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Ohio Drone Privacy & Surveillance (2026)

Info: Ohio has no statute criminalizing drone surveillance of persons or property; the state UAV law (ORC 4561.51) covers only responder interference and criminal-intent critical-facility flights.

InfoVerified Jul 7, 2026

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Official source: codes.ohio.gov →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Drone Privacy & Surveillance in states bordering Ohio

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

IndianaRestricted
Indiana criminalizes remote aerial voyeurism: operating a drone with intent to peep into another's occupied dwelling to capture images, a Class A misdemeanor (IC 35-45-4-5).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: iga.in.gov · Full Indiana rule →
KentuckyRestricted
Kentucky (HB 19, 2025) bars using a drone to record images of private property or its occupants to conduct surveillance without consent (KRS 500.130).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov · Full Kentucky rule →
MichiganRestricted
Michigan (MCL 259.322) bars knowingly operating a drone to harass a person or to capture images/video/audio invading their reasonable expectation of privacy.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: legislature.mi.gov · Full Michigan rule →
PennsylvaniaRestricted
Pennsylvania (18 Pa.C.S. 3505) makes it a summary offense to use a drone to surveil a person in a private place or place them in reasonable fear of injury.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: legis.state.pa.us · Full Pennsylvania rule →
West VirginiaRestricted
West Virginia (61-16-2(a)) makes it a misdemeanor to operate a drone to capture images/audio of another person or private property, without permission, invading a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: code.wvlegislature.gov · Full West Virginia rule →

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