Ohio has no state drone license. To fly legally in Ohio, recreational pilots take the free FAA TRUST test and commercial pilots earn an FAA Part 107 certificate. Ohio's own drone law, House Bill 77, took effect in 2025 and covers reckless flying, interfering with first responders and critical facilities, and Ohio state parks require written permission to fly.
How to get your drone license in Ohio
- Decide how you'll fly. Flying only for fun is recreational. Anything that supports a business, paid or not, is Part 107.
- Recreational: pass the free online TRUST test. It takes about 30 minutes and you can't fail. Keep the certificate with you.
- Commercial: pass the FAA Part 107 knowledge test at an approved testing center, then apply for your Remote Pilot Certificate through IACRA. You must be at least 16. See our Part 107 guide.
- Register your drone with the FAA ($5 for 3 years) if it weighs 250 g or more, or if you fly under Part 107. See FAA registration.
- Check airspace. Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati airports have controlled airspace. Get LAANC authorization there and stay at or below 400 ft.
Ohio state drone laws
House Bill 77 was signed in January 2025 and took effect 90 days later. It added drone offenses to the Ohio Revised Code (sections 4561.50 to 4561.53):
- Endangering people or property: flying in a way that knowingly endangers someone or their property is a misdemeanor.
- Interfering with first responders: disrupting police, firefighters or EMS is a misdemeanor, and a repeat knowing offense is a felony.
- Critical facilities: photographing, recording or loitering over a critical facility to further a crime is illegal. The list includes power and water infrastructure, courts, police stations, prisons, military bases, distribution centers and hospitals with air ambulances.
Privacy. Ohio has no drone-specific privacy law, but the voyeurism statute applies to drones. Don't record people where they expect privacy.
Hunting. Ohio prohibits using aircraft, including drones, to hunt or take wild birds and animals. Using a drone to recover a harvested deer is allowed if no one in the party is still hunting.
Where you can fly in Ohio
- State parks: under Ohio Administrative Code 1501:46-13-11, flying a drone in a state park requires permission from the Chief of the Division of Parks and Watercraft, unless you use a designated landing field. Drones also can't fly over beaches, boats, roadways or crowds. More in Ohio state parks.
- National park units: banned at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and other NPS sites.
- Wayne National Forest: generally allowed outside TFRs.
- Local parks: HB 77 lets local governments restrict recreational drones in or above parks they own. Metro park rules vary by county: some allow flying, others require written permission or designated areas.
Before you fly in Ohio
- Check airspace and TFRs in B4UFLY or Aloft. Stadium TFRs apply in Cleveland and Cincinnati on game days.
- Confirm the park or landowner allows takeoff.
- Stay away from prisons, substations and emergency scenes.
- Carry your TRUST certificate or Part 107 card.
A sub-250 g drone like the DJI Mini 5 Pro or Mini 4 Pro doesn't need FAA registration for recreational use, which makes getting started in Ohio simple. Read the law at codes.ohio.gov.
Rules current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
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