{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-121.3.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-121.3.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-121.3.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-121.3.html"}],"law_id":78050,"edition_id":1,"section_id":78050,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-121.3","catch_line":"Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; penalty","history":"2018, cc. 851, 852; 2019, c. 612; 2023, cc. 24, 25; 2025, cc. 374, 381, 622.","full_text":"A\n\nAny person who knowingly and intentionally causes an unmanned aircraft system to (i) enter the property of another and come within 50 feet of a dwelling house (a) to coerce, intimidate, or harass another person or (b) after having been given actual notice to desist, for any other reason; (ii) take off or land in violation of current Federal Aviation Administration Special Security Instructions or UAS Security Sensitive Airspace Restrictions; or (iii) (a) drop any item within the boundaries of or (b) obtain any videographic or still image of any identifiable inmate or resident at any state or local correctional facility, as defined in § 53.1-1, or juvenile correctional center is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.B\n\nAny person who knowingly and intentionally, and without authorization, causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter the airspace over any (i) public services or utilities, as described in § 18.2-162; (ii) critical infrastructure, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 5195c, including any military base authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense; or (iii) facility, as defined in 46 U.S.C. § 70101, covered by the federal Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 is guilty of a Class 4 felony.C\n\nSubsections A and B shall not apply to any person who causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter the property as set forth in subsection A or B if (i) consent is given to the entry by any person with legal authority to consent or by any person who is lawfully present on such property; (ii) such person is authorized by federal regulations to operate an unmanned aircraft system and is operating such system in an otherwise lawful manner and consistent with federal regulations; (iii) such person is an employee of the property and is conducting official business; or (iv) such person is an employee of a public service or utility, as described in § 18.2-162, critical infrastructure, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 5195c, or facility, as defined in 46 U.S.C. § 70101, and is conducting official business.D\n\nNotwithstanding the provisions of subsections A, B, and C, any person who knowingly, intentionally, and without authorization causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter the property of and obtains or attempts to obtain any videographic or still image that contains or reveals any controlled technical information located within a contracted defense facility is guilty of a Class 4 felony. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 18.2-146, the owner or operator of a contracted defense facility and its employees shall be immune from criminal prosecution and civil liability as a result of preventing, stopping, deterring, interrupting, or repelling, or attempting to prevent, stop, deter, interrupt, or repel, an unmanned aircraft system from entering the property of such contracted defense facility, or attempting to stop, deter, interrupt, or repel, an unmanned aircraft system that has entered such property, provided that such action does not result in injury to any person.\n\t\t\tAs used in this subsection:\n\t\t\t“Contracted defense facility” means any manufacturing or engineering facility or other related facility where work involving the design, construction, repair, maintenance, modernization, or inactivation of an asset of the U.S. Department of Defense occurs pursuant to a contract issued by the federal government.\n\t\t\t“Controlled technical information” means technical information with military or space application that is subject to controls on the access, use, reproduction, modification, performance, display, release, disclosure, or dissemination, excluding information that is lawfully publicly available without restrictions, as defined in clause 252.204-7012 of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, as amended.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":279821,"text":"Any person who knowingly and intentionally causes an unmanned aircraft system to (i) enter the property of another and come within 50 feet of a dwelling house (a) to coerce, intimidate, or harass another person or (b) after having been given actual notice to desist, for any other reason; (ii) take off or land in violation of current Federal Aviation Administration Special Security Instructions or UAS Security Sensitive Airspace Restrictions; or (iii) (a) drop any item within the boundaries of or (b) obtain any videographic or still image of any identifiable inmate or resident at any state or local correctional facility, as defined in § 53.1-1, or juvenile correctional center is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":279822,"text":"Any person who knowingly and intentionally, and without authorization, causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter the airspace over any (i) public services or utilities, as described in § 18.2-162; (ii) critical infrastructure, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 5195c, including any military base authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense; or (iii) facility, as defined in 46 U.S.C. § 70101, covered by the federal Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 is guilty of a Class 4 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":279823,"text":"Subsections A and B shall not apply to any person who causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter the property as set forth in subsection A or B if (i) consent is given to the entry by any person with legal authority to consent or by any person who is lawfully present on such property; (ii) such person is authorized by federal regulations to operate an unmanned aircraft system and is operating such system in an otherwise lawful manner and consistent with federal regulations; (iii) such person is an employee of the property and is conducting official business; or (iv) such person is an employee of a public service or utility, as described in § 18.2-162, critical infrastructure, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 5195c, or facility, as defined in 46 U.S.C. § 70101, and is conducting official business.