North Richland Hills, TX Drone Rules: Recreational Drones (2026)

Recreational drone use in Tarrant County is primarily regulated by federal law. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) controls the airspace under 14 CFR Part 107 for commercial operations and under 49 USC 44809 (the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations) for hobby flying. Recreational pilots must pass the free online TRUST test, register drones weighing 250 grams or more (with a 5-dollar FAA registration fee), maintain visual line of sight, fly at or below 400 feet above ground level, avoid controlled airspace without LAANC authorization, and yield to manned aircraft. Tarrant County contains controlled airspace around DFW International Airport, Meacham Field, Alliance Airport, NAS Fort Worth, and Arlington Municipal Airport, so much of the metroplex requires authorization before flight. Texas Government Code Chapter 423 (the Privacy Act) makes it a Class C misdemeanor to use a drone to capture images of an individual or private property with the intent to conduct surveillance, with exceptions for professional and educational uses. Section 423.0045 also prohibits flying drones over correctional facilities, stadiums, concentrated animal feeding operations, and critical infrastructure such as power plants without authorization. State and county parks may have local rules further restricting drone use, and some HOAs impose additional private restrictions. Operators are responsible for avoiding interference with emergency response activities such as wildfire suppression or law enforcement incidents.