Travis County, TX Drone Rules: Airport Proximity Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Travis County Code § 232.016
- No-fly hours
- Dusk to dawn banned outright
- Licensing proof
- Required on-site if FAA mandates it
- Signage override
- Posted no-drone parks bar all flights
- Enforcement
- Travis County Park Rangers, peace officers
- Appeal window
- 7 days, email tcpp@traviscountytx.gov
Summary
In Travis County parks, drone operators must comply with all FAA rules, including the FAA's prohibited airspace zones near airports that cover many county parks. Flights cannot interfere with other visitors, must stay safe and discreet, and operators must carry proof of any required FAA drone licensing. Flying between dusk and dawn or in bad weather is banned entirely.
Use of drones are permitted if:
1. The operator has complied with all Federal Aviation Administration policies and rules regarding the use of drones especially recognizing the fact that many parks are within prohibited airspace near airports.
2. The drone does not interfere with other park visitors' enjoyment of the area.
3. The drone is operated in a safe and discrete manner so as to not pose a safety or security threat.
b. Operators shall have in their possession and provide proof of licensing for the drone being operated, if required.
c. No drone is permitted for use between dusk and dawn or during inclement weather conditions.
d. Drones are not permitted in any County park with signage indicating drones are not permitted.
Full Breakdown
Travis County Parks and Natural Resources regulates drone use under Chapter 232 of the county code, the Park Rules subchapter governing conduct in every county-operated park (Sec. 016). Drones are allowed only under three conditions: the operator has complied with all Federal Aviation Administration policies and rules, especially recognizing that many parks are within prohibited airspace near airports; the drone does not interfere with other park visitors' enjoyment of the area; and it is flown in a safe, discreet manner that poses no safety or security threat.
Operators must carry proof of any FAA licensing required for their specific drone and produce it on request. No drone may be flown between dusk and dawn or during inclement weather, regardless of FAA clearance. Individual parks can post signage barring drones outright, and where that signage exists the county's conditional allowance does not apply. Flying near a posted emergency helicopter landing zone inside a park additionally requires prior approval through the special event application process before takeoff. These rules operate alongside, not instead of, federal airspace law: many county parks sit inside FAA-controlled or prohibited airspace near airports, so a drone can satisfy this section yet still violate federal aviation rules.
Because Texas counties have no general zoning authority, this park-specific provision is the only drone-airspace rule in the county code; it applies only inside park boundaries, not to private land elsewhere in unincorporated Travis County.
Violations & Fines
Travis County Park Rangers, who are certified peace officers, enforce park rules and can evict a violator from the park for at least 48 hours and issue a criminal trespass warning under Texas Penal Code Chapter 30.05. Repeat or aggravated violations extend a trespass warning to 30 days; warnings escalate further for criminal offenses committed in the park. A trespass warning can be appealed by emailing Travis County Parks Police at tcpp@traviscountytx.gov within seven days of issuance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a drone in a Travis County park near an airport?
Does the county require a drone permit?
What happens if I break the drone rule in a county park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Travis County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Travis County to another location·View the Texas drone rules overview
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