State Drone Laws vs. Part 107: Why Your License Isn't the Whole Story

Here's a trap that catches new commercial drone pilots. It catches government agencies with real budgets too. You can be 100% compliant with the FAA and still be breaking the law.

Your Part 107 certificate covers the federal layer: the FAA rules for the national airspace. But the FAA isn't the only authority that gets a say. A growing number of states, counties, and cities have their own drone rules layered on top of federal law. Fly by Part 107 alone and you can still run afoul of a state or local rule you never knew existed.

(This is general information, not legal advice. Always verify with your state and local government, and for anything serious, an attorney.)

The two layers every pilot has to clear

Think of drone compliance as a stack:

1. Federal (FAA / Part 107). Registration, Remote ID, airspace authorization, the 400-foot limit, visual line of sight, and night rules. This is what your license and our Part 107 course prepare you for.
2. State & local. Privacy and data-handling rules, restrictions on flying over or near certain places (prisons, critical infrastructure, stadiums, private property), launch-and-land bans in parks, and for public agencies, reporting requirements and law-enforcement use limits.

The FAA controls the airspace. But state and local governments can regulate things like privacy, trespass, harassment, and where you take off and land. Many of them do.

Where pilots get tripped up

• "It's legal under Part 107, so I'm fine." Not necessarily. A state privacy law or a city ordinance about launching in a public park can still apply.
• Launch-and-land rules. The FAA may not care where you take off, but a local park or city might ban it outright. National parks generally prohibit it.
• Privacy over private property. Several states have specific drone privacy statutes. Capturing the wrong footage of a neighbor can create a real legal problem, separate from anything the FAA does.
• Public agencies. This is the big one. An agency can be fully Part 107-compliant and still violate state law on data retention, annual reporting, or law-enforcement use.

How to actually stay compliant

1. Nail the federal layer first. Get your Part 107 and keep it current. (That's what we teach.)
2. Look up your state's drone law. Many states now have one; search "[your state] drone law" and check your state aviation or transportation department.
3. Check local ordinances. City and county rules vary widely, especially about parks, launch/landing, and privacy.
4. Respect privacy by default. Frame your subject, avoid intrusive shots, and get permission when you're near private property. It's good practice and good law.
5. If you fly for an agency, build a policy that covers both layers (see below).

For businesses and agencies: this is a competitive edge

The state layer is easy to miss, because Part 107 itself never mentions it. Knowing it exists makes you look far more professional to clients and agencies. If you're building a drone business, understanding compliance is part of the job. Our Business of Drones course covers the legal and professional side (as general information, not legal advice).

And if you run a public agency, or want to contract with one, the state layer is non-negotiable. Our Government UAS Policy Toolkit gives agencies a customizable policy framework that accounts for both the federal and state/local layers (to be adopted with legal counsel).

The bottom line

Your Part 107 is the foundation, but it's not the whole building. Federal first, then state, then local. Clear all three and you're the pilot (or agency) who actually knows what they're doing.

Want the strongest possible foundation? Start with the DroneWorthy Part 107 course → and grab our free practice test to see where you stand.

General information only, not legal advice. Verify current rules with the FAA (faa.gov), your state and local government, and qualified counsel.