Drone Academy and Solutions Nexus Global Group

Materials Library

Houston drone rules and permits library

A concise official-source guide for DAS students and clients in Houston, Texas. We summarize the path and point to the agencies that control the rules.

Updated: June 15, 2026

This is an operational orientation page, not legal advice, FAA authorization, or a permit. Always verify the exact address, airspace, property rules, and project scope before flying.

1. Start by classifying the flight

Recreational

Know the FAA TRUST requirement, keep proof with you if flying recreationally, and get FAA authorization before controlled-airspace flights.

Commercial / business

Use Part 107. A Remote Pilot Certificate is required, or the operator must be under direct supervision of a certificate holder.

Public property or production

Check the location owner or agency first. Streets, parks, events, public property, and controlled-airspace flights can add approvals.

2. FAA baseline for commercial work

  • Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107, or direct supervision by someone who holds it.
  • Drone registered in FAA DroneZone for the correct operation type.
  • Remote ID compliance where registration applies.
  • LAANC or FAA DroneZone authorization before flying in controlled airspace.
  • Weather, NOTAMs, temporary flight restrictions, and site conditions checked before the mission.
  • Waiver review if the planned operation falls outside standard Part 107 limits.

3. Texas property, privacy, and sensitive sites

For real estate, construction, inspection, or media work, collect written authorization from the property owner or authorized occupant before capturing private property for a project.

Be careful around people, homes, critical infrastructure, sports venues, energy sites, telecom sites, rail, ports, and similar locations. Texas has unmanned-aircraft rules covering images and certain restricted locations.

4. Houston and Texas production permits

  • General public property in Houston may require a production registration and insurance certificate.
  • City of Houston parks have a professional filming/photography request process.
  • Traffic, pedestrian control, lane closure, or street closure can require coordination with Houston Police or the proper agency.
  • Texas public right-of-way filming is handled by jurisdiction: city, county, state highway, or TxDOT.
  • TxDOT projects have their own UAS flight-plan and technology requirements.

5. 2D / 3D models: visual vs. survey-grade

Visual marketing models are different from survey-grade deliverables. If the output will be used for boundaries, elevations, volumes, engineering, construction design, legal records, or similar technical reliance, involve a Texas Registered Professional Land Surveyor or the proper licensed professional.

6. Privacy basics for reservations and projects

  • Collect only what is needed for reservations, waitlists, course follow-up, and project intake.
  • Show a privacy policy before users submit information.
  • Use access controls for admin and student portals.
  • Let people request access, correction, deletion, or opt-out where applicable.
  • Use clear consent for email, phone, or text contact; honor opt-out requests.
  • Keep accessibility in mind for public pages and forms.

Official sources