Haltom City, TX Drone Rules: Commercial Drones (2026)

Commercial drone operations in Haltom City are governed by 14 CFR Part 107, the FAA Small UAS Rule. Commercial operators must hold an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107), which requires passing the FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Test and a TSA background check. The certificate is renewed every 24 months through an online recurrent training. All commercial drones must be registered with the FAA and display the registration number. Operations must respect the 400-foot AGL altitude limit (higher within 400 feet of a structure), maintain visual line of sight unless a waiver is granted, and occur during civil twilight or daytime unless the aircraft has anti-collision lighting for night operations (now allowed under the Part 107.29 amendment). Operations over people, over moving vehicles, and beyond visual line of sight require categorization or waivers. Much of Haltom City lies under the DFW Class B airspace shelf, so LAANC authorization through FAA-approved apps is required before operations at certain altitudes. Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) may activate over sporting events at AT&T Stadium (Arlington) and Globe Life Field, and operators must check NOTAMs and TFRs before each flight. Texas Government Code Chapter 423 supplements federal law. Section 423.003 makes it a Class C misdemeanor to capture images of private property with intent to conduct surveillance. Section 423.0045 establishes no-fly zones over critical infrastructure. Several statutory exceptions exempt professional uses such as real estate marketing, mapping, utility inspection, insurance claims, law enforcement, and academic research. Commercial operators are strongly encouraged to carry at least 1 million dollars of general liability insurance and drone-specific policies that cover equipment and third-party damage. Haltom City does not currently require a separate municipal drone business license, but standard business registration with the city (if applicable) and Texas sales tax permits apply. Operators should obtain written permission from property owners before flying over private property and should coordinate with Haltom City Police at (817) 222-7000 for operations near public events or emergencies.