You probably don't need a military-grade counter-drone system to protect your organization. But you do need to understand the threat and have a plan.
Most small and mid-sized organizations don't need counter-drone equipment, and private citizens almost certainly can't legally shoot down, jam, or take control of a drone. As of October 2026, most local police can't either. What you can prepare for now is low-cost: know what's around you, report suspicious drones and pilots, never approach a drone that lands, and have a plan to get people inside a solid building fast.
I've spent the last several years studying how drones threaten civilian spaces, as a law enforcement officer with over 12 years of experience and as co-founder of Crisis Prevention and Response (CPR). This is the short version of what business owners and organization leaders actually need to know.
What can a drone do to my business or organization?
Anyone can now buy a drone that carries a few pounds and fly it from a mile or more away, several hundred feet up. From there, budget, skill, and imagination are the only limits.
Anyone can now buy a drone that carries a few pounds and fly it from a mile or more away, several hundred feet up. From there, budget, skill, and imagination are the only limits.
This isn't theoretical anymore:
In July 2020, a DJI Mavic 2 with a thick copper wire hanging under it was found near a Pennsylvania power substation. A joint DHS, FBI, and NCTC bulletin assessed it was likely meant to short out equipment and disrupt the grid.
In 2019, a Northampton County, Pennsylvania, man flew a drone over his ex-girlfriend’s home and dropped homemade bombs, rattling the small community for months. When the FBI arrested him, agents found even more improvised explosive devices. He was sentenced to five years in federal prison.
Criminals already use drones to smuggle contraband into prisons and to conduct surveillance.
People have strapped explosives to them and used them as small guided missiles or bombers since the 2010s in almost every armed conflict on earth.
Theoretically, a drone could even carry hacking equipment close to a building to reach the computers inside wirelessly.
As I write this, the attack security analysts fear most, a drone flying a deadly payload into a crowd, has not happened on US soil. Harmful payloads have been delivered here, but none of them have hurt many people or made major headlines. That could change, which is why it's worth preparing now.
Can I legally shoot down or jam a drone?
Almost certainly not. Under current federal law, a private person or business cannot shoot down, jam, or take control of a drone, even one that appears to carry a weapon. Only agencies and people who have been given prior authorization by the federal government to use specifically approved counter-drone technology can. If you have to ask whether you have that authority, you probably don't.
Can local police take down a drone?
The law now allows it, but in practice almost none can yet. The SAFER SKIES Act, signed in December 2025, created a path for state and local law enforcement to get federally certified to detect and disable drones, with rules effective July 1, 2026. As of October 2026, very few local agencies have that capability. The certification is new, training is limited, and the equipment is expensive. Plan as if no one is coming to take the drone out of the sky.
Does my small business or organization need counter-drone equipment?
For most organizations, no. Here are some reasons why:
Detection systems range from inexpensive Remote ID receivers to radar and radio-frequency sensors that cost far more. Remote ID only reveals drones that broadcast it, and someone planning harm can fly a drone under 250 grams, a homemade build, or one with Remote ID turned off. The federal government even advises reviewing detection system purchases with an attorney, because some systems may be illegal to run under federal surveillance laws. At best, detection buys you warning time.
Protective nets and moving events indoors work for small, high-value spaces but rarely for parking lots, festivals, campuses or other large areas.
Jammers are illegal. The FCC bars the public from operating, marketing, selling, or importing them in the US. Only authorized federal agencies, plus police agencies certified under the new SAFER SKIES rules, may use approved drone-mitigation systems. Jamming can also knock out nearby phones and 911 calls. If a vendor offers you one, walk away.
Is it illegal for someone to fly a drone over my property?
Usually not. Federal rules limit flying near airports, over crowds, within 3 nautical miles of most major stadium events, and inside FAA temporary flight restrictions. Florida and many other states add limits over critical infrastructure, prisons, and schools. Outside those areas, people can generally fly where they want, and a drone over a house or business is not, by itself, a crime in most cases.
What should my organization do to prepare for a drone threat?
Focus on awareness, reporting, and a plan to protect people.
Know your surroundings. If you're within three to ten miles of a crowded venue, critical infrastructure, or a military base, someone could launch from your property. Check a satellite map of what is around you within about 10 miles.
Make your property a hard place to launch from. Limit access to roofs, parking garages, and open lots you control, and question anyone setting up a drone on your property.
Report suspicious drones and pilots to local police, especially drones heading toward sensitive sites or people flying with no drone in sight or trying to hide that they're flying a drone.
Watch for warning signs in people. Surveillance of a target, practice flights, and dry runs often come before an attack.
Never approach a drone that lands nearby. It could be a Trojan horse carrying a payload. Keep people away and call 911.
Have a plan to get people inside a solid building and away from windows if you see a suspicious or dangerous drone. One of the most effective countermeasures against small drones is simply getting people inside. Decide who makes that call and which buildings will be used for shelter.
Stay current. Drone laws and technology are changing fast.
The bottom line
A major small-drone attack hasn't happened in the US yet, but the threat is real. Stay up to date on what drones can do and what you're allowed to do about a malicious one. Make the spaces you control hard to launch a drone from, and have a plan to protect your people.
Frequently asked questions
Can a private business legally take down a drone? Almost certainly not. Federal law prohibits private persons and businesses from shooting down, jamming, or taking control of a drone, even one that appears dangerous.
Can local police stop a dangerous drone? The SAFER SKIES Act lets state and local police get certified to detect and disable drones, but as of October 2026 very few local agencies have the training or equipment to do it.
What is the SAFER SKIES Act? A federal law signed in December 2025 that created a certification path for state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement to detect and mitigate drones. Its implementing rule took effect July 1, 2026.
Are drone jammers legal for businesses? No. The FCC prohibits operating, marketing, or selling jammers in the US. Using one can also block nearby phones and 911 calls.
What should I do if a drone lands near my building? Don't approach or touch it. Keep people away, clear the area, and call 911. It could be bait carrying a dangerous payload.
What should I do if I see a suspicious drone? Move people into a solid building and away from windows, then report the drone and, if visible, the pilot to local police.
How do I report a suspicious drone? Call 911 if the drone poses an immediate threat. Otherwise, call your local police non-emergency line. Note the time, location, what the drone looked like, which way it went, and where the pilot was standing, including any vehicle.
Daniel Holland is the co-founder of Crisis Prevention and Response (CPR), a security consulting and training firm that delivers practical security solutions to homes, businesses, schools, houses of worship, and other organizations. He is an active law enforcement officer with over 12 years of experience in investigations, crime prevention, and public safety. He holds Florida Crime Prevention Practitioner and Florida Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Practitioner designations along with FBI-LEEDA Public Information Officer certification at both levels. He has completed the Department of Homeland Security’s Drone Assessment and Response Tactics (DART) training at New Mexico Tech. He also specializes in emerging threat assessment, with a focus on the drone threat landscape and its implications for civilian organizations. Contact CPR to set up a review.
