Drone photography / Peabody, Essex County
Drone photos and video in Peabody, MA: prices and airspace.
The center of Peabody is inside the Class D airspace of Beverly Regional Airport, so a pilot needs FAA authorization to fly there.
Local airspace
Flying in Peabody.
Peabody is next to Beverly Regional Airport, and the center of the city is inside its Class D airspace. As with Logan, the pilot asks the FAA first, usually through LAANC, and flies below the altitude the FAA gives for that spot.
- The center of Peabody falls inside Beverly Regional Airport (KBVY) Class D airspace, which runs from the surface up to 2,600 feet MSL. Boston's Class B shelves (floors at 2,000 and 3,000 feet MSL) sit overhead. FAA Class Airspace data
- Flying a drone in Class D airspace requires prior authorization from air traffic control. 14 CFR 107.41
- The FAA's UAS Facility Map shows a maximum of 400 feet above ground at the center of Peabody and 200 to 400 feet across the town. Those are the heights a pilot can be approved for through LAANC; higher requests need further coordination. FAA UAS Facility Map data
- In the FAA data, Peabody is not inside Boston Logan's surface area (Class B Area A), and the Class D airspace at Hanscom Field (Bedford) and Lawrence does not reach it. FAA Class Airspace data
What we could not verify. We could not verify the Beverly tower hours from an FAA source we could read, or the distance from the airport. A pilot checks the live airspace and NOTAMs before flying.
The rules that apply anywhere
- A person flying for pay needs an FAA remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating. 14 CFR 107.12
- A drone may not fly higher than 400 feet above the ground, with a narrow exception near tall structures. 14 CFR 107.51
- In Class B, C or D airspace, or the surface area of Class E airspace at an airport, a pilot needs prior authorization from air traffic control. 14 CFR 107.41
- Pilots get that authorization through an FAA-approved LAANC provider, and requests above a grid's altitude need further coordination and are open to Part 107 pilots only. FAA: LAANC
- The recreational flyer rules (the TRUST test) are for hobby flying only, so paid photography falls under Part 107. FAA: Recreational flyers
- Since September 16, 2023, drones must broadcast Remote ID unless an exception applies. FAA: Remote ID
This is general information from the cited FAA pages, checked October 5, 2026. It is not legal advice, and airspace rules change. The pilot you hire is responsible for checking the live airspace and getting any authorization before flying.
Common jobs in Peabody
What people book.
About the housing: Peabody has older neighborhood houses, newer subdivisions and condo communities.
Common questions
Drone photos in Peabody.
Do I need FAA permission for a drone shoot in Peabody?
Probably. The center of Peabody is inside Beverly airport's Class D airspace, and the FAA requires prior authorization from air traffic control to fly there. A certified pilot can request it through LAANC, up to the altitude the FAA sets for each spot (about 400 feet at the center of the city).
Does Hanscom Field or another airport affect Peabody?
In the FAA's airspace data, the Class D airspace at Hanscom Field in Bedford and at Lawrence Municipal Airport does not reach Peabody. Beverly Regional Airport's Class D airspace does.
What does a drone shoot in Peabody cost?
A typical listing shoot in Greater Boston is about $250 to $900 (draft range, not a quote), and other kinds of shoot are priced by the job. Your quote depends on the property, the flight time and the edits, and the pilot arranges any airspace authorization. See the service pages for each range.
Who actually flies the drone?
An independent drone pilot. Home Options MA is not a drone company; we take your request and connect you with a pilot, and we ask them to confirm FAA authorization and insurance before you book.