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":279824,"text":"Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections A, B, and C, any person who knowingly, intentionally, and without authorization causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter the property of and obtains or attempts to obtain any videographic or still image that contains or reveals any controlled technical information located within a contracted defense facility is guilty of a Class 4 felony. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 18.2-146, the owner or operator of a contracted defense facility and its employees shall be immune from criminal prosecution and civil liability as a result of preventing, stopping, deterring, interrupting, or repelling, or attempting to prevent, stop, deter, interrupt, or repel, an unmanned aircraft system from entering the property of such contracted defense facility, or attempting to stop, deter, interrupt, or repel, an unmanned aircraft system that has entered such property, provided that such action does not result in injury to any person.\n\t\t\tAs used in this subsection:\n\t\t\t“Contracted defense facility” means any manufacturing or engineering facility or other related facility where work involving the design, construction, repair, maintenance, modernization, or inactivation of an asset of the U.S. Department of Defense occurs pursuant to a contract issued by the federal government.\n\t\t\t“Controlled technical information” means technical information with military or space application that is subject to controls on the access, use, reproduction, modification, performance, display, release, disclosure, or dissemination, excluding information that is lawfully publicly available without restrictions, as defined in clause 252.204-7012 of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, as amended.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15771,"edition_id":1,"name":"Trespass to Realty","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13243,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:59:19","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:59:19","permalink":{"id":165549,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15771,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/5\/5","url":"\/18.2\/5\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13243,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Against Property","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","permalink":{"id":165299,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13243,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/5","url":"\/18.2\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":76989,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-119","catch_line":"Trespass after having been forbidden to do so; penalties","url":"\/18.2-119\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-119","metadata":false},{"id":74410,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-119.1","catch_line":"Validity of signs forbidding trespass; penalty","url":"\/18.2-119.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-119.1","metadata":false},{"id":82145,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-120","catch_line":"Instigating, etc., such trespass by others; preventing service to persons not forbidden to trespass","url":"\/18.2-120\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-120","metadata":false},{"id":68767,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-121","catch_line":"Entering property of another for purpose of damaging it, etc.; penalties","url":"\/18.2-121\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121","metadata":false},{"id":80533,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-121.1","catch_line":"Permitting certain animals to run at large","url":"\/18.2-121.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121.1","metadata":false},{"id":70083,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-121.2","catch_line":"Trespass by spotlight on agricultural land","url":"\/18.2-121.2\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121.2","metadata":false},{"id":78050,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-121.3","catch_line":"Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; penalty","url":"\/18.2-121.3\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121.3","metadata":false},{"id":78921,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-122","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-122\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-122","metadata":false},{"id":85017,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-123","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-123\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-123","metadata":false},{"id":73272,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-124","catch_line":"Jurisdiction over offenses committed in Capitol Square","url":"\/18.2-124\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-124","metadata":false},{"id":86603,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-125","catch_line":"Trespass at night upon any cemetery","url":"\/18.2-125\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-125","metadata":false},{"id":75180,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-126","catch_line":"Violation of sepulture; defilement of a dead human body; penalties","url":"\/18.2-126\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-126","metadata":false},{"id":78721,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-127","catch_line":"Injuries to churches, church property, cemeteries, burial grounds, etc.; penalty","url":"\/18.2-127\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-127","metadata":false},{"id":85982,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-128","catch_line":"Trespass upon church or school property","url":"\/18.2-128\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-128","metadata":false},{"id":63739,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-129","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-129\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-129","metadata":false},{"id":62388,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-130","catch_line":"Peeping or spying into dwelling or enclosure","url":"\/18.2-130\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-130","metadata":false},{"id":70019,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-130.1","catch_line":"Peeping or spying into dwelling or occupied building by electronic device or unmanned aircraft system; penalty","url":"\/18.2-130.