Aerial Imaging Services in Hilliard, 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 Hilliard does not have a specific municipal drone ordinance. Commercial drone operators conducting business within city limits must hold a valid City of Hilliard business license. Drone takeoff and landing in Hilliard parks requires a permit from the Hilliard Parks and Recreation Department, which manages over 300 acres including Homestead Park, Hilliard Bradley Park, and the Heritage Trail. Operations near the Big Darby Creek corridor — a designated State and National Scenic River — require environmental sensitivity and coordination with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Eastern Hilliard near the CMH Class C outer shelf or OSU Class D airspace requires LAANC authorization depending on exact location and altitude. Commercial operators should carry minimum $1M liability insurance. Franklin County does not have separate drone regulations.

Restricted Airspace

• Class C: John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) 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. Hilliard is approximately 12 miles northwest of CMH, placing eastern portions of the city within or near the 10 NM outer shelf boundary. Operators in eastern Hilliard near the I-270 corridor should check the FAA sectional chart and LAANC grid for their specific operating area. Western Hilliard generally operates in Class E/G uncontrolled airspace. LAANC authorization is required for flights above 400 ft AGL within the outer shelf.
• Class D: The Ohio State University Airport (OSU) Surface Area. OSU Class D airspace extends approximately 4.5 NM from the airport up to 2,600 ft MSL. OSU is located approximately 8 miles north of Hilliard. Northern Hilliard operations near the Olentangy River corridor should verify their position relative to the OSU Class D boundary. LAANC authorization is available for the OSU Class D surface area. The proximity of OSU to Hilliard makes northern portions of the city more affected by controlled airspace than southern areas.
• Infrastructure: I-270 / Roberts Road / Cemetery Road Corridor. Hilliard sits at the I-270 Columbus outer belt, with Roberts Road and Cemetery Road as primary east-west corridors. The I-270/Roberts Road interchange is a major infrastructure node for northwest Franklin County. ODOT has active infrastructure inspection programs along these corridors. The Hilliard-Rome Road corridor runs north-south through the city and has significant commercial and residential development. The Big Darby Creek corridor on the western edge is an environmentally sensitive area.
• Special Use: Hilliard Bradley Park / Homestead Park. Hilliard has extensive park and recreational facilities including the 76-acre Homestead Park, the Hilliard Bradley Park complex, and the Heritage Trail rails-to-trails corridor. The Heritage Trail runs along the former Pennsylvania Railroad corridor through Hilliard. Drone operations in park areas require coordination with the Hilliard Parks and Recreation Department. The Big Darby Creek corridor is a designated State and National Scenic River requiring environmental sensitivity for any aerial mapping work.