Topographic Data Collection in San Marcos, TX

Airports & LAANC Zones

• HYI — San Marcos Regional Airport (general aviation, located within city limits, uncontrolled Class E)
• AUS — Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (Class C, 30 miles north — outer shelves may affect northern Hays County)
• SAT — San Antonio International Airport (Class C, 35 miles south — outer shelves may affect southern areas)
• NZC — Randolph Air Force Base (Class C, 30 miles southeast — military airspace)

Restricted Airspace

• Class C airspace around Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS) — located 30 miles north. The outer southern shelves of AUS Class C may extend into northern Hays County. Verify altitude shelves on FAA UAS Facility Maps for data collection work in northern San Marcos near the county line.
• Class C airspace around San Antonio International (SAT) — located 35 miles south. The outer northern shelves of SAT Class C may extend into southern Hays County. Verify altitude shelves for data collection work in southern San Marcos. The Randolph AFB Class C zone is 30 miles southeast and may affect far southeastern areas.
• San Marcos Regional Airport (HYI) — located within city limits, uncontrolled Class E airspace. No LAANC required for most flights in San Marcos. HYI has active general aviation traffic including flight training and corporate jets serving the university and outlet mall corridor. Monitor CTAF and maintain visual separation, especially during weekends when tourist traffic peaks.
• Texas State University campus — the 500-acre campus along the San Marcos River has active security and outdoor event areas. Drone flights over the campus should be coordinated with University Police. Bobcat Stadium has stadium TFRs during Texas State Bobcats football games. The campus's location along the river creates unique data collection challenges for flood assessment and bank erosion monitoring.
• San Marcos River and Spring Lake — the San Marcos River is fed by Spring Lake, one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in North America. The river and springs are environmentally protected habitat for endangered species (Texas wild-rice, San Marcos salamander, fountain darter). Drone flights over the river and spring areas should be coordinated with the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, as the area is a designated critical habitat.
• Outlet mall corridor — the San Marcos Premium Outlets and Tanger Outlets are among the largest outlet mall complexes in the United States. While not restricted airspace, the density of pedestrian traffic and parking areas means drone pilots should coordinate with mall management for any data collection work near the complexes, especially during peak shopping seasons and holiday weekends.
• Severe weather and flash flooding: San Marcos sits at the Balcones Escarpment, a known flash flood alley. The 2015 Memorial Day flood and 1998 flood caused catastrophic damage. The San Marcos River and Blanco River (nearby) are among the most flash-flood-prone waterways in Texas. Drone operations during severe weather warnings are prohibited. Post-flood damage assessment flights require coordination with Hays County Emergency Management.

Local Ordinances

San Marcos does not issue a separate city-level drone permit for commercial operators. FAA Part 107 certification is the primary requirement. Most of San Marcos falls outside controlled airspace (uncontrolled Class E near HYI), so LAANC authorization is rarely needed for local flights. Commercial filming on city property requires a permit through the San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department. The city prohibits drone takeoff and landing in city parks without a special use permit, including Rio Vista Park, Sewell Park, and Plaza Park. Flights over the San Marcos River and Spring Lake should be coordinated with the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment due to endangered species habitat protections. Flights from private property (with owner permission) do not require a city permit but must comply with all FAA Part 107 rules and Texas Government Code Chapter 423 critical infrastructure restrictions.