Aerial Imaging Services in Elgin, IL

FAA Part 107 Requirements

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

State Drone Laws

Illinois regulates commercial drone operations primarily through the Drones Omnibus Act (720 ILCS 5/48-1 through 48-5), enacted as Public Act 99-0566 and effective January 1, 2017. The Act prohibits using drones for surveillance of individuals without consent, restricts law enforcement drone use without a warrant, and bans drone harassment. Commercial drone operators in Illinois must hold a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and comply with all federal regulations including LAANC authorization for controlled airspace. Illinois does not require a separate state-level drone license or registration beyond FAA requirements. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Division of Aeronautics provides regulatory guidance and coordinates with the FAA on airspace matters. Illinois has state preemption language limiting local municipalities from enacting drone regulations that conflict with state or federal law, though Chicago maintains its own drone ordinance under the Chicago Municipal Code (10-36-070) requiring registration with the city for commercial operations within city limits. Operators near military installations (Naval Station Great Lakes, Scott Air Force Base, Rock Island Arsenal) must coordinate with base operations and check for active TFRs. The FAA controls all airspace above 400 feet AGL. The Chicago metropolitan area has extensive Class B (O'Hare) and Class C (Midway) airspace requiring LAANC authorization for most urban drone operations.

Local Ordinances

The City of Elgin does not have a specific municipal drone ordinance beyond Illinois state law, but commercial drone operators conducting business within city limits must hold a valid City of Elgin business license. Drone takeoff and landing in Elgin parks requires coordination with the City of Elgin Parks and Recreation Department, which manages Lords Park, Wing Park, and the Fox River Trail system. Operations near Schaumburg Regional Airport (06C) in southeastern sections of Elgin require LAANC authorization through the FAA. The Illinois Drones Omnibus Act (720 ILCS 5/48) prohibits surveillance of individuals without consent and restricts drone use over private property. Commercial operators should carry general liability insurance of at least $1 million for drone aerial imaging on city-related and commercial development projects. Drone flights near Elgin Community College and the Advocate Sherman Hospital campus should coordinate with campus security and avoid hospital helicopter approach corridors.

Restricted Airspace

• Class B: Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) Outer Shelf. O'Hare Class B airspace extends in a layered structure up to 10,000 ft MSL. Elgin sits approximately 20 miles northwest of O'Hare and falls under the outer shelves at higher altitudes. Most commercial drone aerial imaging in Elgin stays at or below 400 ft AGL where O'Hare Class B does not reach. However, operators should verify LAANC grid squares for their specific operating area, as the layered airspace structure means altitude limits vary by location. The O'Hare approach corridors can create traffic at lower altitudes in the Elgin area depending on runway configuration.
• Class D: Schaumburg Regional Airport (06C) Surface Area. Schaumburg Regional Airport has Class D airspace extending approximately 4 nautical miles from the airport up to 2,500 ft AGL. Southeastern sections of Elgin near the I-90 and Illinois Route 59 corridor may fall within the northern edge of this airspace. Commercial drone operators within this area must obtain LAANC authorization before flight. 06C serves corporate and general aviation traffic for the northwest Chicago suburbs, creating frequent low-altitude traffic that requires careful mission planning.
• Infrastructure: I-90 Jane Addams Memorial Tollway / US-20 Corridor. The I-90 tollway runs through Elgin connecting Chicago to Rockford, with ongoing widening and interchange improvement projects by ISTHA. The I-90/I-290 interchange near Elgin is a major infrastructure corridor. US-20 (Lake Street) is the primary east-west arterial through Elgin with continuous road improvement and commercial corridor development projects. Drone operations near interstate highways should coordinate with IDOT and ISTHA and follow FAA guidance for critical infrastructure inspection. The Canadian National rail line through Elgin creates additional bridge and track inspection demand.
• Infrastructure: Fox River Bridge Corridors. The Fox River flows through downtown Elgin with multiple bridge structures including the Chicago Street bridge, the Kimball Street bridge, and the National Street bridge requiring periodic inspection. The Fox River Trail system runs along the river through Elgin, creating recreational corridors where drone operators should maintain safe distances from pedestrians and cyclists. The river corridor has ongoing erosion control, flood mitigation, and waterfront redevelopment projects managed by the Fox River Water Reclamation District. The downtown riverfront revitalization brings mixed-use construction demand along the riverfront.