As a commercial drone services provider located in Cleveland, Ohio, we know a thing or two about flying in this state. One of the questions we get asked often is whether you can fly at a specific location in Cleveland. See our blog post Where to Fly Drones in Cleveland for that information.

Drone flights in Ohio are subject to FAA regulations for operating in the national airspace. Some municipalities are enacting their own ordinances for drone use, but these should only apply to launching and landing locations, as local municipalities don't control airspace. We recommend checking your city/county for any such drone restrictions.

FAA Part 107 Regulations

Under FAA regulations you must have either a TRUST Test Certificate (for hobbyists) or a Part 107 Drone License Certificate (for commercial drone pilots) to fly drones in Ohio. We offer Part 107 Prep classes locally as a 2-day in-person class that prepares anyone to take and pass the test. See our event schedule for the next available class and read our student testimonials (over 95% of students pass the Part 107 Test after taking our classes!).

Are There Drone Flight Restrictions in Ohio?

It all depends on what type of airspace you intend to fly in (Class B, C, D, E). You may have to apply for FAA authorization to fly your drone in a certain area, see our blog post Where Can I Fly My Drone for more detailed information and tutorial on how to do this through LAANC.

In addition, you cannot fly over moving traffic, over people, or during any sporting event where there is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place. A TFR is typically active for all open-air stadium NFL and MLB games from one hour prior to the game start to one hour after the game ends. These rules do get enforced, see this article about drone pilots pleading guilty to illegal Ohio stadium flights in 2023.

Can You Fly a Drone in Ohio State Parks and Cleveland Metroparks?

As a rule of thumb, national parks do not allow drone use on their properties. Some Metroparks have enacted the same ordinance, so you should check with the specific Metropark system. There are several designated areas where you can fly your drone in the Cleveland Metroparks, see details in their Drone Policy.

Municipal parks don't have the same restrictions usually but check with the specific park and municipality before flying your drone.

Drone Registration

If you want to fly your drone in Ohio (and anywhere else in the United States), you are required to register your drone if it is 0.55 lbs or larger if you fly as a hobbyist, and all drones (regardless of weight) if you operate commercially (under Part 107). You can register your drone on the FAA DroneZone website. The cost for registration is $5 and is valid for three years.

So, if you have checked off all necessary registrations, FAA Airspace Authorizations, and hold an appropriate FAA certificate, you are ready to fly. Now to the fun part, where can you fly your drone in Ohio? We've compiled some of our favorite locations in Cleveland where we frequently fly, see them in the Where to Fly Your Drone in Cleveland blog post.

Do You Need a License (Certificate) to Fly a Drone?

Yes, you will need to get a drone license (FAA Part 107 Certificate) if you intend to become a commercial drone operator (sell drone services or any media (photos, videos) you take while flying your drone, or flying the drone for your job at an organization your work).

There is some ignorance about drone rules and regulations out there, including the responsibilities one has when launching the drone into the air. This is perfectly understandable if you do not have an aviation background and haven't spent a lot of time scouring the internet looking for answers. We hope to clear this up for you.

Do I need to have a drone license if I am a hobbyist?

No, you don't need to have a drone license if you are flying as a hobbyist. However, in June of 2021, the FAA made it mandatory to pass the TRUST Test (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) for hobbyist pilots. They are also required to carry evidence of passing the test when they are flying their drone.

The TRUST Test gives an overview of the FAA regulations regarding drone registration and the basic rules of safe drone operations which every drone pilot (hobbyist or commercial) should know and comply with. You can read our detailed TRUST Test Blog Post or watch our Trust Test Vlog on YouTube (below):

You can also read more details on the registration and the flight rules in our Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Flying Your New Drone post.

How do I get a drone license (FAA Part 107 Certificate)?

You can become an FAA-certified drone pilot by passing an aeronautical knowledge test (aka Part 107 Remote Pilot Test). You must be at least 16 years old to take the test, and you will need to study the materials that cover the topic areas that you will be tested on. They include regulations relating to small unmanned aircraft, airspace classifications, flight restrictions, aviation weather theory, emergency procedures, crew resource management, radio communication procedures, aeronautical decision-making, airport operations, maintenance, and preflight inspection procedures, among others.

Is there a drone school or a drone training program I can attend in the Cleveland, Ohio area?

There are several options for an in-person program in Cleveland to get your drone license or get an accredited degree in remote aviation. Check out our blog post A Guide To Drone Training In Cleveland, Ohio for more detailed information. V1DroneMedia also offers in-person regularly scheduled or on-demand custom drone instruction, you can check out our Drone Training page for more information and Sign-up for our Drone Training Newsletter with class announcements.

Where do I register and take the drone license test?

You can schedule your test online here, as well as obtain practice exams.

how much does a drone license cost?

It costs $175 to take the test and $5 to register each drone. This doesn’t count the investment of time into studying for the drone license test via taking an online or an in-person drone license prep class, and as we all know, time is money.

How do I become a drone pilot?

Whether you are going to apply for a drone license or not, becoming a drone pilot goes a lot further than simply having a drone license or a drone. The trick to any profession is mastery, and you will need to practice flying your drone to become a real pilot. So, practice, practice, practice!

If you are in the Cleveland, Ohio, area, I am available for 1:1 and small group in-person Hands-On Drone Flight Training sessions. I also teach FAA Pat 107 Drone License Prep Courses, which are regularly scheduled and can be found on Events or Drone Training pages. Sign up to be notified about new drone training classes as they get scheduled!

Contact me if you have an interest in kicking off your flight career with a professional airline and drone pilot with 25+ years of aviation experience. You can read more about me here. Good luck!

Ohio Drone Laws