Garden Home-Whitford Drone Rules: Commercial Drones Rules (2026)

Commercial drone work in Washington County — real estate photography common in Beaverton/Bethany, infrastructure inspection for Intel's Ronler Acres and D1X fabs, survey/mapping of agricultural land in the Tualatin Valley, and Nike Campus corporate videography — requires FAA Part 107 certification per 14 CFR Part 107. Pilots must pass the Aeronautical Knowledge Test at an FAA testing center, renew online every 24 months, and log operations. Hillsboro Airport's Class D airspace (4-5 mile radius) means most east/central county commercial flights need LAANC authorization through an FAA-approved UAS Service Supplier; automated approvals up to 200 ft are common, higher requires manual ATC coordination. Operations over people require Category 1-4 compliance under the 2021 Operations Over People rule. Oregon ORS 837.360 requires public agencies (police, fire) to register drones and follow specific policies. Nighttime operations allowed under Part 107.29 with anti-collision lighting. Flights over Intel, Nike, Genentech, and other security-sensitive facilities often trigger private airspace restrictions and corporate security engagement. Washington County business license required for commercial drone-service businesses operating from within the county.