Are Drones Illegal In Texas?

Introduction

There are many reasons you would want to visit Texas as that is a state with exquisite scenery and so many open fields, cacti, and other landmarks there. You may want to go to Texas to visit Lake Bryan, enjoy the beach and sunshine, and appreciate the incredible sights and views. You would like to fly a drone so you can have some snapshots taken of the fantastic scenery in Texas. However, one thing to know before you head over to Texas with your drone. You have to learn about the laws, even if it is legal to fly your drone in Texas. So, let’s talk about the Texas drone laws and know what you need to do with your drone if you plan to fly it there.

Can You Fly Drones In Texas Legally?

The good news is that you can fly your drone in Texas legally. However, here is the thing you need to know. It would be best if you learned about the state and local FAA’s rules for recreational drone flying and aircraft purposes. You also need to register your drone, and you will need to pay five dollars if the drone weighs more than 0.55 lbs. If you fail to do any of that, you will end up with some hefty penalties. Therefore, the best thing you can do is register your drone in Texas with theFAA. Let’s talk about how you can do that.

How To Register Your Drone In Texas With The FAA

You must register your drone in Texas with the FAA for hobbyists to fly their drones recreationally. If the drone is under 055 lbs, you may not need to register it, but it weighs more than 0.55 lbs and less than 55 lbs. Then you have to register it, and you can do that in this to the FAA right there. Once again, if you do not do so, you will have to deal with criminal and civil penalties, which you do not want to face. Either you pay five dollars and take the time to register your drone, or you encounter some hefty fines, and the choice is not a hard one to make.

If your drone weighs under 0.55 lbs, then once again, you do not need to register it, but you need to learn about the rules and laws in Texas when it comes to flying your drone. So now, let’s go over some things you need to know when it comes to registering your drone in Texas.

What You Need To Know When Registering Your Drone In Texas

There are many things to know when registering your drone in Texas, so you do not have to worry about ending up with severe penalties when you want to fly it. You need to be 13 or older to register the drone, and if you are that young and you have a younger sibling that wants to fly their drone, you need to be the one to register it for them.

How can you register your drone if it weighs more than 55 lbs? The for the application is here. If you register a drone that weighs less than 55 lbs or more, registration will happen immediately. That means you can begin flying your drone in Texas at any time.

However, you also need to know what you are permitted to do with your drone in Texas, as well as what you cannot do legally. So let’s go over that right now.

What Can You Legally Do With Your Drone In Texas?

There are some things to keep in mind when flying your drone. First, you will have permission to take pictures of anything within two and a half miles of the USA border. You can only take broader pictures if you do it professionally. You cannot fly your drone over any correctional facility such as prisons.

You cannot fly your drone over critical infrastructure facilities such as telecoms, electrical infrastructures, and petroleum refineries. You also cannot take pictures of wildlife without a permit. However, that does not apply if you have a Land Owner Authorization or an Aerial Management Permit.

Additionally, you cannot fly your drone in state parks if you do not have a permit either except for two parks which are San Angelo and Lake Whitney.

You also cannot fly your drone that is 400 feet above ground level as that height has the Class B airspace designation. That goes for hobbyists and drone pilots who work for professional reasons. If you are not sure about what laws you need to abide by when you are in Texas, you will need to not only make the proper inquiries but consult with a local flying club so you know what you can or cannot do. You want to consult with these clubs because they have a good rapport with the local FAA members as they would have some first-hand knowledge. In addition, they can give you helpful advice and insight.

Conclusion

If you want to go to Texas to enjoy the views and sights and maybe even visit Lake Bryan to hang out by the beach and get in some sunshine, you will need to learn the Texas laws regarding drone flying if you want to take it there. Then, you can capture some incredible sights with the camera‘. If your drone weighs less than 0.55 lbs, you do not need to register it, but you need to abide by the laws for drone flying for hobbyists. However, if your drone weighs more than 0.55 lbs, you need to register it.

You may end up facing some hefty penalties if you don’t register the drone if it weighs over 0.55 lbs and abides by the rules. You want to have an enjoyable trip to Texas, and you wish not to have any problems taking pictures from your drone. Learn what you need to learn, register your drone, and enjoy your time with your drone in Texas.