Why Logan matters for a drone shoot north of Boston
Boston Logan International Airport (KBOS) is a Class B airport. In the FAA's class airspace data, the part called Area A runs from the ground up to 7,000 feet above sea level, and it covers a wide circle around the airport. Two higher shelves start at 2,000 and 3,000 feet and do not matter to a drone flying below 400 feet.
The federal rule is 14 CFR 107.41: no one may fly a small drone in Class B, C or D airspace, or inside the surface area of Class E airspace at an airport, without prior authorization from air traffic control. That applies at any height, even 50 feet.
It does not mean no flying. It means the pilot asks first. Most listing shoots in this area are approved through an app in a few minutes.
What the FAA data shows for our towns
We checked the FAA's airspace and UAS Facility Map data for eight towns on October 5, 2026, using the centre of each town. The "grid ceiling" is the highest altitude, in feet above ground, a pilot can be approved for through LAANC at that spot. It changes from square to square, so the range across town matters more than the number at the centre.
| Town | Airspace at the town center | Grid ceiling at center | Range across town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melrose | Logan Class B, surface area | 250 ft | 50 to 300 ft |
| Malden | Logan Class B, surface area | 150 ft | 50 to 300 ft |
| Medford | Logan Class B, surface area | 300 ft | 100 to 350 ft |
| Saugus | Logan Class B, surface area | 150 ft | 50 to 300 ft |
| Lynn | Logan Class B, surface area | 300 ft | 50 to 400 ft |
| Stoneham | Edge of Class B: check by address | 300 ft | 250 to 300 ft |
| Wakefield | Edge of Class B: check by address | No grid cell at center | 50 to 300 ft |
| Peabody | Beverly Regional Class D (Logan shelves overhead) | 400 ft | 200 to 400 ft |
Hanscom Field in Bedford and Lawrence Municipal Airport have Class D airspace too, but in the FAA data it does not reach any of these eight towns. We could not verify the control tower hours at Beverly from an FAA source we could read.
We did not run the same check for Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Revere or Everett, so we make no claim about them here. Those cities are close to Logan, and a pilot should check each address on the live FAA map and in a LAANC app. For Stoneham and Wakefield the FAA's two data layers do not match cleanly, so we do not call any street free or restricted.
This is a marketing-site summary, not flight planning. The pilot must check LAANC and the live map before every flight.
LAANC and the UAS Facility Map grids
LAANC stands for Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability. The FAA's LAANC page says it automates the application and approval process. A pilot applies through an FAA-approved app, the request is checked against the UAS Facility Maps, airspace classes, special use airspace, temporary flight restrictions and NOTAMs, and "if approved, pilots can receive their authorization in near-real time."
The UAS Facility Map is a grid laid over the airport's airspace. Each square has a maximum altitude the FAA will approve automatically. Some squares allow 400 feet, and others allow much less. The FAA data layer itself warns that the map is not updated in real time and is not an authorization.
A pilot who wants to fly above the grid ceiling, up to 400 feet, can submit a further coordination request through LAANC. The FAA says those can be sent up to 90 days ahead, are coordinated manually and are open to Part 107 pilots only.
LAANC covers authorization only. The FAA page says pilots must still check NOTAMs and weather and follow all airspace restrictions.
LAANC versus a DroneZone manual authorization
| Route | When it is used | How long it takes |
|---|---|---|
| LAANC, near real time | Controlled airspace at an airport that has LAANC, at or below the grid ceiling | Near real time if approved, per the FAA |
| LAANC, further coordination | Above the grid ceiling, up to 400 feet | Manual review; the FAA says apply up to 90 days ahead; we found no stated review time |
| FAADroneZone manual request | Airports without LAANC, or operations that LAANC cannot handle | The FAA says processing "historically" takes up to eight weeks |
The FAA says LAANC is available at 726 airports, and that pilots flying near other airports can use the manual process. The FAA airspace authorizations page says manual DroneZone requests are processed in order, that review times vary and that "historically, processing takes up to eight weeks". If a job needs a manual request, it cannot be a same-week job.
That is why a pilot should check your address before you book a date, especially for a listing that needs photos fast.
Pilot certificate, TRUST and Remote ID
Paid flying needs an FAA remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating (14 CFR 107.12). The recreational test, called TRUST, is for hobby flying only, so a drone shoot for a listing falls under Part 107. See our Part 107 guide.
Altitude. A drone cannot go higher than 400 feet above ground, with a narrow exception within 400 feet of a structure (14 CFR 107.51).
Remote ID. Since September 16, 2023, a drone must broadcast Remote ID unless an exception applies (14 CFR 89.105). The FAA Remote ID page says drones that must be registered have to comply, either as a Standard Remote ID drone or with a broadcast module, or by flying in an FAA-recognized identification area.
People. A pilot may not fly over people unless they meet the conditions in 14 CFR 107.39. For a listing shoot this means keeping the drone away from neighbors, passers-by and anyone who is not part of the job.
TFRs and the B4UFLY app
A temporary flight restriction (TFR) closes an area for a limited time, for example for wildfires, emergencies, security events and some big sports events. The FAA's TFR page says TFRs restrict aircraft, including drones, and that pilots "must always check NOTAMs prior to your flight." Violations can bring sanctions from warnings and fines to certificate suspension or revocation.
B4UFLY is the FAA's situational-awareness service. The FAA B4UFLY page says it shows controlled airspace, airports, national parks and TFRs, with a status indicator. It is not an authorization. The FAA says it approved five companies to provide B4UFLY, and these are also LAANC suppliers, so pilots often use one app for both.
Ask the pilot which app they use and whether they check TFRs on the day of the flight.
What to ask a pilot before you book
- Do you hold a current FAA remote pilot certificate? (Ask for a copy.)
- Have you checked the airspace at my address, and what altitude can you get approved?
- If you need further coordination or a manual request, how long will it take and what does that do to my date?
- Is your drone Remote ID compliant?
- Do you carry liability insurance?
Home Options MA is not a drone company. We connect you with independent pilots and we ask them to confirm FAA authorization and insurance before you book.