Ohio Drone Laws

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. However, Ohio has also introduced a state-level drone law in April 2025 (HB 77) focused on unsafe operations and public safety, which pilots should be aware of in addition to FAA rules. Besides that 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 Drone Training to learn more about available classes 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?

In addition to federal FAA regulations, Ohio now has a state-level drone law that pilots should be aware of.

Ohio House Bill 77 (HB 77) took effect in April 2025 and introduces penalties for unsafe or reckless drone operations within the state. While the FAA continues to control airspace, HB 77 focuses on how drones are used — particularly when public safety or critical infrastructure is involved.

Under HB 77, pilots can face fines or criminal penalties for flying drones in a reckless manner that endangers people or property, interfering with active emergency response operations, or intentionally flying near certain “critical facilities.” These facilities may include police stations, prisons, hospitals with helipads, power plants, utilities, or secure government and military sites.

For most recreational and commercial pilots who already follow FAA rules, HB 77 does not change how you fly day to day. Instead, it reinforces the importance of situational awareness — especially around emergency scenes and sensitive locations — and adds state-level consequences for unsafe behavior.

As always, flying responsibly, maintaining visual line of sight, checking airspace before each flight, and avoiding emergency operations will help ensure compliance with both FAA regulations and Ohio law. You can learn more details about the specifics of this bill in our blog post Ohio’s New Drone Law (HB 77): What Hobbyists, Drone Professionals, and First Responders Should Know.

Besides the state law the federal FAA regulations may require you to gain special authorizations based on the airspace you intend to fly in (Class B, C, D, E). To learn when and how to apply for FAA authorization to fly your drone in a certain restricted airspace, see our blog post Where Can I Fly My Drone that includes a tutorial on how to do this through LAANC.

In addition, you cannot fly over moving traffic, over people, or during a VIP (like a president landing at an airport) or a sporting event where there is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place.  A TFR is typically active for all open-air stadium NFL, NCAA 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. And now this type of violation has real legal consequences with the new Ohio HB 77 drone law.

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.