# Using RC photo quadcopters for real estate marketing. What laws govern flyover of others propety? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 25, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-rc-photo-quadcopters-for-real-estate-marketing-what-laws-govern-flyover-of-others-propety/664502 "2013-07-25T17:23:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-rc-photo-quadcopters-for-real-estate-marketing-what-laws-govern-flyover-of-others-propety/664502/1 "2013-07-25T17:23:27Z")
Lusting after [one of these to](http://www.dji-innovations.com/product/phantom/)use for low level aerial photos and video for real estate marketing packages. What laws govern use of these in low level ( 0-300 feet) airspace flying over others property while taking pics or video of the property of interest? State by state or do FAA federal rules apply? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-rc-photo-quadcopters-for-real-estate-marketing-what-laws-govern-flyover-of-others-propety/664502/2 "2013-07-26T04:19:07Z")
I don’t believe any laws apply. The owner of any property you overfly may sue you for trespass—though damages may be tricky to prove. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-rc-photo-quadcopters-for-real-estate-marketing-what-laws-govern-flyover-of-others-propety/664502/3 "2013-07-26T04:24:01Z")
If I have the right to hunt on my property, then I should be able to shoot one of those down with impunity. Maybe not with a firearm (depends on local laws) but I could probably hit one with an arrow if it’s flying low enough. The property owner could also press charges for peeping, or whatever the local prohibition against pervert voyeurs is. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-rc-photo-quadcopters-for-real-estate-marketing-what-laws-govern-flyover-of-others-propety/664502/4 "2013-07-26T04:26:15Z")
The FAA currently states that commercial remote controlled flights are illegal. So there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-rc-photo-quadcopters-for-real-estate-marketing-what-laws-govern-flyover-of-others-propety/664502/5 "2013-07-26T04:35:00Z")
A [cite](http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21328506.200-civilian-drones-to-fill-the-skies-after-law-shakeup.html#.UfH798u9KSM) would be in order, I suppose… > [@](#): > > real estate agents in Los Angeles, California, were ordered to stop using helicopter drones to shoot aerial movies of properties they are selling. “Although the FAA allows hobbyists to fly model airplanes for recreational purposes, that authority does not extend to operators flying unmanned aircraft for business purposes,” the Air Division of the Los Angeles police department reminded the California Association of Realtors. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-rc-photo-quadcopters-for-real-estate-marketing-what-laws-govern-flyover-of-others-propety/664502/6 "2013-07-26T05:33:42Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > If I have the right to hunt on my property, then I should be able to shoot one of those down with impunity. Maybe not with a firearm (depends on local laws) but I could probably hit one with an arrow if it’s flying low enough. > > The property owner could also press charges for peeping, or whatever the local prohibition against pervert voyeurs is. That’s a pretty weak legal theory. It’s like arguing that if you’re allowed to cut up a tree with a chain saw, you should be allowed to cut up a person with a chain saw.