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-130.1","metadata":false},{"id":68049,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-131","catch_line":"Trespass upon licensed shooting preserve","url":"\/18.2-131\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-131","metadata":false},{"id":65729,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-132","catch_line":"Trespass by hunters and fishers","url":"\/18.2-132\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-132","metadata":false},{"id":74846,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-132.1","catch_line":"Trespass by hunters using dogs; penalty","url":"\/18.2-132.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-132.1","metadata":false},{"id":80288,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-133","catch_line":"Refusal of person on land, etc., of another to identify himself","url":"\/18.2-133\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-133","metadata":false},{"id":74280,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-134","catch_line":"Trespass on posted property","url":"\/18.2-134\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-134","metadata":false},{"id":75088,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-134.1","catch_line":"Method of posting lands","url":"\/18.2-134.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-134.1","metadata":false},{"id":68048,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-135","catch_line":"Destruction of posted signs; posting land of another","url":"\/18.2-135\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-135","metadata":false},{"id":60709,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-136","catch_line":"Right of certain hunters to go on lands of another; carrying firearms or bows and arrows prohibited","url":"\/18.2-136\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-136","metadata":false},{"id":67481,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-136.1","catch_line":"Enforcement of \u00a7\u00a7 18.2-131 through 18.2-135","url":"\/18.2-136.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-136.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":70083,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-121.2","catch_line":"Trespass by spotlight on agricultural land","url":"\/18.2-121.2\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121.2","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":78921,"structure_id":15771,"section_number":"18.2-122","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-122\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-122","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-121.3\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2018. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 851<\/a> and 852<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2019, chapter 612<\/a>; in 2023, chapters 24<\/a> and 25<\/a>; in 2025, chapters 374<\/a>, 381<\/a>, and 622<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":86932,"section_number":"18.2-146","catch_line":"Breaking, injuring, defacing, destroying, or preventing the operation of vehicle, aircraft, boat, or vessel; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-146\/"},{"id":82358,"section_number":"18.2-162","catch_line":"Damage or trespass to public services or utilities","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-162\/"},{"id":85635,"section_number":"53.1-1","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":165575,"object_type":"law","relational_id":78050,"identifier":"18.2-121.3","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121.3","url":"\/18.2-121.3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-121.3\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121.3","dublin_core":{"Title":"Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-121.3","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any person who knowingly and intentionally causes an unmanned aircraft system to (i) enter the property of another and come within 50 feet of a dwelling house (a) to coerce, intimidate, or harass another person or (b) after having been given actual notice to desist, for any other reason; (ii) take off or land in violation of current Federal Aviation Administration Special Security Instructions or UAS Security Sensitive Airspace Restrictions; or (iii) (a) drop any item within the boundaries of or (b) obtain any videographic or still image of any identifiable inmate or resident at any state or local correctional facility, as defined in § 53.1-1<\/a>, or juvenile correctional center is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any person who knowingly and intentionally, and without authorization, causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter the airspace over any (i) public services or utilities, as described in § 18.2-162<\/a>; (ii) critical infrastructure, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 5195c, including any military base authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense; or (iii) facility, as defined in 46 U.S.C. § 70101, covered by the federal Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 is guilty of a Class 4 felony<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Subsections A and B shall not apply to any person who causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter the property as set forth in subsection A or B if (i) consent is given to the entry by any person with legal authority to consent or by any person who is lawfully present on such property; (ii) such person is authorized by federal regulations to operate an unmanned aircraft system and is operating such system in an otherwise lawful manner and consistent with federal regulations; (iii) such person is an employee of the property and is conducting official business; or (iv) such person is an employee of a public service or utility, as described in § 18.2-162<\/a>, critical infrastructure, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 5195c, or facility, as defined in 46 U.S.C. § 70101, and is conducting official business. