Aerial Imaging Services in Canton, OH

FAA Part 107 Requirements

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

State Drone Laws

Ohio does not have a comprehensive state-level drone law regulating commercial UAS operations. The state enacted HB 292 (2018) establishing the Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Technology Committee to study UAS integration, and the Ohio Department of Transportation hosts the Ohio UAS Center which promotes safe drone integration into the national airspace system. Ohio does not require a separate state-level drone license or registration for commercial operators beyond FAA requirements. All commercial drone pilots in Ohio must hold a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and follow federal regulations including airspace authorization via LAANC for operations in controlled airspace. Ohio state parks managed by the Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) require a special use permit for commercial drone operations — contact the individual park office for application. Ohio does not have an explicit state preemption clause for local drone regulations, meaning municipalities may enact their own ordinances regulating takeoff and landing on public property. Operators near military installations (Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center in northeast Ohio) must coordinate with base operations and check for active TFRs. The Ohio General Assembly has introduced several UAS-related bills over the years (including SB 255 addressing drone surveillance privacy) but none have been enacted into comprehensive UAS legislation. The FAA controls all airspace above 400 feet AGL. Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland metropolitan areas have extensive Class B and Class C airspace requiring LAANC authorization.

Local Ordinances

The City of Canton does not have a specific municipal drone ordinance beyond state and federal requirements. Commercial drone operators conducting business within city limits must hold a valid City of Canton business license. Drone takeoff and landing in Canton city parks requires coordination with the Canton Parks and Recreation Department, which manages parks including Monument Park, Stadium Park, and the Canton Garden Center. Operations within CAK Class C airspace require LAANC authorization. Stark County parks, including Petros Lake Park and Frye Park, may have separate permitting requirements through the Stark County Park District. Operations near the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium during Enshrinement Week and major events should check for TFRs. Commercial operators should carry minimum $1M liability insurance and verify NOTAMs before flight.

Restricted Airspace

• Class C: Akron-Canton Regional Airport (CAK) Surface Area. CAK Class C airspace extends approximately 5 NM from the airport with a surface area up to 3,800 ft MSL and an outer shelf from 1,200 ft AGL to 3,800 ft MSL out to 10 NM. Northern Canton and the townships of Plain, Lake, and Jackson fall within the Class C airspace. Commercial drone operators north of Canton must obtain LAANC authorization before flight. The airport handles significant commercial traffic including American Airlines and United Express regional jets.
• Infrastructure: Pro Football Hall of Fame / Canton Memorial Civic Center. The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton is a major tourist destination, and the annual Enshrinement Festival in August draws tens of thousands of visitors. Large public gatherings at the Hall of Fame, Canton Memorial Civic Center, and Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium may trigger Temporary Flight Restrictions within a 3 NM radius. Commercial drone operators should check NOTAMs during Enshrinement Week and major events. The stadium hosts the NFL Hall of Fame Game and high school football championships.
• Special Use: Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center. Camp Ravenna (formerly the Ravenna Army Ammunition Plant) is located approximately 15 NM northeast of Canton in Portage and Trumbull counties. The facility is used by the Ohio National Guard and Army Reserve for training exercises. Military training activities may include helicopter operations and low-level flights. Drone operators in northeast Stark County and southern Portage County should check for active military flight operations and TFRs. Coordinate with base operations for data collection projects near the installation boundary.
• Infrastructure: I-77 / I-76 / US-62 Highway Infrastructure. Canton is a highway crossroads with I-77 running north-south connecting to Akron and Cleveland, I-76 running east toward Youngstown, and US-62 running east-west. The I-77/I-76 interchange on the east side and the I-77/US-62 interchange are major infrastructure assets. ODOT has an active bridge inspection program using drones. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad corridor and the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail also have infrastructure requiring periodic aerial inspection.