Flying drones in Texas state parks is prohibited without written permission. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) allows only two paths to a legal flight: the designated remote-controlled aircraft area at Martin Dies, Jr. State Park, or a filming permit issued for the specific park where you want to fly.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Park Rules The rule covers all unmanned aircraft, and TPWD does not distinguish between recreational and commercial flights when it comes to the park ban. You cannot launch a drone at Enchanted Rock or Palo Duro Canyon just to fly around for fun.2Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. State Parks FAQs
The One Park Where You Can Fly Without a Permit
Martin Dies, Jr. State Park, in the piney woods of East Texas near Jasper, keeps a zone set aside for remote-controlled aircraft. You can fly a drone there without requesting special permission, as long as you stay within the designated area.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Park Rules Call the park before you drive out to confirm the current boundaries of the flying zone and any restrictions in effect. Federal aviation rules still apply here; being inside a designated park zone doesn’t exempt you from FAA requirements.
Getting a Filming Permit for Any Other Park
TPWD treats drone operations as media production, the same category that covers documentary filming and commercial photography. To fly at any park other than Martin Dies, Jr., you go through TPWD’s media production permit process.3Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Special Events, Media Productions, Short-term Concessions Requests
Start With the Park Superintendent
TPWD recommends contacting the park superintendent directly before filling out paperwork. The superintendent is your main contact throughout the process and can tell you whether your proposed flight is feasible given the park’s layout, visitor traffic, and any seasonal restrictions. Have your proposed dates and times ready, the specific locations within the park where you want to fly, and a clear description of what you plan to film or photograph.
The 90-Day Rule
Applications must be submitted at least 90 days before your planned flight date.3Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Special Events, Media Productions, Short-term Concessions Requests That timeline catches many people off guard. This is not a process you can start a couple of weeks beforehand. Submit the completed application to the park superintendent, and allow several weeks for TPWD to review it after submission.2Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. State Parks FAQs
Fees and Insurance
TPWD may charge a flat fee or a percentage of gross revenue for the permit. The exact amount varies by park and project scope. You also need liability insurance. TPWD evaluates each request to determine how much coverage is appropriate, and the policy must be issued by a Texas-licensed insurer. Before your flight date, a certificate of insurance naming the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as an additional insured must be on file with the park.3Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Special Events, Media Productions, Short-term Concessions Requests
What Happens If You Fly Without a Permit
Park law enforcement officers can cite you on the spot, and you’ll likely be ejected from the park. Violations of TPWD regulations are generally classified as Class C misdemeanors under Texas law, carrying fines of up to $500.
A second exposure sits on top of the park rule. Under Texas Government Code Section 423.003, using a drone to capture images of a person or private property with the intent to conduct surveillance is a separate Class C misdemeanor, also punishable by a fine of up to $500.4State of Texas. Texas Government Code 423-003 Texas defines “image” broadly enough to cover photographs, video, sound recordings, thermal imaging, and other electromagnetic data captured from a drone. A single unauthorized flight with a running camera could put you at risk of both charges.
The surveillance statute includes a defense if you capture an image accidentally: you must destroy it as soon as you realize the violation occurred, without sharing or displaying it. The statute also lists lawful purposes such as professional or scholarly research, law enforcement activity, pipeline and utility inspection, and real estate photography.5State of Texas. Texas Government Code 423-0045 Casual photography in a state park does not fit any of them.
Federal Rules That Still Apply
A TPWD filming permit only addresses the park’s rules. Every drone flight in the United States also falls under FAA jurisdiction, whether you’re in a state park, your backyard, or an open field.
TRUST and Registration
Before your first flight, you must pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), a free online knowledge test, and carry proof of completion whenever you fly.6Federal Aviation Administration. Recreational Flyers and Community-Based Organizations If your drone weighs 250 grams (0.55 pounds) or more, it must also be registered with the FAA. Recreational registration costs $5 and covers all drones you own for three years. The registration number has to be displayed on the outside of each aircraft.7Federal Aviation Administration. How to Register Your Drone
Remote ID
Since September 2023, all registered drones must broadcast Remote ID information while in flight unless you’re operating within an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA).8Federal Aviation Administration. Remote Identification of Drones You can comply three ways: fly a drone manufactured with built-in Remote ID capability, attach an aftermarket broadcast module to an older drone, or fly only within a FRIA. Most drones sold today come with Remote ID built in, but check an older model before you rely on it.
Altitude, Line of Sight, and Controlled Airspace
Recreational drones must stay at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled (Class G) airspace and remain within your visual line of sight at all times.6Federal Aviation Administration. Recreational Flyers and Community-Based Organizations Flying over people or moving vehicles is prohibited unless the drone meets specific FAA safety certification requirements.9Federal Aviation Administration. What To Know About Drones
Some Texas state parks sit near airports or under controlled airspace. If that applies to your park, you’ll need FAA authorization before launching, even with a TPWD filming permit in hand. The FAA’s Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) lets you request, and often receive, near-real-time approval for flights below 400 feet in controlled airspace. LAANC is available at over 700 airports nationwide through third-party apps that connect directly to FAA airspace data.10Federal Aviation Administration. UAS Data Exchange (LAANC)
When You Need Part 107 Instead
Flying for any business purpose makes you a commercial operator in the FAA’s eyes. The distinction doesn’t hinge on whether money changes hands. Volunteering to film for a nonprofit or taking aerial photos to help sell a property both count as non-recreational use.6Federal Aviation Administration. Recreational Flyers and Community-Based Organizations
Commercial operators must hold an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under 14 CFR Part 107. To get one, you must be at least 16 years old, pass an aeronautical knowledge exam at an FAA-approved testing center, and clear a TSA security background check.11Federal Aviation Administration. Become a Certificated Remote Pilot The knowledge exam covers airspace classification, weather, drone performance, and regulations, and it is significantly more involved than the recreational TRUST test. Once certified, you must complete online recurrent training every 24 months.
If your TPWD filming permit application has any commercial angle, you need both the park permit and a valid Part 107 certificate. A TRUST completion and a park permit alone will not keep you legal if the flight has a business purpose.