# No-drone-fly-zone **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [February 5, 2013, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375 "2013-02-05T10:06:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Abby\_M.Rojas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Abby\_M.Rojas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_M.Rojas)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375/1 "2013-02-05T10:06:26Z")
Dear Cecil, I know this thread is a decade old, but with daily threats of the coming police state, I’d like to put it back on the table. > **[Can I declare a “no-flight zone” over my house?](https://www.straightdope.com/21342266/can-i-declare-a-no-flight-zone-over-my-house)** I read both of your replies and they were very informative, (especially enjoyed the “charming story” about big gov. and traumatized chickens). You stated that the courts ruling is that we have air rights only insofar as they’re “essential to the use and enjoyment of your land”. I feel very strongly that drones flying over my home and property would most definitely interfere with the enjoyment of my land. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling this way. How then should I go about posting a no-drone-fly-zone? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375/2 "2013-02-05T10:14:39Z")
> [@Abby\_M.Rojas](#): > > Dear Cecil, > > I know this thread is a decade old, but with daily threats of the coming police state, I’d like to put it back on the table. > > [Can I declare a “no-flight zone” over my house? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1117/can-i-declare-a-no-flight-zone-over-my-house) > > I read both of your replies and they were very informative, (especially enjoyed the “charming story” about big gov. and traumatized chickens). > > You stated that the courts ruling is that we have air rights only insofar as they’re “essential to the use and enjoyment of your land”. I feel very strongly that drones flying over my home and property would most definitely interfere with the enjoyment of my land. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling this way. How then should I go about posting a no-drone-fly-zone? You carry on an old American tradition. You sue. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375/3 "2013-02-05T16:05:13Z")
> [@Abby\_M.Rojas](#): > > I feel very strongly that drones flying over my home and property would most definitely interfere with the enjoyment of my land. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling this way. How then should I go about posting a no-drone-fly-zone? Hurt feelings are unlikely to cut much mustard here. If operation of aircraft had to take note of the feelings of the owners of all property beneath a flight path, it would become impossible. There may be a useful analogy with traffic on the road past someone’s house. It’s easy to imagine a homeowner who would feel better if trucks over a certain size weren’t allowed to pass, or photography of his house was prohibited - but such rules would be both difficult to enforce and unreasonably restrictive on others. OTOH, a homeowner plausibly should be able to object to having his house illuminated with laser light. So your chances of prevailing over drone flight probably hinge on your ability to cite specific damage that this is causing you. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375/4 "2013-02-05T16:46:40Z")
If there’s something you don’t want them to see, I’d be more worried about disconnecting your web cam. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375/5 "2013-02-05T17:07:54Z")
> [@Abby\_M.Rojas](#): > > Dear Cecil, > > I know this thread is a decade old, but with daily threats of the coming police state, I’d like to put it back on the table. > > [Can I declare a “no-flight zone” over my house? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1117/can-i-declare-a-no-flight-zone-over-my-house) > > I read both of your replies and they were very informative, (especially enjoyed the “charming story” about big gov. and traumatized chickens). > > You stated that the courts ruling is that we have air rights only insofar as they’re “essential to the use and enjoyment of your land”. I feel very strongly that drones flying over my home and property would most definitely interfere with the enjoyment of my land. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling this way. How then should I go about posting a no-drone-fly-zone? Do you feel the same about satellites? Ever looked at Google Earth and looked up your house? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375/6 "2013-02-05T23:29:01Z")
> [@Abby\_M.Rojas](#): > > Dear Cecil, > > I know this thread is a decade old, but with daily threats of the coming police state, I’d like to put it back on the table. I ask this in all seriousness, what threats? Please be specific. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375/7 "2013-02-05T23:50:04Z")
Mount a couple of those motion-sensor paintball guns up on your roof. Also solves that pesky pigeon problem. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375/8 "2013-02-06T01:32:20Z")
Nah. That would run afoul of various hunting laws- and if he should kill an endangered animal the feds will really be after him. The way I see it, the answer is to make the drones useless. What he needs to do is build a UV, infrared proof faraday cage over his entire property. I suggest a geodesic dome as they become stronger the bigger they are and are so very cool. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375/9 "2013-02-06T02:17:13Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Do you feel the same about satellites? Ever looked at Google Earth and looked up your house? Pictures that show your house on google earth were taken by airplanes not satellites. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375/10 "2013-02-06T02:19:03Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > The way I see it, the answer is to make the drones useless. What he needs to do is build a UV, infrared proof faraday cage over his entire property. I suggest a geodesic dome as they become stronger the bigger they are and are so very cool. Go big, or go home. [Underground bunker](http://www.safecastle.com/falloutshelters.aspx)! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375/11 "2013-02-06T02:27:43Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > Pictures that show your house on google earth were taken by airplanes not satellites. And that makes it even more relevant. Drones _are_ airplanes. Blocking a type of airplane from flying over your house because of your personal political opinions is not likely to be a successful endeavor. Lots of people have negative opinions about one airline or another, but you can’t declare the sky over your house a Delta-free or United-free zone. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375/12 "2013-02-06T03:04:18Z")
> [@deltasigma](#): > > Go big, or go home. [Underground bunker](http://www.safecastle.com/falloutshelters.aspx)! 🆒 Nah. Go big or go DOME! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375/13 "2013-02-06T03:29:23Z")
400’ tall spite fence. Made of badgers. ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_M.Rojas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Abby\_M.Rojas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_M.Rojas)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375/14 "2013-02-09T00:43:42Z")
specifically \>\> [http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/12/23/279638/america-police-state-in-motion/](http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/12/23/279638/america-police-state-in-motion/) ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375/15 "2013-02-09T02:18:01Z")
> [@Abby\_M.Rojas](#): > > specifically \>\> [http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/12/23/279638/america-police-state-in-motion/](http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/12/23/279638/america-police-state-in-motion/) Again, could you be more specific? I read the article. It did not answer my question. ---
**Author:** ![Powers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Powers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Powers)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-drone-fly-zone/649375/16 "2013-02-12T18:35:57Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > Pictures that show your house on google earth were taken by airplanes not satellites. Hardly. Some of the highest-resolution imagery may have been, but houses are perfectly visible on the 2.5-m satellite images. Powers &8^]