DC drone photography — what is and isn’t allowed
Washington, DC has the strictest drone airspace in the country. The whole city sits inside the DC Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA), and a 15-mile Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ) centered on Reagan National blankets nearly every neighborhood west of the Anacostia River. Most operators can’t fly here at all.
Where the airspace allows, our FAA Part 107 certified pilots can fly. We carry $1M aviation liability insurance — DC condo associations and brokerages routinely ask for the certificate before granting roof or balcony access. We don’t fly inside DC’s no-fly zones; if your property is in restricted airspace, we’ll tell you at booking and use alternatives instead.
Where drone usually works: Navy Yard, Capitol Riverfront, Anacostia, parts of NoMa and Brookland east of the FRZ boundary, and most of upper Northeast and Southeast DC. Where it doesn’t: the National Mall, anywhere within sight of the Capitol or White House, the entire FRZ core, and within 5 miles of Reagan National without a specific waiver.
If your DC listing is inside the no-fly zone, we’ll tell you at booking and recommend alternatives — 3D Matterport tours, twilight photography, or a high-angle pole shot — that give you the same impact on MLS without violating airspace. Learn more about our drone real estate photography.