To ensure a safe and legal flight, every pilot must consider regulations at all levels of governance:

• Federal

• State

• Local (City and County)

• Institutional

Below is a summary of rules that impact flight in the Golden area:

• Do:

  • Hold a valid Part 107 Certificate

  • Register your drone

  • Check your equipment before fight

  • Only fly if it is safe to do so

  • Keep the UAS within your sight

  • Fly under 400 ft (unless certain conditions are met)

  • Report major accidents

• Do not:

  • Fly in bad weather

  • Fly over 100 MPH

  • Fly from a moving vehicle (unless certain conditions are met)

  • Fly multiple UAS at once

  • Fly over people (unless certain conditions are met)

  • Fly in restricted airspace

(Read the full 14 CFR Part 107 rules for more information)

By September 2023, all drones must broadcast an identifying signal based of the requirements laid out in this rule. This function can be integrated into the drone or fulfilled with an external broadcast module.

(Read the full 14 CFR Part 89)

Flight over Jeffco Open Space Lands is prohibited under county policy.

Golden requires a waiver for all drone operations in city limits. See their website for more.

Mines requires authorization for all flights on or over campus.

Submit a flight request

Read Mines UAS Policy

learn more about the commercial rules . . .

• FAA UAS Website - the FAA's main drone page

• FAA Commercial Operations Website - the FAA's main landing page for commercial operators

• Know Before You Fly - national drone awareness group

learn more about the local rules. . .

• CDOT - Colorado Department of Transportation's drone page.

• Think Before You Launch - local drone awereness initiative