ARS 13-3729: Model or unmanned aircraft
The complete text of A.R.S. § 13-3729 on model or unmanned aircraft, what the State has to prove, and the sentencing range, with a violation charged as a class 5 through 6 felony or a class 1 misdemeanor and exposure reaching up to 2.5 years in prison.
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What the State Must Prove Under § 13-3729
A.R.S. § 13-3729 is the Arizona statute on model or unmanned aircraft. The statute sets out 2 ways the offense can be committed. A violation is a class 5 through 6 felony or a class 1 misdemeanor, depending on the paragraph charged and what the State can prove. The maximum exposure is 2.5 years in prison.
A. It is unlawful for a person to operate a model aircraft or a civil unmanned aircraft if the operation:
- Is prohibited by a federal law or regulation that governs aeronautics, including federal aviation administration regulations.
- Interferes with a law enforcement, firefighter or emergency services operation.
The State must prove every element of the paragraph it actually charged, beyond a reasonable doubt. Which paragraph appears on the complaint decides what the case is about, and it is the first thing to check.
Penalties for a § 13-3729 Conviction
| Class | Mitigated | Minimum | Presumptive | Maximum | Aggravated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 5 felony | 6 months | 9 months | 1.5 years | 2 years | 2.5 years |
| Class 6 felony | 4 months | 6 months | 1 year | 1.5 years | 2 years |
| Class | Maximum jail | Maximum fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 misdemeanor | 6 months | $2,500 |
Felony ranges are set by A.R.S. § 13-702(D) and apply to a first felony conviction that is not dangerous and not repetitive. A dangerous offense (§ 13-704), a repetitive offense (§ 13-703) or a dangerous crime against children (§ 13-705) carries a longer range, and some carry mandatory prison with no probation. Misdemeanor maximums come from §§ 13-707 and 13-802; surcharges are added on top of every fine.
Full Text of A.R.S. § 13-3729
A. It is unlawful for a person to operate a model aircraft or a civil unmanned aircraft if the operation:
1. Is prohibited by a federal law or regulation that governs aeronautics, including federal aviation administration regulations.
2. Interferes with a law enforcement, firefighter or emergency services operation.
B. It is unlawful for a person to operate or use an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system to intentionally photograph or loiter over or near a critical facility in the furtherance of any criminal offense.
C. Except as authorized by law, a city, town or county may not enact or adopt any ordinance, policy or rule that relates to the ownership or operation of an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system or otherwise engage in the regulation of the ownership or operation of an unmanned aircraft or an unmanned aircraft system. Any ordinance, policy or rule that violates this subsection, whether enacted or adopted by the city, town or county before or after August 6, 2016, is void.
D. This section does not:
1. Apply to a person or entity that is authorized or allowed by the federal aviation administration to operate or use an unmanned aircraft system if the person’s or entity’s operation or use complies with the authorization granted to the person or entity or with federal aviation administration rules.
2. Prohibit a city, town or county from enacting or adopting ordinances or rules on the operation or use of a public unmanned aircraft that is owned by the city, town or county.
3. Prohibit a city, town or county from enacting or adopting ordinances or rules that regulate the takeoff or landing of a model aircraft in a park or preserve owned by the city, town or county if:
(a) There are other parks or preserves that are within the city, town or county and that are available for model aircraft operation.
(b) The city, town or county only has one park or preserve that is within the city, town or county.
4. Apply to the operation of an unmanned aircraft, including a public unmanned aircraft, by a first responder as defined in section 36-661 while acting in the first responder’s official capacity or an emergency worker while engaged in or supporting authorized emergency management activities or performing emergency functions pursuant to title 26, chapter 2.
E. A violation of subsection B of this section is a class 6 felony, except that a second or subsequent violation is a class 5 felony. A violation of subsection A of this section is a class 1 misdemeanor.
F. For the purposes of this section:
1. “Civil unmanned aircraft” means an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system that is operated by a person for any purpose other than strictly for hobby or recreational purposes, including commercial purposes, or in furtherance of or incidental to any business or media service or agency.
2. “Commercial purposes” means the use of an unmanned aircraft in return for financial compensation and includes aerial photography, aerial mapping or geospatial imaging.
3. “Critical facility” means any of the following:
(a) A petroleum or alumina refinery.
(b) A petroleum, chemical or rubber production, transportation, storage or processing facility.
