Aerial Imaging Services in Winooski, VT

FAA Part 107 Requirements

All commercial drone operations in Vermont require the pilot to hold an active FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Our network operators are verified Part 107 holders.

State Drone Laws

Vermont does not have a comprehensive standalone state drone law or commercial drone licensing framework. The Vermont Legislature passed Act 70 (2015, S.155), which established a study committee on unmanned aerial vehicles and privacy but did not enact a regulatory framework — the committee recommended reliance on existing privacy statutes and FAA Part 107 for commercial operations. Vermont follows FAA Part 107 preemption on airspace regulation, meaning municipalities cannot enact their own airspace rules but may regulate takeoff and landing on public property. The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation prohibits drone takeoff and landing in all state parks without a special use permit issued by the parks regional manager. Vermont state forests and wildlife management areas also restrict drone operations during nesting seasons. The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) requires notification for drone operations within 500 feet of state highways and bridges for infrastructure inspection projects. Burlington International Airport (BTV) has Class C airspace with LAANC authorization available. No state-level drone registration is required — all commercial operators must hold a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and register their aircraft with the FAA. Vermont privacy statutes (12 V.S.A. Chapter 200) apply to surveillance activities, and operators should avoid capturing images of private property where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists.

Local Ordinances

Winooski is governed by Vermont state drone law and FAA Part 107. The town (population about 8,200) requires permission for commercial takeoff and landing on town property, which includes the downtown Main Street corridor, the Winooski River State Park, and the riverfront parkland. The Winooski River and Chittenden State Park are state-managed land, and a commercial flight over either requires clearance from the state parks office or the relevant state land authority. Part 107 privacy, moving-vehicle, and nonparticipant overflight rules apply throughout the town, and any commercial shooting that frames the riverfront, the Main Street historic district, or the Burlington airport property on the eastern bank is best done with the town and the relevant property owner aware. FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification is required for all commercial operations, and LAANC applies where the BTV Class C surface is crossed.

Restricted Airspace

• Winooski sits on the western bank of the Winooski River, directly across from Burlington. Most of the city sits in uncontrolled airspace, but the Burlington International (BTV) Class C surface wraps the eastern edge of the city and the river channel, and a LAANC authorization is required where the Class C shelf is crossed. The airport is owned by the city of Burlington and sits in neighboring South Burlington, so the approach corridor crosses a significant portion of the local area.
• The Winooski River and the surrounding floodway are state-managed land, and the river channel itself is a busy waterway for boats, kayaks, and lowaltitude medevac and news coverage. A commercial flight over the river or the riverfront requires prior permission from the city or the appropriate state land authority. Part 107 privacy and nonparticipant overflight rules still apply across the downtown and the riverfront.
• Chittenden State Park, the Winooski River State Park, and the adjacent state and federal parcels are controlled areas, and a commercial flight over them requires explicit permission from the state parks office. The Vermont National Guard occasionally uses the BTV and St. Albans corridors, and those corridors cross the western bank of the river and the western valley. Part 107 and TFR / NOTAM checks are required before a commercial mission on the river or in the western valley.
• St. Albans International (KGN) is about 30 miles to the northwest, and the St. Albans approach corridor is the second controlled piece to plan around on longer northwestbound routes. The airport is a GA and small commercial field, and its Class D surface is the primary controlled piece in the western valley beyond Burlington.