Film permits in Texas

Federal. commercial drone work falls under FAA Part 107. The pilot needs a Remote Pilot Certificate (age 16 or older, pass the FAA's UAG knowledge test, then file Form 8710-13 through IACRA). Drones from 0.55 to 55 pounds must be registered on FAADroneZone ($5, good for 3 years), marked with the registration number, and broadcast Remote ID (required since September 16, 2023). Operating limits: no higher than 400 feet above ground (or within 400 feet of a structure and no more than 400 feet above its top), no faster than 100 mph, at least 3 statute miles of visibility, and 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontally from clouds. Since April 21, 2021, Part 107 pilots may fly at night and over people and moving vehicles without a waiver if they meet that rule's conditions; controlled airspace still needs FAA authorization, including at night. Line-of-sight, night, over-people and airspace limits can be waived case by case.

Texas. Government Code chapter 423 makes it a Class C misdemeanor to use a drone to capture images of a person or private property with intent to surveil (423.003); bars flights at or below 400 feet over posted or fenced critical infrastructure such as refineries, power plants and substations, water and wastewater plants, and gas facilities (423.0045); and bars flights at or below 400 feet over sports venues with 30,000 or more seats, except with the owner's written consent or another listed exception (423.0046).

Local and land-manager rules. San Antonio requires a city permit for drones over any city property, streets or sidewalks and bans them over the River Walk; Arlington requires a commercial filming application plus FAA paperwork and has police department drone requirements; South Padre Island wants 5 business days' notice and keeps drones 500 feet from government buildings; Tyler has no drone permit but checks registration for flights over city property; Austin parks defer to state law and the FAA. Texas state parks allow drones only for permitted filming (or at Martin Dies, Jr. State Park's designated area). UT Austin requires Campus Operations approval and Texas A&M requires UAS Supervising Authority approval. National parks prohibit launching or landing without superintendent approval, and Big Bend bans drones outright; Aransas National Wildlife Refuge also bans them.