Can I fly a drone in Houston, TX?
Short answer · With authorization
Yes, with authorization. Central Houston, TX is in controlled airspace around William P Hobby, so you need FAA approval before flying; LAANC can approve flights up to 200 ft here, usually in seconds. Check for temporary flight restrictions before every flight.
- Airspace at ground level
- Class B
- LAANC ceiling here
- 200 ft above ground
- Nearest airport or heliport
- Drv Downtown Houston Aquarium (XA19), 0.3 NM NNE
For the center of Houston, from FAA data as of Oct 5, 10:04 PM CDT. Airspace changes block by block; check your exact address below, and check for temporary flight restrictions before every flight.
Check an exact address in Houston
Common questions
›Can I fly a drone in Houston, TX?
Yes, with authorization. Central Houston, TX is in controlled airspace around William P Hobby, so you need FAA approval before flying; LAANC can approve flights up to 200 ft here, usually in seconds. Check for temporary flight restrictions before every flight.
›Do I need LAANC authorization to fly a drone in Houston?
In central Houston, yes: it is inside an FAA UAS Facility Map grid with a 200 ft ceiling, so you need LAANC or DroneZone authorization. Other parts of the city may differ; check the exact address above.
›Are there airports or heliports near Houston?
Within 5 NM of the city center: Drv Downtown Houston Aquarium (heliport, 0.3 NM NNE); Netrality Data Centers (heliport, 0.5 NM SSE); Allen Condo/Tower (heliport, 0.7 NM W); St Joseph Medical Center (heliport, 0.8 NM S); Lone Star (heliport, 1.5 NM WNW).
›Do I need a license to fly a drone in Texas?
For fun, you need the free FAA TRUST certificate and to register drones over 250 g. For any business use, you need an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Local parks may add their own rules.
Can I fly a drone in…
- Rockwall, TX
- Dallas, TX
- Fort Worth, TX
- Plano, TX
- Frisco, TX
- McKinney, TX
- Garland, TX
- Rowlett, TX
- Royse City, TX
- Heath, TX
- Arlington, TX
- Denton, TX
- Austin, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Las Vegas, NV
- Miami, FL
- Orlando, FL
- Denver, CO
- Phoenix, AZ
- Seattle, WA
- Nashville, TN
- Washington, DC
- Grand Canyon Village, AZ
How the check works
We look up the airspace over your point at ground level. Class G is uncontrolled and needs no authorization below 400 ft. Class B, C, D and Class E surface areas around airports are controlled, and flying there needs FAA authorization, usually through LAANC (14 CFR 107.41). Temporary flight restrictions, prohibited and restricted areas, and National Park Service land each change the answer. Weather comes from the nearest airport report and the National Weather Service forecast for the exact point, compared with the Part 107 minimums and your drone's wind limit.
Recreational flyers follow the same airspace rules and also need the free TRUST certificate. Flying for any business needs a Part 107 certificate. Free Part 107 study guide.
Data sources
- Airspace & special use airspace: FAA ADDS
- LAANC ceilings: FAA UAS Facility Maps
- Temporary flight restrictions: FAA TFR feed and NOTAM records
- Airports & heliports: FAA NASR
- METAR & TAF: NOAA Aviation Weather Center
- Hourly forecast: National Weather Service
- Park boundaries: National Park Service
- Elevation: USGS 3DEP
- Kp index: NOAA SWPC
- Charts: FAA VFR Sectional & Terminal
All public sources, read live. Not affiliated with the FAA and not an approved LAANC provider.