Considerations for Drone Use in HOAs

Drones are growing in popularity each and every year. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports that there are currently 336,946 commercial drones and 534,439 recreational drones registered in the United States[1]. Many HOAs are grappling with the use of drones in their communities. Should the HOA board use them for inspections? Should homeowners be allowed to use them recreationally?

If an HOA wants to monitor for code violations in common areas, check hard-to-view common areas, like roofs, or take aerial photographs of the community common areas, a drone is an easy way to accomplish that. However, it’s important that the drone stays within the common areas of the community and does not photograph anyone on their own private property, which would be a violation of Florida’s Freedom from Unwanted Surveillance Act. It’s also essential that the drone is registered with the government and is operated by someone who is a licensed drone pilot.

Residents may be unhappy about the use of drones for fear that their privacy will be invaded. If your HOA decides to use drones, make sure to set up town hall meetings to communicate with residents about what the drones will and won’t be able to do to help alleviate their fears.

Another significant concern is the liability that the HOA will assume when using a drone. Drones can weigh up to 55 pounds and can cause major damage to property, serious injuries, or even a wrongful death if they were to fall or crash. If you decide to move forward with your HOA using drones, talk with your attorney and your insurance agent to ensure that you are operating in a lawful manner and that you have the proper insurance in the event of a crash.

Homeowners who live in your community may be interested in using a drone as a hobby. It’s important to set rules about drone use outside the bounds of their own property. While it’s never legal for a homeowner to use their drone to invade a neighbor’s privacy, some areas that will need to be addressed include:

• Can homeowners fly drones in the HOA common areas?
• How much liability insurance do homeowners operating drones need to carry?
• Do the operators need to be licensed?
• Can a homeowner hire an outside vendor to use a drone?
• Do owners need to apply to the HOA board to use a drone?

It will also be important to ensure homeowners understand that they are fully liable for any damage their drone causes. As drone usage continues to evolve, your HOA policies may need to as well.

Consolidated Community Management (CCM) is a full-service property management company specializing in condominium and homeowner association management in Broward and southern Palm Beach Counties.  We are committed to working together with community Boards of Directors to develop management plans tailored to the unique requirements of each community and their residents.

CCM provides a quality of service that is unique to our industry and consistently delivers a distinct competitive advantage.  Our concentrated, extensive local presence and knowledge of community associations results in lasting partnerships and superior service.  We have built our industry reputation on employing the best in the business and assigning only a limited number of properties to each Property Manager Team.

Our team at Consolidated Community Management provides expert property management services at competitive prices.  Contact us today by calling (954) 718-9903 or clicking on ccmfla.com.

[1] FAA. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) | Federal Aviation Administration (faa.gov). Accessed January 30, 2023.