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Council votes to repeal local drone ordinance on first reading, cites FAA and state rule changes
Summary
The council approved the first reading to repeal an earlier city drone ordinance, citing improved federal and state regulations and lack of local enforcement actions since adoption.
The Aberdeen City Council voted on first reading to repeal the city ordinance that regulated recreational and hobby drone flying (ordinance 25‑0703). Staff recounted the ordinance’s origin in 2016, a 2019 review and more recent federal and state regulatory changes through 2024 that staff said have addressed many concerns previously covered by the local ordinance.
The staff presentation noted the city has not issued any citations under the drone ordinance; minor incidents were handled informally by police. Given changes in FAA and USDOT guidance on operations “over people, over moving vehicles, and at night,” the staff recommended repeal and the council voted to repeal on first reading; a second reading will follow per ordinance procedure.
Why it matters: staff said the federal and state regulatory framework has matured, and the city ordinance could conflict with FAA authority. Council discussion was brief; the motion passed on a roll call vote at first reading. The repeal will return for second reading before becoming final.
Quotation: “We have not issued a single citation for violations of our ordinance,” a staff presenter said, arguing that state and federal regulation now address many concerns the local ordinance sought to cover.
Provenance: discussion and vote recorded in the meeting transcript during the ordinance items.
