Baseline requirements
Federal Rules That Apply in Every State
These FAA rules apply everywhere in the United States. State law can add more restrictions, but it cannot replace the federal baseline.
Recreational flyers
- Register drones at or above 0.55 lbs with the FAA.
- Pass the free TRUST safety test before recreational flight.
- Follow FAA recreational rules, including visual line of sight and airspace limits.
Commercial pilots
- Fly for business under 14 CFR Part 107 with a Remote Pilot Certificate.
- Register drones used for commercial work with the FAA.
- Request LAANC or FAA authorization for controlled airspace operations when needed.
Always check before flight
- Review B4UFLY, TFRs, NOTAMs, airport restrictions, and Remote ID requirements.
- Stay clear of national parks, military areas, stadium restrictions, and other FAA-prohibited locations.
- Verify waivers or airspace approvals before operations that are outside standard Part 107 limits.
Federal resources: FAA UAS FAA Commercial Operators Part 107 Airspace Authorizations B4UFLY FAA DroneZone
State-specific rules
State-Specific Rules in Texas
Texas allows recreational and commercial drone operations under federal FAA Part 107, but Texas Government Code Chapter 423 and related criminal statutes still matter. State parks, wildlife-use rules, airport and military-installation protections, and agriculture licensing rules can all add state-level limits depending on the operation.
Key Restrictions
- 14 CFR 107: 400 ft AGL max altitude, VLOS requirement
- Texas Government Code Chapter 423: Capturing, using, or disclosing images with an unmanned aircraft is regulated, with specific lawful-use exceptions
- Texas Penal Code § 42.062: Operating over an airport or military installation, making contact, or causing a disturbance there is a criminal offense
- Texas Parks and Wildlife: State park drone use is generally limited to designated areas or permitted filming activities
- Texas Parks and Wildlife wildlife rules: Using drones to hunt, drive, count, photograph, capture, or take wildlife requires TPWD authorization and sport-hunting use is not allowed
- Texas Department of Agriculture: Applying pesticides by drone requires a Texas applicator license plus FAA compliance
- Dallas airspace: Class B airspace (DFW) requires LAANC authorization
- Houston airspace: Class B airspace (IAH, HOU) requires LAANC authorization
- San Antonio airspace: Class C airspace (SAT) — check LAANC/B4UFLY for authorization
- Military installations: Texas law separately criminalizes certain drone operations over or around airport and military property
- National Forest System lands in Texas: Commercial drone operations generally require special use authorization from the Forest Service
Permits & Licensing
Commercial: Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107). Recreational: Register at faadronezone.faa.gov, pass TRUST test. No Texas state permit required.
Project and permit planning
Insurance
Statewide requirement
No statewide commercial drone insurance requirement identified.
Public property / permit situations
Insurance may still be required by clients, venues, public-property permits, or local film and operations permits.
Practical takeaway
Verify local permit conditions before flight and confirm insurance language in every contract or venue requirement.
Resources for Flyers
- FAA UAS: faa.gov/uas
- FAA DroneZone: faadronezone.faa.gov
- LAANC / authorizations: FAA airspace authorization
- B4UFLY: Check airspace restrictions
- TFR checker: tfr.faa.gov