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Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(A)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, no person shall operate an unmanned aerial vehicle in the air space over this state if the operation is prohibited by either federal law or federal regulations, including any federal aviation administration regulations.
(2) Division (A)(1) of this section does not apply to a person authorized by the federal aviation administration to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle in a manner that otherwise violates the federal law or regulations, provided that person's operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle complies with the terms of the administration's authorization.
(B) No person shall operate an unmanned aerial vehicle in a manner that disrupts, interrupts, or impairs the operations or activities conducted by law enforcement personnel, fire department personnel, or emergency medical services personnel while such personnel is on duty.
(C)(1) No person shall operate an unmanned aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle system to photograph, record, or loiter over or near a critical facility with purpose to further another criminal offense, the elements of which involve causing physical harm to another person or causing another person to believe that the offender will cause physical harm to that person.
(2) No person shall operate an unmanned aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle system to photograph, record, or loiter over or near a critical facility with purpose to destroy or tamper with the facility.
(D)(1) Whoever recklessly violates division (B) of this section is guilty of a fourth degree misdemeanor.
(2) Whoever knowingly violates division (B) of this section is guilty of a first degree misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony of the fifth degree on subsequent offenses.
(3) Whoever purposely violates division (C)(1) of this section is guilty of a first degree misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony of the fifth degree on subsequent offenses.
(4) Whoever purposely violates division (C)(2) of this section is guilty of a felony of the third degree.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Ohio Revised Code Title XLV. Motor Vehicles Aeronautics Watercraft § 4561.51 - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/oh/title-xlv-motor-vehicles-aeronautics-watercraft/oh-rev-code-sect-4561-51/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
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