What airspace am I in? Check before you fly your drone
Updated · FAA Class Airspace and UAS Facility Map data
Look up your launch spot, then act on the class: in uncontrolled Class G you can fly without ATC authorization; in Class B, C, D or Class E that starts at the surface you need authorization first (14 CFR 107.41), usually through LAANC up to the altitude on the FAA UAS Facility Map. Then check for temporary flight restrictions. Enter a ZIP below for the class and the LAANC ceiling from FAA data.
Check drone airspace by ZIP code
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How to check what airspace you're in, step by step
- 1
Find the airspace class at your launch spot
Enter your ZIP below for a first answer from FAA data, then confirm the exact spot in the FAA's free B4UFLY app or the FAA UAS Facility Map below. On a sectional chart: Class B is solid blue, Class C solid magenta, Class D dashed blue, Class E to the surface dashed magenta, and a shaded magenta band means Class E starts at 700 ft above the ground.
- 2
Class G: you can fly without ATC authorization
Uncontrolled Class G needs no authorization under Part 107. You still follow every other rule: 400 ft above the ground, visual line of sight, and at night anti-collision lighting plus current training.
- 3
Class B, C, D or surface Class E: get authorization first
You need ATC authorization before you fly (14 CFR 107.41), recreational flyers included. The fast way is LAANC, through an app such as Aloft: it approves in near real time up to the altitude in that UAS Facility Map grid. Where the grid says 0 ft, or you need more, request it in FAA DroneZone, which takes longer.
- 4
Check temporary flight restrictions and NOTAMs
A TFR can close airspace that is normally open (stadium events, VIP movements, wildfires). Check tfr.faa.gov and the B4UFLY advisories on the day you fly. Our ZIP lookup does not include them.
How to read a UAS Facility Map grid
- 0 ft — LAANC can't approve automatically. Request authorization in FAA DroneZone (it takes longer) or pick a different launch site.
- 50–300 ft — LAANC can approve up to this altitude. Stay at or below it.
- 400 ft — LAANC can approve up to the Part 107 ceiling. You still need the authorization: it is controlled airspace.
Remember: the grid is the most LAANC can approve, not permission to fly. You still follow 14 CFR 107.51 (400 ft AGL), 107.31 (visual line of sight) and 107.41 (ATC authorization).
Official tools and authorization
FAA UAS Facility Maps (official)
The official UASFM viewer. Search by airport or zoom to your launch site to see the LAANC ceiling of each grid square.
FAA B4UFLY app (iOS/Android)
The FAA's free app for pre-flight airspace checks and advisories, with links to LAANC.
FAA LAANC
How LAANC works and the list of companies that provide it.
FAA TFR list
Current temporary flight restrictions. Check it on the day you fly.
FAA DroneZone
Authorization requests LAANC can't approve automatically (further coordination).
Sectional charts (SkyVector)
Free VFR sectional chart viewer to see Class B, C, D and E boundaries.
Studying for the Part 107 test?
Airspace is 20% of the FAA Part 107 knowledge test (PSI UAG bulletin) and the area our learners miss most. Practise them in the free Part 107 practice test or see the most-missed Part 107 questions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check what airspace I'm in before flying my drone?
Look up your exact launch spot in an airspace tool: the FAA's free B4UFLY app, the FAA UAS Facility Map, or a ZIP lookup like the one on this page (FAA Class Airspace data). If it is Class G, no ATC authorization is needed under Part 107. If it is Class B, C, D or Class E that starts at the surface, get authorization first (14 CFR 107.41), usually through LAANC. Then check tfr.faa.gov for temporary flight restrictions on the day you fly.
Can I check drone airspace by ZIP code?
Yes. Enter a 5-digit US ZIP on this page and it returns the airspace class at drone altitudes (0–400 ft) and the LAANC ceiling for the center of that ZIP, from FAA Class Airspace and UAS Facility Map data. A ZIP covers an area, so confirm your exact launch spot in B4UFLY or on the FAA map before you fly.
What is a UAS Facility Map (UASFM)?
An FAA grid around controlled airports that shows, for each square, the maximum altitude LAANC can approve automatically for drones (for example 0, 100, 200 or 400 ft above the ground). It is a ceiling for automatic approval, not permission to fly without authorization.
Do I need authorization to fly under 400 ft in controlled airspace?
Yes. In Class B, C, D and surface-area Class E, any drone flight needs prior ATC authorization regardless of altitude (14 CFR 107.41). The UAS Facility Map only tells you the highest altitude LAANC will approve automatically at that spot.
What if the UAS Facility Map grid shows 0?
A 0 ft grid means LAANC cannot approve a flight there automatically. You can still request authorization through FAA DroneZone (further coordination), which takes longer, or pick a launch site outside that grid.
Is B4UFLY the same as the UAS Facility Map?
No. B4UFLY is the FAA's free mobile app that shows airspace and advisories for a location and links to LAANC. The UAS Facility Map is the grid of LAANC ceilings around airports that those apps use. Both are free.
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