You can fly a drone in Georgia under FAA rules. Recreational pilots need the free TRUST certificate, commercial pilots need a Part 107 certificate, and drones of 250 g or more must be registered with the FAA. Georgia law blocks most city drone ordinances, bans flying within 400 ft of ticketed events, and prohibits drones in state parks, with waivers only for approved professional commercial projects (Georgia State Parks rules).
Do you need a drone license or registration in Georgia?
Georgia has no state drone license or state registration. Everything runs through the FAA:
- Recreational: take the free TRUST test and carry proof. Register with the FAA ($5 for 3 years) if your drone weighs 250 g or more. See FAA registration.
- Commercial: any flight for a business needs a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and a registered drone.
- Airspace: Hartsfield-Jackson's Class B airspace covers most of metro Atlanta. Get LAANC authorization before you fly there, and stay at or below 400 ft.
Georgia state drone laws
- Preemption (O.C.G.A. 6-1-4): since 2017, drone regulation is a state power. Cities and counties can't pass new drone flight rules. They can keep ordinances adopted before April 1, 2017, enforce FAA rules, and ban recreational launch and landing on public property they own or lease.
- Ticketed events (HB 58, 2025): flying within 400 ft of, or over, a gated ticketed event such as a concert, game or festival is a misdemeanor. Exceptions include consent from the event, federally authorized flights and on-duty staff.
- Privacy (O.C.G.A. 16-11-62): using any device, including a drone camera, to watch or record someone in a private place out of public view without consent is a felony. Backyards and windows count.
- Hunting: Georgia DNR prohibits using drones to hunt, locate or drive game, or to tell hunters where animals are. A 2026 law allows drones to locate feral hogs on private land, but not armed drones.
Where you can fly in Georgia
- State parks and historic sites: drones are prohibited. The division director can waive this only for approved professional commercial projects. Stone Mountain Park, run by a separate state authority, doesn't allow recreational drones.
- National park units: banned at Cumberland Island National Seashore, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Kennesaw Mountain and other NPS sites.
- National forests: the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest generally allows drones outside wilderness areas and TFRs.
- City parks: many cities, including Atlanta, require permission to launch or land in city parks. See drone laws in Atlanta.
- Coast: barrier islands mix state, federal and private land. Check who owns the beach before launching, as in our Jekyll Island guide.
Before you fly in Georgia
- Check airspace and TFRs in B4UFLY or Aloft, especially around Atlanta stadiums on game days.
- Confirm launch permission for parks.
- Keep clear of ticketed events by 400 ft.
- Carry your TRUST certificate or Part 107 card.
The DJI Mini 4 Pro and Mini 5 Pro weigh under 250 g, so recreational pilots don't need to register them. Park rules are on Georgia State Parks, and the statutes are on the Georgia General Assembly site.
Rules current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
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