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Massachusetts Drone Privacy & Surveillance (2026)

Info: No enacted Massachusetts statute criminalizes drone surveillance of a person or property; such provisions exist only in proposed bills.

InfoVerified Jul 7, 2026

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No enacted Massachusetts statute criminalizes drone surveillance of a person or property; such provisions exist only in proposed bills. FAA rules apply.

Official source: malegislature.gov →

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

Drone Privacy & Surveillance in states bordering Massachusetts

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

ConnecticutInfo
Connecticut has no drone-specific privacy statute for persons/property; its only drone-surveillance crime (PA 25-1) covers critical infrastructure; general voyeurism 53a-189a may apply.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: jud.ct.gov · Full Connecticut rule →
New HampshireRestricted
New Hampshire (RSA 644:9) makes it a class A misdemeanor to use any device — including a drone — to observe/record a person in a private place without consent (RSA 644:23).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: gencourt.state.nh.us · Full New Hampshire rule →
New YorkInfo
New York has no statewide drone-specific privacy crime (it is largely local, e.g., NYC); Penal Law 250.45 covers imaging-device surveillance generally, not drones.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: nysenate.gov · Full New York rule →
Rhode IslandInfo
Rhode Island's only UAS statute (R.I. Gen. Laws 1-8-1.2) requires FAA compliance and preempts local rules; there is no drone-specific privacy/surveillance offense.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · Full Rhode Island rule →
VermontConditional
Vermont (20 V.S.A. 4626): a civil penalty ($50-$250, not a crime) to use a drone to record images of private property or its owner/occupant to conduct surveillance without prior written consent.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: legislature.vermont.gov · Full Vermont rule →

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