Commercial Drones
Drone Rules
Additional permits and requirements for using drones for business purposes like photography, delivery, or inspections.
How Commercial Drones Rules Differ by Place
Mesa, AZ: Mesa Commercial Drone Permit Rules
Heavy RestrictionsCommercial drone operations in Mesa require an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Operators must comply with all FAA regulations including airspace authorizations, which areā¦
Yuma, AZ: Yuma Commercial Drone Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsCommercial drone operations in Yuma require FAA Part 107 certification and are severely constrained by MCAS Yuma and Yuma International Airport restricted airspace. Specialā¦
Arapahoe County, CO: drones/commercial-drones
Heavy RestrictionsCommercial drone operators in Arapahoe County must hold FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. DIA, Centennial Airport, and Buckley SFB create complex controlled airspace requiringā¦
Overland Park, KS: FAA Part 107 Governs; No Overland Park Drone Ordinance
Few RestrictionsOverland Park has no drone provision anywhere in its municipal code or Unified Development Ordinance. Commercial operators follow FAA Part 107 rules on certification, registration andā¦
Shreveport, LA: State Preempts Local Drone Rules; FAA Part 107 Governs
Few RestrictionsShreveport has no commercial drone ordinance and cannot adopt one. Louisiana claims exclusive jurisdiction over unmanned aircraft and preempts every local drone rule, leaving FAA Partā¦
Brownsville, TX: State law bars a Brownsville commercial drone ordinance
Few RestrictionsBrownsville has no drone ordinance, and Texas Government Code section 423.009 bars the city from adopting one. Commercial operators answer to FAA Part 107 and to Texas Government Codeā¦
Commercial Drones Rules by State
Statewide law governs this topic in many states. Each entry links to that state's full page.
Arizona
Some RestrictionsArizona commercial drone pilots operate under FAA Part 107 and ARS 13-3729 state rules, with cities barred from imposing separate licensing or operational regulations.
Arkansas
Heavy RestrictionsCommercial drone operations in Arkansas require FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certification and compliance with state critical-infrastructure and privacy laws. Federal preemption controlsā¦
Colorado
Heavy RestrictionsCommercial drone operations in Colorado are governed almost entirely by FAA Part 107, with limited state additions covering wildlife, critical infrastructure, and privacy that applyā¦
Delaware
Few RestrictionsDelaware Code Title 11, Section 1334(e) preempts all local commercial drone regulation. FAA Part 107 commercial operators are exempt from state restrictions on critical infrastructureā¦
Florida
Some RestrictionsCommercial drone operations in Florida are regulated by federal FAA Part 107 and state law; local governments cannot impose additional commercial operation restrictions.
Idaho
Some RestrictionsCommercial drone use in Idaho is governed primarily by FAA Part 107, which preempts most state and local regulation of airspace. Idaho Code 21-213 still applies to surveillance andā¦
Kentucky
Heavy RestrictionsCommercial drone operations in Kentucky require an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, with airspace rules preempting local restrictions. State law adds protections againstā¦
Louisiana
Heavy RestrictionsCommercial drone use in Louisiana requires an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. La. R.S. 14:283.3 and 14:337 add statewide criminal penalties for surveillance over criticalā¦
Maryland
Some RestrictionsMaryland reserves exclusive authority over commercial UAS operations under Courts 14-301, requiring operators to follow FAA Part 107 certification, registration, and operational limitsā¦
Mississippi
Some RestrictionsCommercial drone operations in Mississippi are governed primarily by FAA Part 107, with state law adding criminal restrictions on critical-infrastructure surveillance under theā¦
Montana
Some RestrictionsCommercial drone pilots in Montana must hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. The FAA preempts local flight regulation, while Montana statutes restrict surveillance, evidenceā¦
Nevada
Heavy RestrictionsCommercial drone operators in Nevada must hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and follow NRS 493. NRS 493.109 bars flying within 500 feet horizontally or 250 feet verticallyā¦
New Jersey
Heavy RestrictionsCommercial drone operations in New Jersey are governed by federal FAA Part 107 plus the uniform state criminal restrictions in N.J.S.A. 2C:40-27, leaving little room for conflictingā¦
North Carolina
Heavy RestrictionsNorth Carolina repealed its state commercial drone operator permit and knowledge test effective December 1, 2024, so commercial pilots now need only the FAA Part 107 remote pilotā¦
Ohio
Some RestrictionsOhio Revised Code 4561.51, effective April 2025, makes it a state offense to fly a commercial drone in violation of FAA rules, and adds criminal penalties for interfering withā¦
Oregon
Some RestrictionsCommercial drone operations in Oregon are governed by FAA Part 107 plus ORS 837.300-837.390. Public agency UAS must register with the Oregon Department of Aviation, and ORS 837.385ā¦
Pennsylvania
Some RestrictionsCommercial drone operators in Pennsylvania must hold an FAA Part 107 certificate and comply with state crimes under Act 78 of 2018 (18 Pa.C.S. Section 3505). That law preempts localā¦
South Dakota
Some RestrictionsCommercial drone operation in South Dakota is governed primarily by federal FAA Part 107 (Remote Pilot Certificate, aircraft registration, operating limits), state law adds only narrowā¦
Utah
Some RestrictionsCommercial drone use in Utah is governed primarily by FAA Part 107 with Utah's UAS preemption statute limiting local interference. State law adds restrictions for emergenciesā¦
Vermont
Some RestrictionsCommercial drone operations in Vermont are federally regulated under FAA Part 107, with Vermont law adding statewide privacy and law enforcement limits, while municipalities cannotā¦
Virginia
Few RestrictionsCommercial drone operators in Virginia follow FAA Part 107 rules and are shielded from most local regulation under state preemption, with limited exceptions for locality-owned propertyā¦
Washington
Some RestrictionsCommercial drone operations in Washington are governed by FAA Part 107, with state law adding criminal liability for invasive uses and limited authority over state-owned land.
West Virginia
Some RestrictionsCommercial drone operations in West Virginia require FAA Part 107 remote pilot certification, with state criminal limits in W. Va. Code Ā§61-16-2 covering weaponizationā¦
Wisconsin
Some RestrictionsWisconsin commercial drone operators follow FAA Part 107. Wis. Stat. 114.045 sets state no-fly zones over prisons, schools, and utilities, and local governments cannot regulate flightā¦
Wyoming
Few RestrictionsWyoming has no statewide commercial drone license or registration. Its aeronautics code defines "unmanned aircraft" to exclude small drones under 55 pounds, leaving nearly allā¦
Cities & Counties with Commercial Drones Rules
67 locations
California
Florida
Louisiana
Other Drone Rules Topics
Recreational Drones
Local rules for flying drones as a hobby, including where you can fly, altitude limits, and restrictions near parks and public events.
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.