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Drone Authority
Golden coastal aerial landscape seen from drone altitude, used as regional context for Maryland drone lawsSTATE · MARYLAND

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 July 26, 2026State preempts local drone rules
All states
By Reviewed July 26, 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 posture

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
Who to fly withDrone clubs and FPV groups in Maryland
Last reviewedJuly 26, 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

    A proposed broad hunting and recovery rule remains pending. Do not treat the proposal as current authorization or a current statewide ban.89

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

    Use enacted rules, not proposals

    Recheck the Maryland Register before a hunting or recovery mission. The cited broader drone rule remained proposed on the review date.89

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

Current state-park rules prohibit frightening or intentionally disturbing wildlife. A broader drone hunting and recovery proposal was still pending on July 26, 2026 and is not presented here as current law.389

Read the wildlife guideCheck recovery rules

Local preemption

State 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 sites

Check 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.