Scott Signs Florida Bill on Drone Use

In general, the Florida bill provides privacy protections for residents fearful that a drone will be allowed to fly across their private property and take pictures.

TALLAHASSEE, FL – May 15, 2015 – While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet authorized drone use for most real estate functions in Florida, a bill (SB 766) passed by the Florida Legislature and signed by Gov. Rick Scott yesterday creates new rules for drone use once the FAA does so.

In general, the Florida bill provides privacy protections for residents fearful that a drone will be allowed to fly across their private property and take pictures.

However, the bill provides some protections for the state's Realtors by including "limited exceptions."

According to a Senate committee's bill analysis, "A person or entity engaged in a business or profession licensed by the state may use a drone to perform reasonable tasks within the scope of his or her license."

In addition to the exception for state licensees, the bill allows drone use by tax collectors for assessing property for ad valorem taxes and pictures taken by an electric, water or natural gas utility.

Outside those exceptions however, the bill bans "a person, a state agency or a political subdivision from using a drone to capture an image of privately owned real property … with the intent to conduct surveillance without … written consent if a reasonable expectation of privacy exists."

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