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Board of Assessors votes to bar drone use for residential inspections
Summary
At its July 21 meeting the Norton Board of Assessors adopted a policy restricting the assessor's office from using drones over private residences after members raised privacy and legality concerns; staff said the office does not own or use drones and relies on plane-based aerial imagery (Nearmap).
The Norton Board of Assessors voted July 21 to adopt a policy restricting the assessor’s office from using drones over private residences.
Member Luke Srey moved for a policy restricting drone use and a colleague seconded the motion. The board recorded unanimous voice votes in favor. "Aye," multiple members answered when the chair called the question.
Director of Assessing Denise Ellis told the board the office does not own or use drones and instead relies on Nearmap, a commercial aerial-imagery provider that flies planes in a grid pattern. "We don't have drones," she said during the meeting. Staff noted federal and state rules limit low-altitude flights and that the town’s normal flyovers occur at heights that make close yard-level inspection impractical.
The discussion began when a member asked whether the office used drones for updated photos; the clarification that the office uses plane-based imagery helped push the board toward a formal policy statement. Members said the motion was intended to put the town’s stance on record in case other departments or third parties sought to deploy drones over private property.
The board’s resolution will be recorded in the minutes; staff said the practical effect is limited because the office currently purchases Nearmap imagery rather than operating any unmanned aerial systems.
