The whole question of where you can fly comes down to one split: controlled vs uncontrolled airspace. In uncontrolled (Class G) airspace you just stay at or below 400 feet. In controlled airspace near airports you need authorization, and LAANC usually grants it in seconds. Add the rules for night and flying over people, and you have the full picture.
Key facts
- Altitude ceiling
- 400 ft above ground level (or within 400 ft of a structure under Part 107)
- Uncontrolled (Class G)
- No authorization needed: most of the U.S. away from airports
- Controlled (B/C/D/surface E)
- Authorization required: usually instant via LAANC
- LAANC apps
- Aloft, Airspace Link, and other FAA-approved providers
- Night flying
- Allowed with anti-collision lights visible for 3 statute miles
- Over people
- Only under one of four Operations Over People categories
- Line of sight
- Drone must stay within visual line of sight
Controlled vs uncontrolled airspace
The airspace class tells you whether you need authorization before you launch.
| Class | Type | Authorization | On the chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class G | Uncontrolled | None: fly up to 400 ft AGL | Open, away from airports |
| Class E (surface) | Controlled to surface | LAANC / FAA authorization | Magenta dashed ring near some airports |
| Class D | Controlled | LAANC / FAA authorization | Smaller towered airports (dashed blue ring) |
| Class C | Controlled | LAANC / FAA authorization | Mid-size airports (solid magenta rings) |
| Class B | Controlled | LAANC / FAA authorization | Busiest airports (solid blue rings) |
LAANC: near-instant airspace authorization
The Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) is how you get cleared to fly in controlled airspace without waiting weeks. UAS Facility Maps publish the maximum altitude the FAA will approve at each location; request up to that ceiling through an approved app and you're typically authorized in seconds.
- Use an FAA-approved LAANC app (Aloft, Airspace Link, and others).
- Request an altitude at or below the grid ceiling on the UAS Facility Map for that spot.
- Authorization is usually instant; above-ceiling requests need further FAA review.
- Both recreational and Part 107 flyers use LAANC for controlled airspace.
The 400-foot ceiling, precisely
Stay at or below 400 feet above ground level in uncontrolled airspace. Under Part 107 you may go higher only when within 400 feet of a structure (for example, inspecting a tall tower). In controlled airspace, the LAANC grid ceiling may be lower than 400 ft, that lower number wins.
Flying at night
Night flight is legal. The requirement is visibility: the drone must carry anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles, flashing fast enough to be seen and avoided. Under Part 107, night operations are part of the knowledge test; the small built-in lights on most drones are not enough on their own, so many pilots add a dedicated strobe.
The four categories
Flying over people
You may not fly over people or moving vehicles by default. The FAA opened four categories that permit it, scaled to how much injury the drone could cause. The lighter and safer the drone, the fewer the restrictions.
Category 1
0.55 lb (250 g) or lighter, with no exposed rotating parts that could cause lacerations. May fly over people.
Category 2
Heavier drones that meet an injury-severity limit and carry no exposed parts that would lacerate. Requires a Declaration of Compliance.
Category 3
Drones meeting a higher injury threshold; may not fly over open-air assemblies and only over people in restricted-access areas or briefly transiting.
Category 4
Drones with an airworthiness certificate, operated per their approved flight manual. May fly over people under those conditions.
Tool
Can I fly here?
Check the airspace and restrictions at a specific location.
Related rule
Part 107
The commercial rule that ties these operating limits together.
Sources
Rules current as of June 2026; verify at faa.gov/uas. Educational, not legal advice.