Where am I not allowed to fly my drone?

Airports, national parks, stadiums during events, military bases, and wildfire areas can be prohibited or restricted.

No-fly and restricted zones include airports, national parks, stadiums during events, military bases, and wildfire areas. Check B4UFLY or Aloft before every flight; some controlled airspace allows free LAANC authorization.

Why the map changes from day to day

Some restrictions are permanent — the area around a busy airport, for example — but many appear with little notice. A stadium fills for a game, a wildfire starts and firefighting aircraft move in low, or a temporary restriction is posted for an event or emergency. A spot that was fine last month may be off-limits today, which is why checking before every flight keeps you legal.

What to do, step by step

1. Check a current airspace app, such as B4UFLY or Aloft, for your exact takeoff spot before every flight — not a similar spot, and not from memory.
2. If the airspace is controlled, request authorization through LAANC when it is offered. Approval can be quick, but it must come before takeoff, not after.
3. Respect temporary restrictions. Stadiums during events, emergency scenes, and wildfire areas are off-limits, and flying near a wildfire can ground the firefighting aircraft fighting it.
4. Remember that airspace is only one layer. National parks prohibit launching and landing, and cities and landowners can set takeoff rules for their property.
5. When in doubt, move or wait. A different location or a different day solves almost every restriction without risking a fine or your drone.