Real Estate Photography in Dallas, TX

Airports & LAANC Zones

• DAL — Dallas Love Field (Class B, 6 miles northwest of downtown — major commercial airport serving Southwest Airlines hub; LAANC required)
• DFW — Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (Class B, 18 miles northwest — one of the largest and busiest airports in the world; massive Class B footprint covers much of the northern Metroplex; LAANC required)
• RBD — Dallas Executive Airport (Class D, 9 miles southwest in the Red Bird area — general aviation and corporate traffic; LAANC required)
• ADS — Addison Airport (Class D, 12 miles north in Addison — busiest general aviation airport in Texas; LAANC required)

Restricted Airspace

• Class B airspace around Dallas Love Field (DAL) — located 6 miles northwest of downtown. The DAL Class B surface area covers central and northwest Dallas including the Design District, Turtle Creek, and Oak Lawn. LAANC authorization is required for all commercial drone flights in this zone. Altitude restrictions are stringent — check FAA UAS Facility Maps for specific grid authorizations, as many areas allow only 0-50 ft AGL or require manual authorization.
• Class B airspace around Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) — located 18 miles northwest. DFW is one of the largest airports in the world by land area and passenger volume. The Class B surface area and shelves extend across much of northern and western Dallas County, affecting data collection work in Irving, Farmers Branch, Carrollton, and the North Dallas Tollway corridor. LAANC is required throughout this zone. The DFW Class B is one of the most complex airspace environments in the country for drone operations.
• Class D airspace around Dallas Executive Airport (RBD) — located 9 miles southwest in the Red Bird/Oak Cliff area. Drone flights within 4 nautical miles require LAANC authorization. This affects data collection work in southern Dallas, Oak Cliff, and the I-35E southern corridor toward Lancaster and DeSoto.
• Class D airspace around Addison Airport (ADS) — located 12 miles north in Addison. ADS is the busiest general aviation airport in Texas with heavy corporate jet and training traffic. LAANC is required within 4 nautical miles, affecting data collection work in North Dallas, Addison, and the Far North Dallas commercial corridors along the Dallas North Tollway and Preston Road.
• Stadium TFRs — AT&T Stadium (Arlington, home of the Dallas Cowboys), American Airlines Center (downtown Dallas, home of the Mavericks and Stars), and Globe Life Field (Arlington, Texas Rangers) all have active stadium TFRs during sporting events. Drone flights within 3 nautical miles up to 3,000 ft AGL are prohibited during NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB games. The American Airlines Center TFR directly affects downtown Dallas and the Design District. Always check event schedules before scheduling flights near these venues.
• Texas State Fairgrounds (Fair Park) — during the State Fair of Texas (late September through mid-October), the fairgrounds and surrounding South Dallas area have enhanced security and drone restrictions. The Cotton Bowl Stadium within Fair Park has stadium TFRs during college football games. Coordinate with Dallas Police and Fair Park security for any data collection work during fair season.
• Critical infrastructure — Trinity River levee system, the Dallas Water Utilities treatment plants, and the AT&T corporate campus in Akard all fall under Texas Government Code Chapter 423 critical infrastructure restrictions. Drone flights over these facilities are restricted without explicit authorization from the facility operator.
• Severe weather — Dallas is in the southern Great Plains tornado alley and experiences severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and high winds from April through June. Flash flooding along the Trinity River and White Rock Creek is common. Post-storm data collection work requires coordination with Dallas Office of Emergency Management. Summer heat (100+°F days common June through September) limits flight windows to early morning and late evening. High density altitude on hot days reduces drone payload capacity.

Local Ordinances

The City of Dallas does not issue a separate city-level drone permit for commercial operators. FAA Part 107 certification and LAANC authorization for Class B (DAL, DFW) and Class D (RBD, ADS) airspace are the primary requirements. The Dallas Park and Recreation Department prohibits drone takeoff and landing in city parks — including White Rock Lake Park, Klyde Warren Park, and the Dallas Arboretum — without a special use permit. Commercial filming on city property requires a permit through the Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Dallas Film Commission. Flights within the downtown Dallas core (Central Business District) should be coordinated with the Dallas Police Department Aviation Unit, which operates helicopter patrols from Dallas Love Field. Drone flights over the Trinity River corridor and levee system are subject to US Army Corps of Engineers and Dallas Water Utilities restrictions. All flights must comply with FAA Part 107 rules and Texas Government Code Chapter 423 critical infrastructure prohibitions.