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Drone Authority

Drone laws by state

Maryland drone laws

Start with Maryland's state, local, and land-manager rules. Then use the federal baseline as the floor before you launch.

Primary sources reviewed September 18, 2026State preempts local drone rules
Golden coastal aerial landscape seen from drone altitude, used as regional context for Maryland drone lawsSTATE · MARYLAND
All states
By Reviewed September 18, 2026State and agency primary sources checked claim by claim

State answer first

What changes in Maryland

You can generally fly a drone in Maryland if you follow the FAA rules and then add the state, local, and land-manager restrictions below.

Federal FAA rules apply across Maryland. Maryland expressly reserves drone regulation to the state, while state-park access, correctional contraband, privacy, and wildlife-disturbance rules still require separate review.12563

Local rules
State preempts local drone rules
Parks and land
Verify each launch site
Airspace
FAA rules still control

Maryland drone laws at a glance

Can I fly here?Yes, generally. Follow the FAA rules, then add the Maryland restrictions on this page.
Local ordinancesState preempts local drone rules
State parks & landMaryland's statewide park policy requires operator contact with the individual Park Manager. Treat permission as site-specific and separate from FAA airspace authorization.27
License & registrationFederal, same in every state: Part 107 or TRUST, plus registration and Remote ID when the aircraft must be registered.
Where to flyFlying sites, clubs, and FRIAs in Maryland
Last reviewedSeptember 18, 2026 · claim-level primary sources below

State-specific rules to check

  • 01

    Maryland Code, Economic Development § 14-301 reserves regulation of unmanned aircraft systems to the state and preempts inconsistent county and municipal enactments.1

  • 02

    Maryland State Parks directs operators to contact the individual Park Manager before flying; federal airspace compliance alone does not create launch access.27

  • 03

    State-park rules prohibit frightening or intentionally disturbing wildlife.3

  • 04

    Maryland separately criminalizes listed contraband activity involving a drone near a place of confinement.5

  • 05

    COMAR 08.03.10.17, effective August 17, 2026, prohibits using a drone to hunt or take any wildlife, to purposely disturb wildlife in a way that would injure or kill it or disrupt breeding, feeding, resting, or sheltering, or to interfere with another person's hunt. Drone scouting is allowed, but you may not hunt the scouted area until 24 hours after the last flight. A drone may be used to locate wildlife that was lawfully wounded or killed, but the operator must notify the DNR Communication Center before and after the search with the location, the operator's identity, the landowner, and the outcome, must hold a Maryland hunting license because recovery counts as hunting, and may dispatch a wounded deer or black bear only if the hunter cannot. Trespass and FAA rules still apply.8

Launch-day workflow

Before you fly in Maryland

Work through these state-specific checks before the usual FAA airspace, weather, aircraft, and crew review.

  1. 01

    Contact the Park Manager

    For a state-park launch or operation, ask the individual Park Manager for the site's current permission, location, and conduct requirements.27

  2. 02

    Screen places of confinement

    Identify correctional and detention property and ensure the mission cannot involve prohibited contraband activity.5

  3. 03

    Protect wildlife and private audio

    Do not disturb park wildlife, and review Maryland's communications statute before recording conversations with onboard audio.36

  4. 04

    Follow the recovery protocol exactly

    For a wounded-game search, call the DNR Communication Center before and after the flight, carry a Maryland hunting license, stay off land you lack permission to enter, and never use the drone to hunt, scout, or disturb wildlife.8

Beyond the airspace layer

Land access and wildlife are separate decisions

Managed land

Maryland's statewide park policy requires operator contact with the individual Park Manager. Treat permission as site-specific and separate from FAA airspace authorization.27

Compare public-land managers

Wildlife and hunting

State-park rules prohibit frightening or intentionally disturbing wildlife. Statewide, COMAR 08.03.10.17 bars using a drone to hunt, take, or injuriously disturb wildlife and allows recovery of lawfully wounded or killed game only with notice to the DNR Communication Center before and after the search and a Maryland hunting license.38

Read the wildlife guideCheck recovery rules
Local preemptionState preempts local drone rules
A statewide law reserves drone regulation to the state, so cities and counties generally cannot add their own drone ordinances.
Parks and launch sitesCheck the land manager
Maryland's statewide park policy requires operator contact with the individual Park Manager. Treat permission as site-specific and separate from FAA airspace authorization.

Primary sources

These sources support the material state claims above. State laws, local park rules, and emergency restrictions can still change faster than a static guide.