Gaithersburg, MD Drone Rules: Commercial Drones (2026)

Commercial drone operations in Gaithersburg require full compliance with 14 CFR Part 107. The operator must hold a valid FAA Remote Pilot Certificate obtained by passing the Part 107 knowledge test. Because Gaithersburg is within the Washington DC SFRA, every commercial drone flight requires prior FAA airspace authorization through LAANC or DroneZone. The operator must verify whether the specific flight location falls within the FRZ (15 nautical miles from DCA) or the outer SFRA (15-30 nautical miles from DCA), as FRZ operations require TSA vetting and additional coordination that can take weeks to process. Standard Part 107 rules apply: maximum altitude 400 feet AGL, visual line of sight operations only, no flights over non-participating people without an approved waiver, no night operations without proper anti-collision lighting, and minimum weather visibility of 3 statute miles. Commercial operators in Gaithersburg commonly include real estate photographers, construction surveyors, utility inspectors, and event coverage providers. Montgomery County does not impose additional commercial drone licensing, but operators may need a county business license if operating commercially within the county. The city may restrict drone operations in parks and public events. Contact the FAA at 866-835-5322 and verify flight authorization through DroneZone.