Florida preempts local drone regulation to the state under Fla. Stat. section 330.41, so Bay County cannot restrict flight. Recreational flyers follow FAA rules: register over 250 grams, pass the TRUST test, stay below 400 feet. Tyndall AFB and ECP airspace restrict where you can fly.
Bay County and its cities cannot regulate where you fly a drone - Fla. Stat. section 330.41, the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act, vests that authority in the state. Recreational flights follow the FAA's rule for hobbyists, 49 U.S.C. section 44809: register any drone over 250 grams, pass the free TRUST test, keep the aircraft in visual line of sight, stay below 400 feet, and yield to crewed aircraft. The big constraints over Bay County are airspace, not local law: Tyndall Air Force Base sits under restricted and controlled airspace, and Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) requires LAANC authorization nearby. Fla. Stat. section 934.50 separately limits drone surveillance and imaging of people.
The FAA can impose civil penalties in the thousands of dollars for an unregistered drone, flying above 400 feet, or entering controlled or restricted airspace near Tyndall or ECP. Reckless operation can add criminal charges.
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