[Rev. 8/26/2026 9:41:52 AM]

CHAPTER 493 - AERONAUTICS GENERALLY

[NAC-493 Revised Date: 8-26]

493.100        Unmanned aerial vehicle: Public purposes for which public agency may operate; restrictions on certain inspections.

493.110        Unmanned aerial vehicle: Adoption by reference of federal list of certain entities; restrictions on purchase, acquisition and operation by public agencies and law enforcement agencies; exception.

NAC 493.100  Unmanned aerial vehicle: Public purposes for which public agency may operate; restrictions on certain inspections. (NRS 493.118)

      1.  A public agency which has registered an unmanned aerial vehicle with the Department of Public Safety in accordance with NRS 493.118 may operate the unmanned aerial vehicle for one or more of the following public purposes:

     (a) Fire services;

     (b) Emergency medical services;

     (c) Protection of a critical facility that is public property;

     (d) Search and rescue operations;

     (e) Preparation for, response to and recovery from emergencies and disasters;

     (f) Communications relay and delivery;

     (g) Surveying and mapping;

     (h) Scheduled inspections to ensure compliance with building or fire codes or laws, ordinances, regulations or rules adopting or establishing building or fire codes that are enforced by the public agency;

     (i) Inspection of public land and infrastructure;

     (j) Inspection and testing of hazardous materials;

     (k) Inspection and evaluation of natural resources;

     (l) Inspection and evaluation of wildlife;

     (m) Inspection and evaluation of agricultural and environmental conditions;

     (n) Training of employees of a public agency;

     (o) Research and development of unmanned aerial vehicles;

     (p) Maintenance and testing of unmanned aerial vehicles;

     (q) Air quality testing; and

     (r) Evaluation of meteorological conditions.

     2.  Any scheduled inspection conducted by a public agency pursuant to paragraph (h) of subsection 1 is subject to the prohibitions set forth in paragraph (b) of subsection 5 of NRS 493.118.

     (Added to NAC by Dep’t of Pub. Safety by R016-16, eff. 6-28-2016; A by R111-23, 12-19-2024)

NAC 493.110  Unmanned aerial vehicle: Adoption by reference of federal list of certain entities; restrictions on purchase, acquisition and operation by public agencies and law enforcement agencies; exception. (NRS 493.112, 493.115, 493.118)

     1.  The Department hereby adopts by reference the list entitled “Entities Identified as Chinese Military Companies Operating in the United States in Accordance with Section 1260H of the William M. (“Mac”) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283),” published by the United States Department of Defense, as the list existed on January 31, 2024. A copy of the list may be obtained free of charge from the United States Department of Defense at the Internet address https://media.defense.gov/2024/Jan/31/2003384819/-1/-1/0/1260H-LIST.PDF.

     2.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, in accordance with NRS 493.118, a public agency or law enforcement agency shall not:

     (a) Purchase or acquire an unmanned aerial vehicle or other equipment or service relating to the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle from a country, business or entity identified by the Secretary of Defense of the United States Department of Defense in the list entitled “Entities Identified as Chinese Military Companies Operating in the United States in Accordance with Section 1260H of the William M. (“Mac”) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283)” adopted in subsection 1; or

     (b) Operate, purchase or acquire:

          (1) Any unmanned aerial vehicle or other equipment or service relating to the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle sold, manufactured or distributed by an entity identified by the Secretary of Defense of the United States Department of Defense in the list entitled “Entities Identified as Chinese Military Companies Operating in the United States in Accordance with Section 1260H of the William M. (“Mac”) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283)” adopted in subsection 1;

          (2) Any hardware, software or service or purchase from any vendor prohibited from being used by a state agency in Nevada pursuant to a regulation, guideline or policy adopted by the Governor’s Technology Office within the Office of the Governor pursuant to NRS 242.111 and 242.115; or

          (3) Any other unmanned aerial vehicle or other equipment or service relating to the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle that is inappropriate for operation, purchase or acquisition in this State, as determined by the Department.

     3.  The provisions of this section do not apply to the use or operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle or other equipment or service relating to the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle that was purchased or acquired by a public agency or law enforcement agency before January 1, 2025.

     (Added to NAC by Dep’t of Pub. Safety by R111-23, 12-19-2024, eff. 1-1-2025)