Can I Fly My Drone In My Neighborhood?

In this video, we tackle the question of whether you can fly a drone over your neighborhood. We go through compliance details, rules for flying over people, privacy laws, and even talk about situations that involve Home Owners Associations. If you have any “Can I fly my drone…” questions, leave them in the comments below!

🎬    Jump to Section
0:00 Introduction
0:41 Compliance
1:06 What Airspace is Your Neighborhood In
1:44 Flying Over People
2:20 What Privacy Laws Exist in Your State
2:53 Rules with Home Owner’s Associations

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[rdbishop]

I’m sorry but I disagree with your statements regarding an HOA. How can an HOA control airspace over its’ neighborhood? The HOA does not own the airspace above the neighborhood thus they have no control over it. They also do not own your property so they can’t tell you that you cannot takeoff or land from your own property. They can prohibit you from taking off from and landing on common property owned by the HOA but I believe that’s the extent of their control.

[bm]

I've been flying for several years now. I've never been confronted about my drone operations, not even once. I have only once ever been approached by a curious onlooker, and he was friendly. I've probably been lucky in this regard, as I'm sure there are many people who are not civil about such things, or who would assume the worst about me. One hears stories of such interactions. It helps if one has an ethos to fly in a professional, safe, courteous and transparent manner and to never-ever be a creep. Reactionary local rules/bans (attempted or successful) on drone operations seem to frequently stem from 1-2 drone owners in the area who have been reckless or creepy. Either way, I also carry a fact sheet highlighting current UAV and airspace laws that I'd be happy to share with anyone who might ever try to confront me about flying in certain area. All that said, I'm not a fan of HOA's telling people what they can and cannot do with/on their own property.

[danielsnyder]

The most an HOA can do is prohibit take-off and landing on HOA jurisdiction ON THE GROUND. They cannot regulate the use of the airspace above the HOA.

[paulthomas]

Fantastic Information and Video, Thank You.
Happy Flying!

[gordonbarbay]

I fly in my neighborhood. Most of the time I am in transit when flying over houses, however sometimes I do hover in a position for a photo or video, almost always toward the horizon or some other subject in the distance. I could be hovering over a house because it is neighborhood flying and because it is restricted airspace I am kept to a max of 200 ft altitude. I just do it and not worry about it. There is no way to avoid flying over houses and property when flying in a neighborhood.

Now, I have no interest in spying on anyone, and a drone is a terrible piece of equipment to use for that purpose anyway. It does bring to mind one day I was in my drive way (not drone flying) when I heard the tell-tale buzzing of a drone. I looked up and there was one hovering over my property at 30--40 ft in the air. I don't know if he had his camera pointed down or not, but I just flashed a peace sign and went on about my day. The eventually got bored and flew away. LOL

[kyonkyon]

Great info. I remembered my neighbor rush to me in pickup truck with a rifle when they reach me in less than 200ft after my drone hovering over their property. Phew~

[davidgeyer]

May I be so bold as to offer one minor correction? If flying under 15 CFR Part 44809 (Recreational exception), in addition to taking the TRUST Test and following those rules explicitly stated on the FAA website, you are also required to follow the guidelines of an FAA recognized Community Based Organization (CBO). There are, last I looked, 4 CBO's listed on the FAA website. You don't have to join any of these outfits, just read what their guidelines are and follow one of them at any given time. You can choose which one on a per flight basis if you want, but you need to be able to tell any LEO or other authority which one you are adhering to. One, and only one, of the CBO's (The AMA) prohibits flying over an occupied dwelling. So, if you're flying recreationally around your neighborhood you need to fly under the guidelines of a different CBO.

Of course, how many people that you are likely to run into, including LEO's, will know any of this? You are far more likely to run into some ignorant neighbor who will swear that it's illegal to fly a drone over private property. It's not!

[johnerichenry]

Great video as always highly informative. At a public beach, the State of California runs beaches over water, with no reasonable expectation of privacy in a public place. The rules painted and spoken rules by the grounds team say "no drones." In FRIA, ( I did not check I just observed the sign) not in controlled airspace - probably G. Is this like the homeowner's scenario? Thoughts?

[evolutionaryTom]

Could you please tell me where you got that lanyard for the DJI Mic you are using? Thank you. -Tom

[highrider]

When it comes to flying by or around people, i generally follow the rule of traffic.

Pedestrian have right of way but if a car/truck/big rig can drive within 10 feet of them, i can harmlessly fly by the same way.
😂😂😂

[BrucePhung]

If you are going to fly in your neighborhood, don't fly too low for them to see it or hear it. Fly at 100-150 feet above. No one will notice your drone above.

[georgec]

I fly over my neighborhood but my state has strict privacy laws. To avoid any potential law enforcement situations, I use only my non-screened controller with no phone attached and remove the micro SD card so there is no way to see or record anything from the drone. I figure that neighbors privacy can't be violated if I'm flying blind.

[Mike-jkdo]

Can you fly over a golf course that's across the street from your home but not part of your neighborhood?

[svenf]

So if the FAA is the only entity that can enforce laws and rules pertaining to flying drones then what is the point of State laws and regulations..?

[AspireDMT]

So can I fly in my neghbirhood beyond my property?? I just can’t hover over people’s backyards??

[bjlyyfn]

Trust test? There are soo many rules and laws. I feel that I'm being pressured into getting a 107 license. Also, your video is all about the things you can't do with a drone. How about a video on places you can fly your drone? Like fields. Like pastures. Like over rivers etc.

[alanabley]

How can you always stay clear of backyards if you are paid to photograph a property? Most times it’s unavoidable not to include neighbors home in some form. The best you can do is not hover.

[marcoleon]

Good explanation, well, I was watching your video and I was thinking on the one you made for the REMOTE ID MINI, can you make one video explaining step by step how the works, in a way that you can see what you do when you making the setting or the moves on the REMOTE ID MINI, I have one REMOTE ID MINI, but I’m confused with all setting, thank you!

[ephjayt]

My state has a rule about flying over private property "where reasonable privacy would be expected or if it is posted with NO TRESPASSING ".
Okay, fine. Then how come the satellites, helicopters, and scenic flight planes don't have to comply?

[caliman]

But it says if you have 107 you can fly over people and moving vehicles has that rule change ?