ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

House: COM DP 10-1-0-0 | Third Read 37-16-6-0-1

Senate: RAGE DPA 6-0-1-0 | Third Read 29-0-1-0-0

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

HB 2875: local regulation; prohibition; unmanned aircraft

Sponsor: Representative Weninger, LD 13

Senate Engrossed

Overview

Transfers statutory provisions relating to local government prohibitions on regulating unmanned aircrafts from Title 13 to Title 9 or Title 11 as appropriate. Includes regulations on commercial drone delivery systems.

History

Statute outlines restrictions for operating a model or unmanned aircraft including precluding a city, town or county from enacting or adopting any ordinance, policy or rule that relates to the ownership or operation of an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system, or otherwise engage in regulating the ownership or operation of an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system (A.R.S. § 13-3729).

Provisions

Statutory Transfer

1.   Transfers statutory provisions relating to prohibiting a city, town or county from enacting or adopting any ordinance, policy or rule that relates to the ownership or operation of an unmanned aircraft or system and specified exemptions from Title 13 (Miscellaneous Offenses) to Title 9 (Cities and Towns) and Title 11 (Counties) as appropriate. (Sec. 1, 2, 3)

Commercial Drone Delivery System Regulation

2.   Prohibits a local government from enacting or adopting any ordinance, policy or rule that relates to the ownership or operation of a commercial drone delivery system. (Sec. 1, 2)

3.   Voids any ordinance, policy or rule that violates the prohibition on regulating commercial drone delivery systems. (Sec. 1, 2)

Additional Exemptions

4.   Adds that the prohibition on unmanned aircraft regulations do not:

a.   prohibit a local government from enacting or adopting an ordinance on land use approvals for taking off, docking and landing a commercial drone delivery system in or within a one hundred fifty-foot radius of the outer boundary of the area zoned for residential use or from a local government facility or property;

b.   prohibit a local government from requiring or enforcing existing regulations that are not explicitly for an unmanned aircraft, unmanned aircraft system or commercial drone delivery system;

c. allow a local government to withhold issuing a permit or approval for operating, taking off, docking or landing an unmanned aircraft, unmanned aircraft system or commercial drone delivery system in an area not zoned for residential use; and  

d.   limit a local government's authority to apply zoning, fire and safety regulations to the location of facilities used to operate unmanned aircraft or commercial drone delivery systems within one mile of a large hub airport, if they do not govern the unmanned aircraft's flight path, navigation or operation and do not prohibit commercial drone delivery systems in the area. (Sec. 1, 2)

Miscellaneous

5.   Defines pertinent terms. (Sec. 1, 2)

6.   Modifies the definition of model aircraft. (Sec. 3)

Senate Amendments

1.   Specifies the prohibitions do not limit the local government's authority in applying zoning, fire and safety regulations applies to facilities used to operate unmanned aircraft or commercial drone delivery systems that are within two and one-half miles, rather than one mile, of a small or medium hub airport, in addition to a large hub airport.

2.   Adds that the prohibition on unmanned aircraft regulations do not limit a local government's authority to apply zoning, fire and safety regulations if the commercial drone delivery system operator consults with the airport regarding the regulations.

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6.   Initials PB                       HB 2875

7.   4/7/2026    Page 0 Senate Engrossed

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