Aerial Imaging Services in Toledo, 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 Toledo does not have a specific municipal drone ordinance. Commercial drone operators conducting business within city limits must hold a valid City of Toledo business license. Drone takeoff and landing in Toledo parks requires coordination with the Toledo Metroparks system, which manages over 12,000 acres including Wildwood Preserve Metropark, Side Cut Metropark, and Pearson Metropark. Operations near the Port of Toledo and Maumee River require coordination with the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. Operations within TOL Class C airspace require LAANC authorization. Operations near the 180th Fighter Wing ANG facility require checking for active military restrictions and NOTAMs. Operations near the oil refinery and industrial corridor in east Toledo require coordination with facility security. Commercial operators should carry minimum $1M liability insurance.

Restricted Airspace

• Class C: Toledo Express Airport (TOL) Airspace. TOL Class C airspace extends approximately 10 NM from the airport with a 5 NM core surface area up to 3,200 ft MSL and an outer shelf from 1,200 ft AGL to 3,200 ft MSL. The airport is located approximately 15 NM west of downtown Toledo, placing western Lucas County and the I-80/I-90 corridor within the Class C airspace. Commercial drone operators in western Toledo, Springfield Township, and the Sylvania area should check LAANC grid squares. TOL handles commercial passenger service plus significant cargo operations.
• Military: Toledo Air National Guard / 180th Fighter Wing. The 180th Fighter Wing operates F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Toledo ANG facility adjacent to Toledo Express Airport. Military training routes and restricted airspace associated with fighter operations can affect drone operations in western Lucas County. Operators should check NOTAMs and TFRs before commercial drone aerial imaging missions near the airport and the western I-80/I-90 corridor. The base also hosts alert fighter operations for the homeland defense mission, creating potential for short-notice airspace restrictions.
• Infrastructure: I-75 / I-280 / I-475 / Ohio Turnpike Interchange Complex. Toledo is a major Midwest freight crossroads at the intersection of I-75 (north-south from Detroit to Florida) and the Ohio Turnpike I-80/I-90 (east-west from Chicago to the East Coast). The I-280 Veterans' Glass City Skyway bridge over the Maumee River is a major cable-stayed bridge requiring periodic inspection. ODOT has an active drone inspection program for bridge and highway infrastructure. The I-75/I-475 interchange and the Ohio Turnpike/I-75 interchange are critical freight infrastructure nodes.
• Infrastructure: Maumee River / Lake Erie Port Facilities. The Maumee River corridor through Toledo includes the Port of Toledo, one of the largest Great Lakes ports, handling bulk cargo, grain, and manufactured goods. The port has critical infrastructure including grain elevators, bulk material terminals, and the Toledo shipyard. Operations near the port and river corridor should follow FAA guidance for critical infrastructure inspection. The Lake Erie shoreline includes the Toledo Water Treatment intake facilities and the Maumee Bay State Park area. Environmental monitoring of the Maumee River and Lake Erie western basin creates demand for drone aerial imaging services.
• Special Use: Glass City Center / Huntington Center / Fifth Third Field Event TFRs. Downtown Toledo venues include the Huntington Center (capacity 8,000, home of the Toledo Walleye ECHL hockey) and Fifth Third Field (capacity 10,300, home of the Toledo Mud Hens minor league baseball). While these venues are smaller than major professional stadiums, event-specific airspace restrictions may apply. Commercial drone operators should check NOTAMs before missions near the downtown arena district. The University of Toledo football games at the Glass Bowl (capacity 26,248) are below the 30,000-seat threshold for mandatory NCAA TFRs but may have local restrictions.