Drone Laws in Maryland (2024)
A list of drone regulations and links for people flying drones in Maryland.
Maryland Drone Regulations
Maryland Drone Regulations
Federal Drone Laws in Maryland
These are drone laws that apply to every state in the U.S., including Maryland, and were created by the federal government.
To fly a drone as a commercial pilot in the state of Maryland (i.e. for work / business purposes) you are required to follow the requirements of the FAA’s Part 107 Small UAS Rule (Part 107), which includes passing the FAA’s Aeronautical Knowledge Test to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate.
To fly a drone as a hobbyist in the state of Maryland (i.e. for fun / pleasure) you are required by the FAA to take The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). You are also required to follow the FAA’s recreational model aircraft rules. One of those rules is that if your drone weighs more than 0.55 lbs (250g), you’ll need to pay $5 to get it registered. There are additional rules when it comes to airspace and altitude, keeping your drone within line-of-sight while you’re flying, and more.
To fly a drone as a government employee in the state of Maryland (i.e., for a police or fire department) you may either operate under the FAA’s Part 107 rule or obtain a federal Certificate of Authorization (COA).
Note: The content on this page is meant for informational purposes only, and is not meant to take the place of legal counsel.
State Drone Laws in Maryland
These are drone laws that apply to the entire state of Maryland, and were created by the Maryland General Assembly.
According to the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland General Assembly, Maryland has one state-wide law concerning the use of drones in the state.
This law pre-empts county and municipal authority and specifies that only the state can enact laws to prohibit, restrict, or regulate the testing or operation of unmanned aircraft systems.
All drone pilots operating commercially in the state of Maryland are subject to the FAA’s Part 107 rules. Learn more about the FAA’s certification process to obtain a commercial drone license in this free guide.
Know something we don’t about drone laws in Maryland? Send us an email at support[at]horizonap[dot]com. We do our best to keep this list up-to-date, but the reality is that given the pace of the small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industry and how municipal governments are responding, drone regulations in Maryland can change throughout the year, and changes can be hard to track. If we missed something, please reach out to let us know.
Why fly a drone in Maryland? To get great shots like these!
Local Drone Laws in Maryland
These are drone laws that apply only to certain regions, cities, or counties within the state of Maryland, and were created by various authorities within the state.
Calvert County Parks & Recreation—County Code // 2019
This county code prohibits the operation of drones or any unmanned aircraft within any Calvert County park/recreation area.
Maryland State Parks—Commercial Photography Policy // 2019
This policy requires that commercial photographers and film productions enter an agreement and pay a service charge in order to use park facilities and lands for such use. The complete policy can be located in the link above.
Take a Drone Flight Training Class in Maryland
UAV Coach offers in-person training in select cities in Maryland. The 2-hour, in-person training class provides hands-on flight time with an instructor, practice with intelligent flight modes, and education on what to do before, during, and after a flight mission to stay compliant and safe. During the class, you’ll also get a chance to ask your questions about regulations, software, flight operations management, checklists and more.
Sign up for an in-person drone flight training class in Maryland.
Looking to get in more practice flying your drone? In addition to taking a drone flight training class with one of our trained instructors, you can also scout out safe and legal places to fly on your own using our guide to the Best Places to Fly a Drone in Baltimore and the Best Places to Fly a Drone Near Washington D.C.
Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Maryland? Here you go:
