facility, is a felony carrying up to five years and a fine of up to ten thousand dollars.

Weaponizing a drone, or using one to threaten or harm a person or property, is a felony carrying up to ten years and a fine of up to twenty-five thousand dollars.

A few more things operators should know

Two other points matter for anyone who flies.

A drone used in a violation can be seized and confiscated by law enforcement. There is a process for an innocent owner to recover one, but the drone itself is on the line.

And local governments cannot pass their own drone ordinances that conflict with the state law or FAA rules. They can still set reasonable restrictions on where drones take off and land, and how they operate, on or above public property.

Before January 1

This law is not in effect yet. It takes hold January 1, 2027, which gives operators time to get right with FAA registration and to learn the no-fly zones before the penalties apply.

If you have questions about a drone-related charge once the law is live, it is worth a conversation. And follow the series for more updates to South Carolina law.

Common Questions

When do South Carolina's new drone laws take effect?

January 1, 2027. The South Carolina Drone Regulation and Public Safety Act (H.4679) was signed in 2026 but is written to take effect at the start of 2027.

Is it illegal to fly a drone near a prison or military base in SC?

As of January 1, 2027, yes, without consent. The law makes it an offense to operate a drone within 1,500 feet of the boundary of a jail, prison, or correctional facility, or a military installation. Using a drone to carry contraband into a jail or prison, or to surveil a military installation, is a felony.

Can police seize your drone in South Carolina?

Yes. Under the new law, a drone used in a violation can be seized and confiscated by law enforcement, though there is a process for an innocent owner to recover one.