Most Louisiana pilots need only FAA credentials: the free TRUST certificate for recreational flying or a Part 107 certificate for paid work. Commercial agricultural drone operators may also need a license from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. State law bans drones over permitted parades, including Mardi Gras, restricts flights near refineries, schools, prisons and military bases, and treats drone voyeurism as a serious crime.
Do you need a drone license in Louisiana?
- Recreational: pass the free TRUST test. Register with the FAA ($5, 3 years) if your drone weighs 250 g or more.
- Commercial: a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and a registered drone.
- Agricultural: Louisiana's ag drone law (R.S. 3:41 to 3:48) provides for licensing and registration of drones used in commercial farming, such as crop spraying. Check with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry before you start, and get the landowner's written permission.
- Airspace: New Orleans is Class B, and Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Shreveport have controlled airspace. Barksdale and Fort Johnson add military restrictions. Use LAANC and stay at or below 400 ft.
Louisiana state drone laws
- Targeted facilities (R.S. 14:337): it's a crime to use a drone to surveil or record a refinery, chemical plant, nuclear plant, school, grain elevator or other critical infrastructure without the owner's written consent. Flying over the governor's mansion or a jail or prison without written consent is also a crime. A 2025 addition covers surveilling or interfering with military installations, aircraft and ships, with penalties of up to five years. Pilots flying under FAA rules who aren't surveilling these sites are exempt, as are owners flying over their own property.
- Parades (R.S. 14:337.1, 2025): flying over a permitted parade or parade route, including Mardi Gras parades, is a crime with a $2,000 to $5,000 fine and forfeiture of the drone. Police can also disable drones flown for criminal purposes.
- Video voyeurism (R.S. 14:283): using a camera drone to observe or film someone without consent where they expect privacy is a crime that can require sex offender registration.
- Hunting: using a drone to scout, drive or harass game is prohibited.
- Preemption (R.S. 2:2): the state has exclusive authority to regulate drones, so city and parish drone ordinances are preempted. Owners of public property can still set rules for their land.
Where you can fly in Louisiana
- State parks: there's no statewide ban, but individual parks set restrictions, and commercial filming needs approval. Call the park first.
- New Orleans: Class B airspace, Superdome event restrictions, parade bans, and park rules at City Park and Audubon Park make the city tricky.
- NPS sites: banned at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve and other NPS units.
- National forest: Kisatchie National Forest generally allows drones outside wilderness areas and TFRs.
Before you fly in Louisiana
- Check airspace and TFRs in B4UFLY or Aloft.
- Map refineries, plants, prisons and schools near your route.
- Never fly over a parade.
- Carry your TRUST certificate or Part 107 card.
Humidity and afternoon storms are hard on drones, so check the forecast. The DJI Mini 5 Pro and Mini 4 Pro weigh under 250 g and need no recreational registration. For spray work, see our agriculture drones. Statutes are on the Louisiana Legislature site.
Rules current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Related guides
Not sure which to pick?
Tell us what you'll fly and your budget. One of our drone pilots will reply with a recommendation.
Buying drones for a business, agency or store? Get wholesale pricing →
