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Council approves first reading to repeal city drone ordinance, citing FAA and state rule changes
Summary
Aberdeen's council advanced a repeal of the city's recreation-and-hobby drone ordinance, saying federal and state regulatory developments make the local rule redundant; staff reported no citations under the city ordinance.
Aberdeen, S.D. — The Aberdeen City Council gave first reading Monday to an ordinance repealing the city’s regulation of recreational and hobby drone flying (Ordinance 25-07-03), saying federal and state rules now address key concerns that motivated the local law.
A city staff member summarized the ordinance’s history, noting the city adopted a drone regulation in 2016, patterned in part on early ordinances elsewhere. The presenter said reviews in 2019 and subsequent FAA and U.S. Department of Transportation rulemaking, and recent state action in 2024, have clarified federal and state roles on operations over people, moving vehicles and at night. The speaker said the city had issued no citations under the local ordinance and had resolved a few minor incidents informally.
Councilman Wark moved to advance the repeal on first reading; Councilman Johnson seconded. The motion passed on a roll-call vote. Council members said they expect the ordinance to return for a second reading next week and that staff will continue to rely on FAA, USDOT and state law to address violations.
The staff presenter emphasized that some concerns—voyeurism, trespass and flights over people—were reasons the city acted originally, but said recent federal and state regulatory developments and guidance have reduced the need for local duplication. The council’s action tonight advances the repeal but does not yet finalize it; a second reading is scheduled later.
