Commercial drone operators in Virginia follow FAA Part 107 rules and are shielded from most local regulation under state preemption, with limited exceptions for locality-owned property and specific privacy crimes.
Commercial unmanned aircraft operators in Virginia must hold an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under 14 CFR Part 107. Va. Code Section 15.2-926.3 preempts localities from regulating commercial drone ownership or operation, allowing only narrow time-place-manner controls on locality-owned takeoff and landing sites. State law does not require additional commercial UAS licenses beyond FAA. Section 19.2-60.1 limits law-enforcement drone use to specific authorized purposes such as search and rescue or warrant-supported surveillance.
Operating commercially without a Part 107 certificate violates federal law; state preemption invalidates most conflicting local commercial-drone ordinances.
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