FAA Temporary Flight Restrictions ban drone flight within three nautical miles of Soldier Field, Wrigley Field, United Center, and Guaranteed Rate Field during events. Major festivals such as Lollapalooza and NASCAR street race trigger additional FAA TFRs and CPD enforcement.
FAA stadium TFR 14 CFR 91.145 prohibits drones, model aircraft, and ultralights below 3,000 feet within a three-nautical-mile radius of MLB, NFL, NCAA Division I, and major motor speedway events one hour before and after. Soldier Field Bears games, Wrigley and Guaranteed Rate Field MLB games, United Center Bulls and Blackhawks games, and the NASCAR Chicago Street Race all trigger this rule. Lollapalooza, Pride Parade, NATO summits, and Presidential visits prompt FAA-issued TFRs that ban drones outright. CPD coordinates with FAA, Secret Service, and federal partners. Park District event permits typically forbid drone use. Violations may cause federal criminal charges including 18 USC 32 interference and TFR penalties.
Violating a stadium or event TFR can bring FAA penalties up to $32,666, federal criminal charges, drone seizure, and CPD arrest for interference. Repeat offenses lead to permanent registration revocation.
Chicago, IL
Chicago Park District Code 7 prohibits launching, landing, or operating model aircraft and drones on Park District land except in a small number of designate...
Chicago, IL
Chicago sits inside Class B controlled airspace centered on O'Hare and Midway. Federal FAA rules preempt local drone regulation, but recreational and commerc...
Chicago, IL
Commercial drone operations in Chicago require FAA Part 107 certification and must comply with MCC 10-36-400. Chicago's local restrictions on proximity to in...
See how Chicago's event drone restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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