HomeLegal DirectoryMN drone-warrant law (2020)

In effect Moderate protection

Minnesota SF 3072 — Law-Enforcement Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Minnesota · Minn. Stat. § 626.19

Minnesota requires police to get a search warrant before using a drone, with narrow exceptions, and to publish an annual public report listing every drone deployment, purpose, and cost. The annual transparency requirement is among the strongest in any state drone law.

Technical detail

Minn. Stat. § 626.19, added by SF 3072 (2020 Special Session Ch. 1, Art. 1, § 17); annual report due Jan. 15 to BCA and posted publicly.

Who is protected: Minnesotans subject to law-enforcement drone surveillance

Who must comply: Minnesota state and local law-enforcement agencies

Key facts

JurisdictionMinnesota
LevelState
StatusIn effect
Protection strengthModerate protection
Effective date2020-08-01
Enacted2020-06-16
CitationMinn. Stat. § 626.19
Enforced byMinnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; state courts (suppression)
Private right of actionNo — agency enforcement only
PenaltiesInadmissibility of evidence; agency reporting obligations
Topicsconsumer data privacy · police and surveillance AI · AI disclosure and transparency
Last verified2026-06-17
Official sourceMinnesota Statutes § 626.19 — Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ↗

More AI rules in Minnesota

Related consumer data privacy rules elsewhere

See something wrong or out of date? Submit a correction — every entry must carry a verifiable official source.