Unlawful use of drones for surveillance
OK Drone Surveillance Law
Other · Location
Makes it a misdemeanor to use a drone to trespass onto private property or low airspace for eavesdropping or surveillance, to photograph or record people where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy, to install recording devices on private property without consent, or to land on private property without consent.
- Where
- Oklahoma
- Citation
- 21 O.S. § 1743
- Status
- In force
- In force since
- 2022-11-01
- Enforced by
- District attorneys (criminal prosecution)
- People can sue
- No
- Penalties
- Misdemeanor.
- Applies to
- Operators of unmanned aircraft systems (drones)
- Excludes incidental capture by bona fide business or government operators and emergency management workers acting within their duties
Practices it requires
- Do not use a drone to trespass onto private property or into airspace within 400 feet above ground with intent to eavesdrop or conduct surveillance.21 O.S. § 1743(A)(1)
- Do not intentionally use a drone to photograph, record, or observe a person where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.21 O.S. § 1743(A)(3) · Only if: Incidental capture during bona fide business or government operations is exempt
- Do not install observation or recording devices on private property without the owner's or lessee's consent.21 O.S. § 1743(A)(2)
Sources
- Official text
- Oklahoma Statutes Title 21 (complete title PDF, Oklahoma Legislature, compiled Dec. 2025), § 1743
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.
Research reference, not legal advice.