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections A, B, and C, any person who knowingly, intentionally, and without authorization causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter the property of and obtains or attempts to obtain any videographic or still image that contains or reveals any controlled technical information<\/span> located within a contracted defense facility<\/span> is guilty of a Class 4 felony<\/span>. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 18.2-146<\/a>, the owner or operator of a contracted defense facility<\/span> and its employees shall be immune from criminal prosecution<\/span> and civil liability as a result of preventing, stopping, deterring, interrupting, or repelling, or attempting to prevent, stop, deter, interrupt, or repel, an unmanned aircraft system from entering the property of such contracted defense facility<\/span>, or attempting to stop, deter, interrupt, or repel, an unmanned aircraft system that has entered such property, provided that such action does not result in injury to any person.\n\t\t\tAs used in this subsection:\n\t\t\t“Contracted defense facility<\/span>” means any manufacturing or engineering facility or other related facility where work involving the design, construction, repair, maintenance, modernization, or inactivation of an asset of the U.S. Department of Defense occurs pursuant to a contract<\/span> issued by the federal government.\n\t\t\t“Controlled technical information<\/span>” means technical information with military or space application that is subject to controls on the access, use, reproduction, modification, performance, display, release, disclosure, or dissemination, excluding information that is lawfully publicly available without restrictions, as defined in clause 252.204-7012 of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, as amended. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nTRESPASS WITH AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM; PENALTY (\u00a7 18.2-121.3)\n\nA. Any person who knowingly and intentionally causes an unmanned aircraft system\nto (i) enter the property of another and come within 50 feet of a dwelling house\n(a) to coerce, intimidate, or harass another person or (b) after having been\ngiven actual notice to desist, for any other reason; (ii) take off or land in\nviolation of current Federal Aviation Administration Special Security\nInstructions or UAS Security Sensitive Airspace Restrictions; or (iii) (a) drop\nany item within the boundaries of or (b) obtain any videographic or still image\nof any identifiable inmate or resident at any state or local correctional\nfacility, as defined in § 53.1-1, or juvenile correctional center is guilty\nof a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nB. Any person who knowingly and intentionally, and without authorization, causes\nan unmanned aircraft system to enter the airspace over any (i) public services\nor utilities, as described in § 18.2-162; (ii) critical infrastructure, as\ndefined in 42 U.S.C. § 5195c, including any military base authorized by the\nU.S. Department of Defense; or (iii) facility, as defined in 46 U.S.C. §\n70101, covered by the federal Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 is\nguilty of a Class 4 felony.\n\nC. Subsections A and B shall not apply to any person who causes an unmanned\naircraft system to enter the property as set forth in subsection A or B if (i)\nconsent is given to the entry by any person with legal authority to consent or\nby any person who is lawfully present on such property; (ii) such person is\nauthorized by federal regulations to operate an unmanned aircraft system and is\noperating such system in an otherwise lawful manner and consistent with federal\nregulations; (iii) such person is an employee of the property and is conducting\nofficial business; or (iv) such person is an employee of a public service or\nutility, as described in § 18.2-162, critical infrastructure, as defined in\n42 U.S.C. § 5195c, or facility, as defined in 46 U.S.C. § 70101, and\nis conducting official business.\n\nD. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections A, B, and C, any person who\nknowingly, intentionally, and without authorization causes an unmanned aircraft\nsystem to enter the property of and obtains or attempts to obtain any\nvideographic or still image that contains or reveals any controlled technical\ninformation located within a contracted defense facility is guilty of a Class 4\nfelony. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 18.2-146, the owner or operator\nof a contracted defense facility and its employees shall be immune from criminal\nprosecution and civil liability as a result of preventing, stopping, deterring,\ninterrupting, or repelling, or attempting to prevent, stop, deter, interrupt, or\nrepel, an unmanned aircraft system from entering the property of such contracted\ndefense facility, or attempting to stop, deter, interrupt, or repel, an unmanned\naircraft system that has entered such property, provided that such action does\nnot result in injury to any person.\n\t\t\tAs used in this subsection:\n\t\t\t“Contracted defense facility” means any manufacturing or\nengineering facility or other related facility where work involving the design,\nconstruction, repair, maintenance, modernization, or inactivation of an asset of\nthe U.S. Department of Defense occurs pursuant to a contract issued by the\nfederal government.\n\t\t\t“Controlled technical information” means technical information\nwith military or space application that is subject to controls on the access,\nuse, reproduction, modification, performance, display, release, disclosure, or\ndissemination, excluding information that is lawfully publicly available without\nrestrictions, as defined in clause 252.204-7012 of the Defense Federal\nAcquisition Regulation Supplement, as amended.\n\nHISTORY: 2018, cc. 851, 852; 2019, c. 612; 2023, cc. 24, 25; 2025, cc. 374, 381,\n622.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}