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Pennsylvania Drone Privacy & Surveillance (2026)

Restricted: 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.

RestrictedVerified Jul 7, 2026

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Official source: legis.state.pa.us →

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

Drone Privacy & Surveillance in states bordering Pennsylvania

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

DelawareRestricted
Delaware criminalizes operating a drone to invade the privacy of, or harass, a person on private property (11 Del. C. 1334(b)).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: delcode.delaware.gov · Full Delaware rule →
MarylandInfo
Maryland has no drone-specific privacy crime; Econ. Dev. 14-301 reserves all UAS regulation to the State and preempts local drone rules.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: mgaleg.maryland.gov · Full Maryland rule →
New JerseyRestricted
New Jersey (P.L. 2017 c.315) makes it an offense for a person subject to a restraining/no-contact order to fly a drone near the protected person or location.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: pub.njleg.state.nj.us · Full New Jersey 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 →
OhioInfo
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.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: codes.ohio.gov · Full Ohio 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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