Drone Rules in Illinois (2026)
20 rules on the books across Illinois, 10 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Recreational Drones
Local rules for flying drones as a hobby, including where you can fly, altitude limits, and restrictions near parks and public events.
Illinois: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsIllinois preempts local drone regulation through the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act, establishing uniform privacy…
Read full rule →Oak Park
Heavy RestrictionsOak Park's dense residential setting and proximity to Chicago airspace make recreational drone flying challenging. Much…
Read full rule →Cook County
Significant RestrictionsCook County bars flying any unmanned aerial system on land, buildings or facilities the County owns or leases unless…
Read full rule →Springfield
Significant RestrictionsSpringfield bans drone flights over city power plants, substations, water treatment plants, police and fire buildings…
Read full rule →Chicago
Some RestrictionsChicago caps hobby drone flights at 400 feet, daylight-only, and 5+ miles from any airport under MCC 10-36-400.
Read full rule →Waukegan
Some RestrictionsWaukegan limits small unmanned aircraft, including hobby drones, to recreational use only under City Code Sec…
Read full rule →Peoria
Few RestrictionsIllinois preempts local drone regulation for cities under 1,000,000 population, so Peoria cannot enact a citywide drone…
Read full rule →Commercial Drones
Additional permits and requirements for using drones for business purposes like photography, delivery, or inspections.
Des Plaines
Heavy RestrictionsCommercial drone operators in Des Plaines must hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and obtain LAANC…
Read full rule →Chicago
Significant RestrictionsChicago limits drone flights to hobby use only: commercial operators need FAA Part 107 authorization and must still…
Read full rule →Tinley Park
Significant RestrictionsTinley Park's only drone-specific rule bans operating or flying drones anywhere in Harmony Square, the Village's…
Read full rule →Park Drone Restrictions
Bans on launching, landing, or operating drones in city and county parks, with exceptions for designated model-aircraft fields.
Chicago
Significant RestrictionsFlying a drone over Chicago Park District land or any park athletic field, stadium or bandstand requires the property…
Read full rule →Cook County
Significant RestrictionsCook County bars flying any drone or UAS on land, buildings, or facilities the County owns or leases, including County…
Read full rule →Schaumburg
Significant RestrictionsSchaumburg bans operating a drone within 100 feet of the perimeter of any village-owned property used for recreation or…
Read full rule →Tinley Park
Some RestrictionsVillage Code § 133.04(B)(6) bars operating or flying drones anywhere in Harmony Square, the 1.6-acre downtown plaza at…
Read full rule →Waukegan
Some RestrictionsWaukegan requires the property owner's consent before flying a drone over any public or private park under City Code…
Read full rule →Airport Proximity Rules
No-fly zones near commercial airports, FAA controlled-airspace authorization (LAANC), and additional state/local proximity rules.
Chicago
Heavy RestrictionsChicago prohibits flying any small unmanned aircraft within five miles of any airport. The citywide drone ordinance…
Read full rule →Cook County
Heavy RestrictionsDrone flight in controlled airspace surrounding Chicago O'Hare (KORD) and Midway (KMDW) requires FAA Low Altitude…
Read full rule →Event Drone Restrictions
Temporary flight restrictions over stadiums, parades, and major public events, plus the federal sports-stadium TFR rules.
Aurora
Significant RestrictionsAurora, Illinois (Kane County) automatically classifies any permitted special event using drones or other flying…
Read full rule →Chicago
Significant RestrictionsChicago prohibits flying a drone over stadiums, festivals, parades, and other open-air gatherings without the property…
Read full rule →Waukegan
Some RestrictionsWaukegan bars flying a drone over any 'open air assembly unit' without the property owner's consent under City Code…
Read full rule →