Irving, Texas Drone Laws

Overview

Irving is located in Texas. Drone operations are governed by federal FAA regulations (14 CFR Part 107) and may be subject to state and local ordinances.

State Regulations & Statutes

Texas Government Code Chapter 423 restricts drone image capture, prohibits operations near correctional facilities, critical infrastructure, and event venues. Irving presents one of the most restrictive drone environments in Texas: the city is literally adjacent to and partially underlies Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW), placing virtually the entire city inside the DFW Class B airspace surface area. LAANC authorization is mandatory for every flight in Irving, and many grid cells may have a 0 ft ceiling authorized altitude. No Texas state drone license required beyond FAA certification.

Applicable Statutes & Penal Codes

• Texas Government Code § 423.003: Unlawful to capture images of individuals with expectation of privacy — Class C misdemeanor
• Texas Government Code § 423.004: Unlawful distribution of images captured by drone — Class C misdemeanor
• Texas Government Code § 423.0045: Prohibited locations include correctional facilities, critical infrastructure, and sports/entertainment venues during events (Toyota Music Factory, Irving Convention Center)
• Texas Penal Code § 42.072: Drone surveillance used to stalk or harass is criminal
• Texas Penal Code § 30.05: Flying a drone over private property without consent may constitute criminal trespass
• 14 CFR Part 107: Maximum 400 ft AGL, Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) required, FAA registration mandatory
• DFW Class B airspace surface area covers all of Irving — LAANC authorization required for every single flight; many cells have 0 ft ceiling
• Proximity to KDFW active runways and approach corridors creates significant collision hazard — unauthorized flights near DFW are federal criminal offenses
• Texas Parks & Wildlife Code § 62.003: Drones may not disturb or harass wildlife

Permits & Registration

Commercial: Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107). Recreational: FAA registration + TRUST test. No TX state drone license required.

Official Statute Links

• https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.423.htm
• https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.42.htm
• https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.30.htm
• https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PW/htm/PW.62.htm
• https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107

Local Ordinances

Irving enforces drone restrictions through park use policies and general ordinances. The City of Irving Parks & Recreation Department prohibits drone operations in all city parks without prior written authorization. However, the dominant restriction in Irving is the DFW Class B airspace — the airport's runways extend into and border Irving's eastern edge, making this one of the most constrained drone-flying environments in the United States. Most LAANC grid cells over Irving have a 0 ft authorized ceiling, requiring a formal FAA Part 107 waiver for any flight above ground level.

Local Restrictions & Rules

• DFW Class B airspace surface area: covers all of Irving — LAANC required, most cells have 0 ft ceiling authorization
• Area immediately adjacent to KDFW runways (eastern Irving, Las Colinas): absolute no-fly zone — any unauthorized flight is a federal criminal offense
• Toyota Music Factory (Irving entertainment complex): prohibited during events per Texas Government Code § 423.0045
• Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas: prohibited during events
• All City of Irving parks and recreation facilities: drone flight prohibited without written permit from Parks & Recreation
• Las Colinas Urban Center canal district: high-density area, sensitive airspace near KDFW approaches
• Texas Stadium site vicinity (former Cowboys stadium, now redeveloped): within Class B surface area
• Irving ISD facilities: prohibited during school activities
• DFW Airport perimeter fence (within 400 ft): absolutely prohibited — federal felony per 49 U.S.C. § 46307

Local Contacts

• Parks & Planning: Irving Parks & Recreation Department, (972) 721-2501, www.cityofirving.org/parks

Nearby Airports & Airspace

Airspace restrictions apply near airports. Always check B4UFLY and LAANC before flying.

Local Flying Guide

Always verify conditions with local authorities and property owners before flight.

Potential Safe Flying Locations

• There are effectively NO authorized low-altitude drone flying locations within Irving city limits without a formal FAA Part 107.41 waiver — LAANC grid cells over Irving are predominantly 0 ft ceiling
• Operators must apply for an FAA Part 107 waiver via FAA DroneZone (uas.faa.gov) — processing time can be 90+ days
• For recreational filming needs, consider locations well outside Irving and the DFW Class B surface area, such as rural areas in Ellis or Parker counties

Areas to Avoid

• Entire City of Irving: within DFW Class B airspace surface area — 0 ft LAANC ceiling for most grid cells
• KDFW runway approaches and departures: absolute no-fly, federal criminal offense to interfere
• KDFW airport perimeter: 400 ft security buffer — federal felony
• Las Colinas Urban Center: beneath active KDFW approach paths
• Toyota Music Factory during events
• Irving Convention Center during events
• All city parks without permit
• Texas 114 / SH-183 (Airport Freeway) corridor: directly under Class B

Weather Considerations

Irving experiences the full north Texas severe weather regime. Spring tornado season (March–May) presents significant risk. Summer heat exceeds 100°F with afternoon convective storms. Being adjacent to KDFW means microclimatic wind effects from large runways and buildings are common. Monitor NWS Fort Worth (weather.gov/fwd) and check KDFW METARs. Crosswind conditions at DFW also affect the low-level wind environment in Irving.

Seasonal Tips

BEST: Obtain a Part 107 waiver well in advance (90+ days) regardless of season. Flying in Irving without a waiver is essentially not possible legally. If a waiver is obtained: October–November offers the best flying conditions (stable, mild). AVOID: April–May (tornado season), June–August (extreme heat). Irving is among the most restricted cities in Texas for drone operations — plan accordingly.

Compliance Checklist

• ✓ Federal FAA Part 107 or recreational exemption
• ✓ Texas state regulations
• ✓ Irving local ordinances
• ✓ B4UFLY airspace check
• ✓ LAANC authorization if in controlled airspace
• ✓ Property owner permission
• ✓ Weather safety