Canal Winchester, OH Drone Rules: Recreational Drones (2026)

Recreational Flyers & Community-Based Organizations. Why are you here? You want to fly a drone just for fun. [...] What do you need to do? Fly SMART. To fly for fun, you need to: Sign up — Register your drone; Make it legal — Take the FREE TRUST test; Always follow the rules — Know the law; Respect the airspace — Other aircraft fly low too; Team up — Learn from a drone community-based organization (CBO). How do you Fly SMART? S — Sign up (Register). You must register if your drone weighs 250 grams (0.55 lbs) or more. M — Make it legal (Take TRUST). You are required by law to take TRUST and carry proof when flying. Good news: TRUST is free and online. A — Always follow the rules. Recreational flying has rules — see the summary of this webpage below. R — Respect the airspace. Drones are aircraft. Congratulations, you are an aviator! Other aircraft CAN & DO fly low — not just near airports. Recreational operators must fly their drone within visual line of sight so they can see if other aircraft are near them and safely avoid. T — Team up with your community. Join an FAA-recognized Community-Based Organization (CBO) to learn safe flying habits. [...] Recreational Operations. If you want to fly a drone for purely recreational purposes, there is a limited statutory exception ("carve out") that provides a basic [framework].