Aerial Imaging Services in Gahanna, 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 Gahanna does not have a specific municipal drone ordinance, but the city's proximity to John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) makes LAANC authorization mandatory for nearly all commercial operations. Commercial drone operators conducting business within city limits must hold a valid City of Gahanna business license. Drone takeoff and landing in Gahanna parks requires coordination with the Gahanna Parks and Recreation Department, which manages over 170 acres including Creekside Park, Hannah Park, and the Gahanna Municipal Golf Course. Operations near CMH airport property require coordination with the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. Commercial operators should carry minimum $1M liability insurance. Franklin County does not have separate drone regulations beyond federal and state requirements.

Restricted Airspace

• Class C: John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) Core and Outer Shelf. CMH Class C airspace has a 5 NM core surface area up to 4,200 ft MSL and a 10 NM outer shelf from 1,500 ft AGL to 4,200 ft MSL. Gahanna is approximately 3 miles north of CMH, placing most of the city within the CMH Class C core surface area. LAANC authorization is required for nearly all commercial drone operations in Gahanna. This is one of the most airspace-restricted suburbs in the Columbus metro due to its proximity to the primary commercial airport. Operators must check the FAA sectional chart and LAANC dashboard for every flight location.
• Infrastructure: I-270 / US-62 / Hamilton Road Corridor. Gahanna sits at the I-270 Columbus outer belt, with US-62 (Granville Road) and Hamilton Road as primary corridors. The I-270/US-62 interchange is a major infrastructure node for northeast Franklin County. ODOT has active infrastructure inspection programs along these corridors. The Stygler Road corridor has significant commercial and retail development. The Agler Road corridor connects Gahanna to the CMH airport property.
• Infrastructure: Norfolk Southern Rail Corridor / Crerell Road. A Norfolk Southern freight rail line runs through Gahanna along the Crell Road corridor, serving industrial and logistics facilities in the area. Rail corridor inspection is a growing application for drone aerial imaging. Operators near rail corridors should maintain safe distances from tracks and coordinate with Norfolk Southern for any infrastructure inspection work. The rail line connects Gahanna to major freight terminals in the Columbus region.
• Special Use: Creekside Park and Gahanna Civic District. The Creekside Park area along Big Walnut Creek is the focal point of Gahanna's downtown revitalization, featuring the Creekside District with mixed-use development, parks, and event spaces. The Gahanna Civic Center and Historical Settlement area host community events. Drone operations in the Creekside District require coordination with the Gahanna Parks and Recreation Department. The Big Walnut Creek corridor is an environmentally sensitive area running through the city center.