(c) A chemical manufacturing facility.
(d) A water or wastewater treatment facility and water development, distribution or conveyance system, including a dam.
(e) An electric generation facility, as defined in section 42-14156, and any associated substation or switchyard.
(f) An electrical transmission or distribution substation.
(g) An electrical transmission line of at least sixty-nine thousand volts.
(h) An electronic communication station or tower.
(i) An energy control center.
(j) A distribution operating center.
(k) A facility that transfers or distributes natural gas, including a compressor station, regulator station, city gate station or pressure limiting station or a liquefied natural gas facility or supplier tap facility.
(l) Any railroad infrastructure or facility.
(m) A federal, state, county or municipal court.
(n) A public safety or emergency operation facility.
(o) A federal, state, county or municipal jail or prison or other facility in which persons are incarcerated.
(p) A federal or state military installation or facility.
(q) A hospital that receives air ambulance services.
4. “Model aircraft” has the same meaning prescribed in section 336 of the FAA modernization and reform act of 2012 (P.L. 112-95), as amended.
5. “Person” means a corporation, firm, partnership, association, individual or organization or any other group acting as a unit.
6. “Public unmanned aircraft” means an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system that is operated by a public agency for a government-related purpose.
7. “Unmanned aircraft” means an aircraft, including an aircraft commonly known as a drone, that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.
8. “Unmanned aircraft system” means an unmanned aircraft and associated elements, including any communication links and components that control the unmanned aircraft.
Source: Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-3729, Arizona Legislative Council revision of 09/19/25. Read the official text on azleg.gov. Statutes change; verify the current version before relying on it.
Related Statutes in Chapter 37 — Miscellaneous Offenses
- A.R.S. § 13-3728 — Unlawful purchase, solicitation, advertisement, possession or sale of used detached catalytic converter
- A.R.S. § 13-3727 — Unlawful residency
- A.R.S. § 13-3726 — Unauthorized use of the name, portrait or picture of a deceased soldier
- A.R.S. § 13-3732 — Unlawful video recording of law enforcement activity
- A.R.S. § 13-3725 — Interference with monitoring devices
- A.R.S. § 13-3733 — Failure to maintain adequate records
- A.R.S. § 13-3724 — Obtaining utility service fraudulently
- A.R.S. § 13-3723 — Unlawful operation of a recording device with the intent to record a motion picture
How Tamou Law Group Defends § 13-3729 Cases
A § 13-3729 case is decided by the paragraph the State charged, not by the statute as a whole. We start with the charging document and the disclosure, identify which subsection the prosecutor has to prove, and test whether the evidence actually reaches every element of it. Where the class turns on a fact such as value, an alleged injury, a prior conviction or the identity of the person involved, that fact is frequently the difference between a class 5 through 6 felony and something far less serious, and it is where these cases are won.
We handle model or unmanned aircraft cases across Maricopa County and statewide, from our Scottsdale and Phoenix offices. Call 623-321-4699 any time, or read the statute in full above before you speak to anyone about the case.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is A.R.S. § 13-3729?
A.R.S. § 13-3729 is the Arizona statute on model or unmanned aircraft. A violation is a class 5 through 6 felony or a class 1 misdemeanor, and which class applies depends on the paragraph charged and the facts the State can prove.
Is a violation of § 13-3729 a felony in Arizona?
It can be. Under the statute a violation is a class 5 through 6 felony or a class 1 misdemeanor, so the exposure reaches up to 2.5 years in prison. The paragraph charged and the facts decide which class applies.
What is the sentence for a class 5 felony in Arizona?
For a first felony conviction that is not dangerous or repetitive, A.R.S. 13-702(D) sets a class 5 felony at 6 months to 2.5 years, with a presumptive term of 1.5 years. Dangerous, repetitive and dangerous-crimes-against-children sentencing under 13-703, 13-704 and 13-705 runs longer.
What is the maximum penalty for a class 1 misdemeanor?
A.R.S. 13-707 caps jail at 6 months for a class 1 misdemeanor and A.R.S. 13-802 caps the fine at $2,500, before surcharges. A judge may also impose probation and other conditions.
Where can I read the official text of § 13-3729?
The Arizona Legislature publishes it at azleg.gov, in the revision dated 09/19/25. The complete text is reproduced on this page, and every Arizona criminal statute is searchable on our Arizona Criminal Code index.
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