Alabama drone law: Birmingham advances a $500 fine near ticketed events

The Birmingham City Council voted on October 20 to advance a $500 first-offense fine for flying a drone near ticketed events, using Alabama's new drone law, ABC 33/40 reported. The vote came ahead of the October 31 Magic City Classic at Legion Field, DroneXL reported.

Key points#

Alabama's law took effect October 1 and bars certain drone flights within 400 feet of, or above, qualifying ticketed events, ABC 33/40 reported.
The Birmingham measure adds a $500 first offense to the city's fine schedule, the station said.
A later report said final adoption and the start date were not yet confirmed, ABC 33/40 said.
Venue security teams should agree with clients on what officers do when they see a drone.

What the state law covers#

The law applies to music, sporting and performing arts events at venues with gates or barriers that limit public access and require a ticket or revocable license, ABC 33/40 reported. Not every public event is covered.

There are exceptions. The law exempts middle and high school sports, flights with consent from a person with legal authority over the event, and operators authorized under federal rules who fly lawfully under them, the station reported. DroneXL also listed venue employees, utility workers and public safety staff on the job, in its summary of the bill.

A second or later violation is a Class A misdemeanor, ABC 33/40 reported. DroneXL put that penalty at up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $6,000, in its report.

How enforcement may work#

Councilor Hunter Williams said officers must see the drone operator before writing a citation, and he pointed to the risk of an object being attached to a drone over a crowd, ABC 33/40 reported.

Questions remain. A local FAA-certified pilot asked where the 400 feet is measured from, and Councilor Darrell O'Quinn said officers need to know the exemptions, the station reported on October 22. That report said the police department had not yet answered questions about training and equipment.

A Part 107 pilot certificate alone does not show that a flight qualifies for the federal exemption, ABC 33/40 noted.

The state rule also sits alongside federal limits. DroneXL said a separate FAA restriction covers NCAA Division I football in stadiums with 30,000 or more seats, reaching 3 nautical miles and below 3,000 feet, in its report.

What it means for your company#

Write it down. Add a drone section to the post orders for any stadium, arena or concert site, with who to call and what to record.
Observe and report. Have officers note the time, the place and where the operator seems to be standing, then pass it to the client's event lead.
Do not improvise. Officers should know they are not there to decide whether a flight is legal. Agree on the limits of their role with the client.
Check each venue. Rules differ by place and event, so confirm what applies with an attorney or the local authority before you put it in writing.

Guardix officers can file an incident report from the mobile app while clocked in, with photos stamped with the date, time and GPS position.

Frequently asked questions#

Does Alabama's drone law cover every event?#

No. It covers certain ticketed music, sporting and performing arts events at venues with gates or barriers, and it exempts middle and high school sports, ABC 33/40 reported.

Is Birmingham's $500 fine final?#

The council advanced it on first reading on October 20, and a report on October 22 said final adoption and the start date were not yet confirmed, ABC 33/40 reported. Check with the city for the current status.

Sources#

ABC 33/40: Birmingham approves $500 drone fine ahead of Magic City Classic, October 20, 2026
ABC 33/40: Drone pilot questions how Birmingham will enforce event flight law, October 22, 2026
DroneXL: Birmingham's $500 Drone Fine Spares Pilots Who Follow FAA Rules, October 21, 2026