Drone Laws in Maryland: Registration, Permits, and No-Fly Zones (2026)

Maryland's regulatory picture is shaped by two forces: strong state preemption that keeps local governments from creating a patchwork of city-level rules, and proximity to Washington, D.C., which imposes some of the strictest airspace restrictions in the country. The state has also been actively legislating, with the drone trespass law (HB 1349) and correctional facility law (SB 273) both taking effect within the past two years.

All FAA regulations apply in Maryland as the baseline. State laws add restrictions on top of federal rules but cannot relax or override them.

DC SFRA and FRZ: the federal layer unique to Maryland

The most significant federal restriction in Maryland is the Washington, D.C. Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA). This 30-nautical-mile ring around the DC VOR covers a large portion of central Maryland, including all of Montgomery County, Prince George's County, most of Howard County, and parts of Anne Arundel County. Inside the SFRA, all drone flights require specific authorization.

Within the SFRA sits the Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ), a 15-nautical-mile ring where drone flights are even more restricted. Recreational pilots in the FRZ can only fly at FAA-recognized Community Based Organizations (CBO) fixed flying sites that have been approved. Part 107 pilots need LAANC or a specific airspace authorization.

For a full breakdown of federal costs, see our drone license cost guide. For airspace restrictions, check the drone no-fly zones guide.

Maryland has enacted several drone-specific statutes that go beyond federal requirements. The state's preemption law (Section 14-301) means these are the only drone laws that matter at the state and local level.

State preemption: Section 14-301

Maryland's preemption statute is one of the strongest in the country. Passed in 2015 as SB 370, it states that only the State of Maryland may enact laws governing the use of unmanned aircraft systems. This prevents counties, cities, and municipalities from creating their own drone ordinances. Unlike states such as California or Florida where dozens of local governments have passed their own rules, Maryland keeps everything at the state level.

In practice, this means a rule that applies in Baltimore also applies on the Eastern Shore. You don't need to research city-by-city ordinances. The exception is Calvert County, which attempted to ban drones in county parks. This local ordinance likely conflicts with Section 14-301, though it has not been formally challenged in court.

Drone trespass: HB 1349

The newest Maryland drone law took effect on October 1, 2025. HB 1349 makes it illegal to use an unmanned aircraft system to knowingly enter the property of another person without consent. This is a standalone trespass statute, separate from the older surveillance law. You don't need to be recording or surveilling anyone. Simply flying your drone over someone's property without permission can trigger a violation.

The penalty is up to $5,000 in fines and up to one year of imprisonment. No other state competitor guide covers this law yet because it just took effect.

Correctional facility law: SB 273

Effective October 1, 2024, SB 273 criminalizes operating a drone near or over Maryland correctional facilities without authorization. The penalty is the harshest in the state's drone statutes: up to $1,000 fine and up to three years of imprisonment. This law targets both contraband delivery attempts and general unauthorized flights near prisons.

Pending legislation: HB 0954

As of early 2026, HB 0954 is pending in the Maryland General Assembly. This bill would limit government drone surveillance and make evidence obtained by government drones inadmissible in court without proper authorization. If passed, it would add a civil liberties dimension to Maryland's drone law framework.

For more on privacy law, see our drone spying laws guide and flying over private property guide.

Maryland's location next to Washington, D.C. makes its airspace map more complex than most states. Large portions of the central part of the state are inside restricted airspace, while the Eastern Shore and western Maryland are largely open.

The DC SFRA problem

The DC SFRA is the single biggest flying constraint in Maryland. If you live in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, most of your local area is inside the SFRA. The SFRA requires all aircraft, including drones, to have specific authorization to operate. For recreational pilots, this means finding an FAA-recognized CBO site. For Part 107 pilots, LAANC coverage is available in some areas, but the FRZ inner ring is much harder to get approved for.

In 2023 and 2024, several Maryland drone pilots were contacted by law enforcement after flying in the SFRA without authorization. One incident near Andrews AFB triggered a military response. These are not theoretical risks.

BWI Airport area

BWI Marshall Airport in Anne Arundel County has Class B airspace extending over a significant portion of the county. LAANC is available and works through DJI Fly, Aloft, and AirHub. Typical approvals allow flights at 50-100 feet near the outer rings. Closer to the airport, approvals are denied or limited to very low altitudes.

For more on airspace rules, see our guides on drone no-fly zones and where you can fly a drone.

Commercial drone operations in Maryland require the standard FAA Part 107 certificate plus awareness of the state's unique airspace and legal landscape.

Part 107 basics

The Part 107 test costs $175, covers 60 multiple-choice questions on airspace, weather, and regulations, and is valid for 24 months before requiring a recurrent test. Maryland has PSI testing centers in Baltimore, Columbia, Rockville, Annapolis, and several other locations. Most have same-week availability.

State business requirements

Maryland does not require a drone-specific business license. Standard business licensing applies: register with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), obtain a local business license in the jurisdiction where you operate, and carry appropriate liability insurance. Most commercial clients in Maryland require $1 million in drone liability coverage.

Maryland-specific opportunities

The state's geography and economy create several high-value commercial niches:

• Government and defense contracting (proximity to DC, Fort Meade, Aberdeen Proving Ground)
• Real estate photography in the Baltimore-Washington corridor (median home prices above $400,000)
• Infrastructure inspection along the Chesapeake Bay (bridges, ports, waterfront properties)
• Agricultural monitoring on the Eastern Shore (corn, soybeans, poultry operations)
• Construction progress documentation (major development in Montgomery and Howard counties)
• Solar and rooftop inspection (Maryland ranks in the top 15 for solar installations)

SFRA considerations for commercial pilots

If you plan to fly commercially in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, getting comfortable with SFRA procedures is essential. LAANC covers some areas, but for operations deeper inside the FRZ or near restricted facilities, you may need to file a DroneZone airspace authorization through the FAA. These take 30 to 90 days to process, so plan ahead for any jobs in central Maryland.

For a full guide on getting started, see our how to start a drone business guide and drone pilot salary guide.