KONAHDrone airspace & authorization checker.
Type a property address or ZIP code to see what our FAA Part 107 pilot needs before flying there: nothing extra, a LAANC authorization that usually takes minutes, or an FAA/TSA authorization for the DC restricted zone that needs a few days' notice. Drone is available everywhere we shoot.
The rings this checker looks at.
These are the same airspace rings KONAH's booking system checks on every drone order, measured in straight-line statute miles from each airport or base.
| Area | Ring | What our pilot does |
|---|---|---|
| DC Flight Restricted Zone | 17.3 miles | FAA/TSA authorization (days) |
| Reagan National (DCA) Class B surface area | 7 miles | FAA/TSA authorization (days) |
| Dulles (IAD) Class B | 5 miles | LAANC (usually minutes) |
| BWI Class B | 5 miles | LAANC (usually minutes) |
| Quantico MCB / MCAF restricted area | 4 miles | Military authorization (days) |
| Manassas Regional (HEF) Class D | 4 miles | LAANC (usually minutes) |
| Stafford Regional (RMN) | 3 miles | NOTAM check + LAANC if needed |
| Andrews AFB restricted area | 6 miles | Military authorization (days) |
The FAA describes the Washington area as a Special Flight Rules Area: a 30-mile outer ring and a 15-mile inner ring around Reagan National, where drone flights need specific FAA authorization. See the FAA's Washington, DC drone page (updated Sept 16, 2026) for the current rules.
Sample results around the region.
Worked out live from the rings above, using the center of each place. Your exact address can land differently, especially near a ring's edge.
| Place | From Reagan National | What our pilot does |
|---|---|---|
| Woodbridge (Potomac Mills area) | 20.1 mi | No authorization needed |
| Occoquan | 16.7 mi | FAA/TSA authorization (days) |
| Lorton | 14.5 mi | FAA/TSA authorization (days) |
| Old Town Alexandria | 3.3 mi | FAA/TSA authorization (days) |
| Downtown Manassas | 24.6 mi | LAANC (usually minutes) |
| Ashburn | 27.6 mi | No authorization needed |
| Quantico (town) | 26.7 mi | Military authorization (days) |
| Stafford Courthouse | 35.8 mi | No authorization needed |
| Fredericksburg | 44.3 mi | No authorization needed |
| Leesburg | 33.6 mi | No authorization needed |
| Capitol Hill, DC | 3.3 mi | FAA/TSA authorization (days) |
| Upper Marlboro, MD | 15.7 mi | FAA/TSA authorization (days) |
| Bowie, MD | 17.7 mi | No authorization needed |
| Linthicum, MD (near BWI) | 32 mi | LAANC (usually minutes) |
What the results mean for your listing.
- No authorization needed: book drone like any other add-on. Weather still decides the day: our pilots don't fly in rain or strong wind, and we reschedule the aerials for free.
- LAANC: nothing changes for you. The pilot requests it before take-off and keeps to the approved height.
- Military or DC zone: book a few business days ahead. We can shoot the photos first and come back for the aerials once the authorization is approved, so your listing date doesn't slip.
More detail, with the FAA sources, in our guide to drone rules for listings in DC and Northern Virginia.
Tool questions.
Can you fly a drone at my listing?
Yes. Drone is available everywhere we shoot. What changes from address to address is the paperwork: nothing extra in open airspace, a LAANC authorization near airports (usually minutes), or an FAA/TSA authorization inside the DC restricted zone, which takes a few business days. This checker tells you which one applies.
Why does the DC restricted zone take longer?
The FAA's page on flying near Washington says flying a drone inside the 15-mile inner ring around Reagan National is prohibited without specific FAA authorization. That authorization is requested in advance, so we plan the drone part of a DC, Arlington or Alexandria shoot a few business days out. Photos and video on the ground can happen first.
What is LAANC?
LAANC is the FAA's Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability. Near many airports, a Part 107 pilot can request permission through an FAA-approved app and, at typical real estate heights, usually gets an answer in minutes.
Do you store the address I type?
No. The address goes to the check and the answer comes back; nothing about it is saved. If Google address lookup is switched on we use it only to place the pin. The only thing we record is a counter per network so the tool can't be abused.
Is this an official FAA tool?
No. It runs the same rings KONAH's booking system uses to plan a shoot. The final word is always the FAA: our pilot checks B4UFLY and LAANC on the day of the flight, because temporary flight restrictions can appear at short notice.
Is drone included in my package?
Photography + Drone and Listing Launch include drone stills, and drone can be added to most packages. See drone photography for prices and samples.
Book it in two minutes.
Pick a package, pick a time, pay securely. Your photos land in your KONAH portal within 24 hours of the shoot.