Flying Drones Over Houston Listings: Airspace, FAA Approval and HAR (2026)

Agent Guides

Aerial photos sell Houston homes: lot size, the backyard, the pool, the nearby lake or greenbelt. But Houston has two major airports, several towered airfields and a skyline of stadiums, so the question isn’t only whether the photographer has a drone. It’s whether they’re allowed to fly it at your address, and how far ahead they need to know.

Who can fly a drone for your listing

Drone photography for a listing is commercial work, so FAA Part 107 applies:

• A remote pilot certificate is required to fly for hire (14 CFR § 107.12). Recreational-only flying privileges do not cover a listing shoot; a person without a certificate may operate only under the direct supervision permitted by Part 107.
• The pilot must keep the drone in sight the whole flight (§ 107.31), normally stay at or below 400 feet above ground (a limited exception applies near structures) (§ 107.51), and avoid flying over people who aren’t part of the shoot unless the drone meets FAA’s over-people categories (§ 107.39).
• Remote ID is required. Since September 16, 2023, drones flown under Part 107 must comply with the FAA’s Remote ID rule, and the FAA’s grace period ended March 16, 2024. For a typical listing shoot, this means broadcasting identification using a Remote ID-equipped drone or broadcast module.
• Dusk flights need extra equipment. Flying during civil twilight or at night requires anti-collision lighting visible for 3 statute miles (§ 107.29).

Before booking, ask for the pilot’s Part 107 certificate. It takes ten seconds and protects you and your seller.

Houston’s controlled airspace

Part 107 bans flights in Class B, C and D airspace, and in an airport’s Class E surface area, without prior authorization from air traffic control (§ 107.41). In Houston, four airports drive most of those requests:

Houston’s Class B airspace lists both IAH and Hobby as primary airports. Airspace boundaries are irregular, so the “nearby areas” column is a rough guide, not a map. Other towered airports in the region add their own controlled airspace, which is why the pilot checks every address individually.

Controlled airspace doesn’t mean no drone. It means the pilot needs permission first, and the answer depends on how close the home sits to a runway or approach path.

How FAA approval works, and how long it takes

Pilots request authorization in one of two ways:

• LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability). Through FAA-approved apps, a pilot can get near-real-time approval for flights at or below the altitude shown for that spot on the FAA’s UAS Facility Maps. For most Houston neighborhoods, this takes minutes.
• Manual review. If the shoot needs to fly higher than the map allows, the request goes to the air traffic facility for review. LAANC further coordination must be filed at least 72 hours ahead, and FAA DroneZone requests have historically taken up to eight weeks.

Near the runways, the map altitude can be very low or zero. In those spots the aerial portion may be limited to low-altitude shots, may need weeks of lead time, or may not be possible. Remember that HAR requires your photos within 10 days of the list date (see HAR Listing Photo Rules, Explained), so an address near an airport is worth flagging the day you sign the listing.

Temporary flight restrictions

Even approved airspace can close for a few hours:

• Stadium events. Drones are restricted within 3 nautical miles of any stadium seating 30,000 or more, up to 3,000 feet, from one hour before an MLB game, NFL game, NCAA Division I football game or major speedway event until one hour after it ends. In Houston that means NRG Stadium, Daikin Park, TDECU Stadium and Rice Stadium on game days.
• VIP visits and emergencies. Presidential visits, wildfires and major incidents bring short-notice restrictions. A good pilot checks the morning of the shoot.

Texas drone law

Texas adds its own layer in Government Code Chapter 423, which is enforceable again after the Fifth Circuit’s 2024 decision in National Press Photographers Association v. McCraw:

• Real estate marketing is a recognized use. Section 423.002 lists drone images captured by or for a real estate broker to market a property among its lawful uses, provided no individual is identifiable in the image.
• Critical infrastructure is protected. Section 423.0045 makes it an offense to fly at or below 400 feet over covered facilities such as refineries, chemical plants, power stations and ports, unless an exception applies, such as a commercial flight that complies with FAA rules and authorizations. With the Houston Ship Channel and many petrochemical sites nearby, east-side and Baytown-area listings deserve a closer look.
• Surveillance is an offense. Section 423.003 targets images of people or private property captured to conduct surveillance, which is why listing pilots frame the subject property and keep neighbors out of the shot.

Where HAR comes in

HAR’s MLS rules don’t mention drones by name, but aerial images follow the same rules as every other photo:

• The listing must be the focus. Images must show the listed property in its as-is condition, and they may include its immediate vicinity (Rule 1.25.5). A wide shot of the neighborhood lake is fine; an aerial where the home is a speck isn’t.
• Lot lines are approximate. A drawn property outline helps buyers, but it isn’t a survey. Say so in the Photo Description, and never show an outline you can’t support.
• Drone video in the tour field must be unbranded. No contact information, agent photos or logos except the listing firm’s name (Rule 1.25.2).
• Licensing still applies. Aerial photos and video are listing content, so your written photographer agreement must cover them (Section 11; see Who Owns Your Listing Photos in Texas?).

A quick checklist for agents

1. Confirm the pilot holds a Part 107 certificate.
2. Send the exact address when you book, not on shoot day.
3. Ask whether the address needs authorization, and how high the drone can fly there.
4. For homes near an airport, plan around the possible lead time before your HAR deadline.
5. Avoid game days near Houston’s major stadiums.
6. Label any drawn lot lines as approximate.

How PRO360 Photos handles aerial shoots

Mario Gerussi, founder of PRO360 Photos, is an FAA Part 107 certified remote pilot. Every aerial order is checked against airspace, temporary restrictions and the forecast before the shoot. If a flight isn’t safe or legal on the day, because of wind, rain or airspace rules, the aerial portion is rescheduled at no charge or refunded, your choice (see the booking policy).

• Drone photos: $95 for 5, $155 for 10, $245 for 20, as same-visit add-ons. Drone photography is included in Listing Plus, Listing Pro and Signature Premium.
• Drone video: $125 for 30 seconds or $195 for one minute, or $295 for 10 photos plus a one-minute video.
• Aerial 360 panorama: $95 per location.
• Drone-only appointments for land and acreage start at $150.

See aerial work on the drone photography page, compare packages, or book a shoot and include the address so the airspace check can start right away.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• 14 CFR Part 107 (Sections 107.12, 107.29, 107.31, 107.39, 107.41, 107.51)
• FAA: Part 107 Airspace Authorizations (LAANC, DroneZone timing)
• Federal Register: Houston Class B airspace description
• FAA: David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport
• FAA: Flying over stadiums and sporting events
• FAA: Remote ID
• Texas Government Code Chapter 423 (Sections 423.002, 423.003, 423.0045)
• HAR MLS Rules and Regulations, dated June 8, 2026 (Rules 1.25.2, 1.25.5 and Section 11)

This guide is general information, not legal or aviation advice. Airspace and temporary restrictions change, so every flight needs a current check by the remote pilot in command.