District of Columbia, DC Drone Rules: Commercial Drones (2026)

Commercial drone operations in Washington DC layer federal Part 107 certification on top of the SFRA/FRZ restrictions described for recreational operators. Under 14 CFR Part 107, commercial operators must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate earned by passing the FAA Part 107 Aeronautical Knowledge Test and recurrent training every 24 months. However, Part 107 alone does not authorize flight in the DC FRZ. Commercial operators must additionally obtain a Statement of Work (SOW) approval through the Transportation Security Administration's General Aviation Office, which requires security vetting of the pilot(s), FAA airspace authorization via DroneZone, and often coordination with the US Secret Service (for White House/VP residence proximity), US Capitol Police (Capitol Hill), and local DC agencies. LAANC is not available inside the FRZ — authorizations are manual. News media operators typically work under FAA-issued waivers with recurring approvals. Within DC, additional permits are needed for takeoff/landing on public space (DDOT permit), DC parks (DPR permit), or NPS property (essentially never granted). The Metropolitan Police Department's Special Operations Division coordinates sensitive operations. Film production drone work requires a DC Film Office permit. Delivery drones are effectively precluded from the FRZ.