NFL Stadium Drone Rules: 3-Mile No-Drone Zone, Times and Fines (2026)

No. You cannot fly a drone within 3 nautical miles of an NFL stadium from one hour before kickoff until one hour after the game ends, up to 3,000 feet above the ground. That applies to every regular-season and playoff game, to small sub-250 g drones, and to hobbyists and Part 107 pilots alike. The FAA repeated the warning on 5 October 2026, calling every NFL game a “No Drone Zone”.

The reminder came after a summer in which more than 700 drones were seized around World Cup stadiums. Here is how the game-day restriction works, which other sports it covers, and what happens to pilots who ignore it.

Quick answer: the stadium no-drone zone

	Rule
Distance	3 nautical miles (about 3.5 miles or 5.6 km) from the stadium
Height	From the ground up to 3,000 ft above ground level
When	1 hour before the scheduled start until 1 hour after the event ends
Which games	NFL regular season and postseason, MLB, NCAA Division I football, and major motorsport races
Which venues	Stadiums with 30,000 or more seats
Not covered	NFL preseason games (local TFRs or other airspace may still apply)
Who can fly	Only operators the FAA has specifically authorized, such as approved broadcast or security flights
Penalty	FAA civil fines up to $75,000, drone seizure, and federal criminal charges in serious cases

Why it exists and how it is published

Unlike the one-off restrictions for events such as the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, the stadium restriction is a standing FAA flight restriction (a blanket NOTAM) that switches on automatically whenever a qualifying game is scheduled. You will not always find a separate TFR notice for each game, which is how some pilots get caught out.

The FAA’s Sporting Event Automated Monitoring System (SEAMS) lists the dates, locations and active times, with data supplied by the leagues. FAA-approved B4UFLY apps show the active zones too. If a game is on, assume the 3-mile ring is live.

Does it apply to college football and baseball?

Yes. The same rule covers NCAA Division I football, Major League Baseball and major motor speedway events at venues of 30,000 seats or more. On a fall Saturday that means college stadiums across the country; in October it also means MLB postseason ballparks.

Super Bowl week is different again. The FAA publishes larger, separate restrictions for the Super Bowl itself, which in recent years have reached 30 nautical miles on game night.

Small drones and Part 107 pilots are not exempt

Sub-250 g drones: the 250 g line only decides registration for recreational pilots. A DJI Mini or Neo is banned inside the ring like any other drone. Our registration-by-weight checker explains what the 250 g line does change.
Part 107 certificate: a remote pilot certificate does not let you fly inside the restriction.
LAANC approvals: an automated LAANC authorization for controlled airspace does not override a stadium restriction.
Your own property: living inside the 3-mile ring does not exempt your backyard during the restricted window.

What happens if you fly anyway

The FAA says violators face fines of up to $75,000, confiscation of the drone and possible criminal prosecution. Federal prosecutors have shown they will use the criminal route at NFL games:

Levi’s Stadium, California: a San Francisco man was charged on 2 February 2026 for flying during the 49ers–Rams game on 9 November 2025, reaching about 2,300 feet. The charge, under 49 U.S.C. § 46307 (national defense airspace), carries up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
World Cup 2026: between 11 June and 19 July, agencies seized more than 700 drones across the 11 US host cities, according to DroneXL’s tally, and logged 1,139 drone detections by 28 June. At least three federal prosecutions were filed in Texas.
More enforcement capacity: the FBI is doubling capacity at its counter-drone school after the World Cup, and the SAFER SKIES Act has given trained state and local officers some counter-drone authority since 1 July 2026.

For most hobby pilots the realistic outcome is losing the drone on the spot and an FAA enforcement case afterwards. Criminal charges are reserved for the more serious cases, but the Levi’s case shows they are not hypothetical.

How to check before you fly on game day

Check whether a qualifying game is on nearby: NFL, NCAA Division I football, MLB or a major race, at a 30,000-seat venue.
Open an FAA-approved B4UFLY app; it shows active stadium restrictions.
Measure your distance: 3 nautical miles is about 3.5 miles, so a stadium across town may still be close enough.
Allow for the time window: it starts an hour before the scheduled start and runs until an hour after the game actually ends, so overtime and extra innings extend it.
If in doubt, fly another day or somewhere further away. Drone footage of games you see online is flown under FAA authorization.

Frequently asked questions

Can you fly a drone near an NFL stadium?

Not within 3 nautical miles and below 3,000 feet AGL from one hour before the scheduled start to one hour after the game ends, unless the FAA has authorized you.

How far from a stadium do you have to be to fly a drone?

More than 3 nautical miles (about 3.5 statute miles) during the restricted window, and outside any other restricted or controlled airspace you are not cleared for.

Do stadium drone restrictions apply to NFL preseason games?

The standing restriction covers regular-season and postseason games. Preseason games are not included, although other airspace rules may still apply.

What is the fine for flying a drone over a football game?

The FAA can impose civil fines of up to $75,000 and seize the drone. Federal prosecutors can also charge a criminal violation that carries up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine.