Tulsa County, OK Drone Rules: Commercial Drones (2026)

Commercial drone operations in Tulsa County require an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate — this includes real estate photography, infrastructure inspection, oil and gas pipeline monitoring (common in Oklahoma), survey work, construction progress documentation, and delivery. Certification requires passing the aeronautical knowledge test ($175) at an FAA-approved testing center (Tulsa locations at Tulsa International Airport and ORU) and recurrent online training every 24 months. Tulsa's airspace is heavily controlled — much of the metro sits within Class C airspace of Tulsa International (TUL) or Class D of Riverside Jones-Memorial (RVS), requiring LAANC authorization via Aloft, Skyward, or AirMap apps. Operations over people, at night, or beyond visual line of sight require specific Part 107 waivers. Tulsa Film, Music, Arts & Culture Office (Tulsa FMAC) requires commercial filming permits for aerial cinematography on city property, including parks and the Gathering Place ($150 to $500 depending on scope). Oklahoma has no state-level commercial drone preemption law — local governments retain authority over ground-level takeoff/landing and privacy concerns. Pipeline and refinery overflight (Sunoco, Phillips 66, HollyFrontier in Tulsa area) may require additional corporate security coordination.