Commercial drone work in Oakland County — real estate photography in Bloomfield Hills, roof inspections in Troy, construction progress shoots in Auburn Hills, wedding video in Birmingham — requires the pilot to hold an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under 14 CFR Part 107. Michigan law (MCL 259.305) preempts every Oakland County jurisdiction from imposing additional local commercial-drone rules. The Part 107 pilot must register each aircraft over 250 g ($5 per drone, 3 years), keep the drone within visual line of sight, fly at or below 400 ft AGL or within 400 ft of a structure, stay under 100 mph ground speed, fly only in daylight or civil twilight (or with anti-collision lighting at night), and obtain LAANC authorization for any flight in the Class B, C, D, or surface E airspace covering most of southern Oakland County.
Part 107 certification requires the operator to be at least 16, English-proficient, and to pass the FAA aeronautical knowledge exam at an approved testing center. The certificate has no expiration but operating privileges lapse unless the pilot completes a free online recurrent training course every 24 months. Standard Part 107 operations forbid (a) flight over open-air assemblies of people without a Category 1-4 compliance and waiver, (b) flight over moving vehicles without the same, (c) flight beyond visual line of sight without a waiver, and (d) operations from a moving vehicle in a populated area. The 2021 Operations Over People rule lifted the blanket ban on overhead flight but requires aircraft to meet specific impact-energy limits. Effective in 2023, Remote ID broadcast is mandatory for any registered drone — Oakland County operators must either fly a Standard Remote ID drone or attach a Remote ID broadcast module. Local cooperation: even though MCL 259.305 preempts local drone regulation, commercial pilots routinely coordinate with municipalities, the Road Commission for Oakland County, and Oakland County International Airport (PTK) operations for shoots near roadways, airfields, or events. Insurance: most commercial clients in Oakland County now require $1M-$2M aviation liability per occurrence; underwriters frequently exclude flights without LAANC clearance or without Part 107 certification.
FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation under 49 USC 46301; criminal penalties up to $250,000 and three years for reckless operation under 49 USC 46306. Operating without Part 107 certification when doing commercial work is treated as careless or reckless operation. Failing to maintain Remote ID after the March 2024 enforcement date is a separate violation. Flying over Lions home games at Ford Field is subject to TFRs. Flying within 5 statute miles of PTK, DTW, or DET without LAANC authorization is reportable to the FAA and Tower. Note that Michigan's drone preemption is not a shield against state criminal statutes — MCL 750.539l (criminal voyeurism via drone) and MCL 324.40111c (drone hunting harassment) remain enforceable by Oakland County prosecutors.
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