TFRs for Drones: Stadiums, Fires and DC
Stadium games, wildfires, VIP visits and the DC area all close the sky to drones. How each TFR works for a Part 107 pilot and how to check before you launch.
A temporary flight restriction closes a piece of airspace for a limited time, and it applies to drones as much as to airplanes. The FAA's TFR page for drone pilots puts it simply: TFRs are published as NOTAMs, they restrict aircraft including drones from operating without permission, and you must always check NOTAMs before you fly. Under 14 CFR §107.47, a remote pilot has to comply with the TFR rules in §§91.137 through 91.145 and §99.7.
Which TFRs affect drones most?
| Type | Rule | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Disaster and hazard | §91.137 | Wildfires, hurricanes and other incidents where aircraft could interfere with response |
| VIP | §91.141 | Areas visited by the President, Vice President or other public figures |
| Space operations | §91.143 | Launch and reentry areas |
| Aerial demonstrations and major sporting events | §91.145 | Air shows and large events, by NOTAM |
| Special security instructions | §99.7 | National defense airspace, including the stadium restriction and the DC area |
How does the stadium restriction work?
The FAA's stadiums page says drone flight is prohibited within 3 nautical miles of the stadium or venue, from one hour before until one hour after the scheduled time of any regular or post-season event, for:
- Major League Baseball
- the National Football League
- NCAA Division I football
- NASCAR Sprint Cup, IndyCar and Champ Series races
The FAA publishes the covered events, times and locations on its Sporting Event Automated Monitoring System (SEAMS) website, using schedules it gets directly from the leagues. A Tuesday afternoon at an empty ballpark is not covered. A game night three miles away is.
3 NM
the radius around a covered stadium or race venue, from one hour before to one hour after the event
What about wildfires and hurricanes?
Disaster TFRs protect the aircraft fighting the fire or doing rescue work. A drone in the area can ground firefighting aircraft, which is why these restrictions matter even for a pilot who means well. The FAA notes that hurricane recovery TFRs do not ban properly authorized aircraft, including drones, from helping with relief.
How do you fly the Washington, DC area?
The DC area is a permanent special case. The FAA's DC airspace page describes a Special Flight Rules Area within 30 miles of Reagan National Airport. Inside the 15-mile inner ring, drone flight is prohibited without specific FAA authorization. Between 15 and 30 miles, Part 107 flights are allowed when they comply with Part 107. The DC post covers the details and an example job.
A "No Drone Zone" sign is not always a TFR. The FAA says local governments can use it to restrict takeoff and landing from their property. That limits where you launch, not the airspace above, and an airspace authorization does not override it.
How do you check for TFRs?
- The FAA's TFR list at tfr.faa.gov, updated in real time and filterable by state.
- Your LAANC app or B4UFLY, which the FAA says display TFRs.
- SEAMS for stadium and race schedules.
- A full NOTAM check through an official briefing source. The weather sources post covers 1800wxbrief.com, the briefing site the FAA's sample question points to.
A TFR check is one step of a longer routine; the five-minute drone rules check puts it next to airspace, launch-site and privacy checks.
Can a Part 107 pilot fly inside a TFR?
Sometimes, with permission. The FAA says each TFR lists who may be approved, typically public safety agencies, first responders and organizations such as media, and that you must coordinate with the controlling agency named in it. For urgent work there is the Special Governmental Interest (SGI) process, which requires a current Part 107 certificate or a COA and an emergency operation request to the FAA's System Operations Support Center. The FAA warns that violations can bring anything from a warning or fine to certificate suspension or revocation.
What the exam asks about TFRs
In the ACS, TFRs sit with the other airspace areas in UA.II.A.K3, the code the FAA gives its TFR sample question, and checking them is part of the NOTAM system element, UA.II.B.K5. The FAA's own sample question on the Indianapolis 500 TFR has the answer you would expect: a sponsor company may not fly without authorization. The sample questions post has the full question, and the restricted airspace post covers how TFRs fit with right-of-way and restricted areas.
A TFR is a NOTAM, not a chart symbol. If you only look at the chart, you will miss most of them.
Park Service land has its own permanent rule, covered in the national parks post, and local takeoff restrictions are explained in the private property post.
Volunteering at searches? The guide for search and rescue volunteers covers Part 107, public aircraft COAs and TFRs together.
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