Drone Rules
Recreational and commercial drone regulations, no-fly zones, and local restrictions.
The airspace over a backyard belongs to the FAA, not the city, and that single fact eliminates most of what local drone law might have been. Registration, the commercial Part 107 certificate, and airspace authorization near airports are all federal.
Cities keep control of the ground. They decide whether takeoff and landing are allowed in their own parks and from their own property, and their harassment, trespass-adjacent, and reckless-endangerment ordinances apply to drone operators the way they apply to anyone. In many towns the accurate summary is that no local drone rule exists.
All 50 States: Drone Rules at the State Level
Each tile shows the strongest state-level rule for that state. Click a state to see its full statewide rules and how local cities are constrained.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
What's Covered
Recreational Drones
Local rules for flying drones as a hobby, including where you can fly, altitude limits, and restrictions near parks and public events.
Commercial Drones
Additional permits and requirements for using drones for business purposes like photography, delivery, or inspections.
Park Drone Restrictions
Bans on launching, landing, or operating drones in city and county parks, with exceptions for designated model-aircraft fields.
Airport Proximity Rules
No-fly zones near commercial airports, FAA controlled-airspace authorization (LAANC), and additional state/local proximity rules.
Event Drone Restrictions
Temporary flight restrictions over stadiums, parades, and major public events, plus the federal sports-stadium TFR rules.