Drone disclaimer: read before you fly
You fly at your own risk. You are responsible for knowing and following all current federal, state, and local laws every time you fly, including FAA rules and Texas law.
The Waxahachie Tiny Home and its hosts are not responsible for any laws you break, or for any damage, injuries, or fines that come from your flight.
The rules on this page are a starting point, checked in October 2026. Laws change, and this isn't legal advice.
Drone pilots spend half their time looking for somewhere to fly. Out here, the sky opens up in every direction: farmland to the horizon, round hay bales, freight trains on the far line, and sunsets that look staged.
At a glance
- Launch pad
- The tiny home's yard, with open farmland all around
- Before you fly
- Pass TRUST, register if your drone is 250 grams or more, and check the airspace
- Best light
- Calm mornings and golden hour
- From Dallas
- About 35 minutes south
- Whose call
- Yours. You're responsible for every flight
Fly from the tiny home
- Take off from the yard and fly wherever the law allows. We don't limit flights over the surrounding farmland.
- Be a good neighbor: stay high over homes, livestock, and anyone working the fields, and don't hover over people or film into windows.
- Charge smart: charge batteries on a hard surface you can see, never on a bed or couch.
- Paid shoots at the tiny home need our approval first. See the photo and film guide.
New pilot? Start here
Flying for fun
- Pass TRUST, The Recreational UAS Safety Test. It's free online through FAA-approved administrators, including the Academy of Model Aeronautics. Save your certificate; they don't keep records.
- Register drones of 250 grams or more at FAA DroneZone: $5, good for three years, and one registration covers all your drones. You must be 13 or older.
- Label each drone with your registration number, and make sure it broadcasts Remote ID.
- Fly the basics: at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace, always in your line of sight, and by the safety guidelines of an FAA-recognized community-based organization.
Flying for pay
- Real estate, client work, and anything for a business falls under Part 107. The FAA's advice: "When in doubt, assume Part 107."
- To get certified: be 16 or older, pass the knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing center, apply through IACRA, and clear a TSA check.
- Stay current with the FAA's free online recurrent training every 24 calendar months.
- Night flights under Part 107 need anti-collision lights visible for 3 statute miles.
Check the airspace, every flight
- Use an FAA-approved app such as B4UFLY before every flight. It shows controlled airspace, airports, and temporary flight restrictions where you're standing.
- Need controlled airspace? Get authorization first through LAANC (near-instant, in FAA-approved apps) or FAA DroneZone.
- Local airports: Mid-Way Regional Airport sits between Midlothian and Waxahachie, and the DFW airports' busy airspace starts to the north. Know what's overhead before you launch.
- Game days: the FAA bans drones within 3 nautical miles of stadiums with 30,000 or more seats, up to 3,000 feet, from an hour before to an hour after NFL, MLB, NCAA Division I football, and NASCAR Cup events. That covers AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field; see our game day guide for the rest of the trip.
Texas drone laws to know
The FAA runs the airspace. Texas adds its own rules on the ground and on what you capture. As of October 2026:
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Surveillance | Using a drone to capture images of a person or privately owned property with intent to conduct surveillance is a Class C misdemeanor (Gov't Code 423.003). |
| Critical infrastructure | Flying under 400 feet over fenced or marked facilities like power plants, refineries, chemical plants, water treatment plants, and dams is a Class B misdemeanor (423.0045). |
| Big sports venues | Flying under 400 feet over a stadium, arena, or racetrack with 30,000 or more seats is a Class B misdemeanor (423.0046). |
| State parks | Most Texas state parks, including Cedar Hill, require a permit to fly. |
| Army Corps lakes | Federal rules ban drones at Corps lakes, like Joe Pool and Bardwell, outside designated flying fields. |
| Wildlife | Texas Parks and Wildlife says using a drone to chase or photograph wildlife is unlawful without permits. |
| Takeoff and landing | You need the landowner's permission to launch from or land on someone else's property. |
Some of these rules have exceptions, including for FAA-compliant commercial operators and people with the owner's written consent. Check the current law yourself; it changes.
Where else to fly near Dallas
- Private land, with the owner's yes. The simplest, least stressful option, like our yard.
- Model aircraft club fields. Academy of Model Aeronautics clubs run flying fields around DFW; the AMA's club finder lists them.
- City parks: rules vary by city, so ask the parks department first. Waxahachie's park rules say commercial activities may need prior approval or a permit.
- Skip downtown Waxahachie. Busy streets, people, and power lines make it a poor place for a casual flight. Shoot the courthouse from the ground.
Shots worth flying for
Hay bales from straight above
From the tiny home
Tilt the camera straight down over the fields after a cutting. Round bales turn into a pattern that looks like art.
The orbit
From the tiny home
Circle the tiny home at 50 to 100 feet as the sky turns pink. Slow and steady sells it.
Porch to horizon
From the tiny home
Start low by the porch steps and rise straight up until the farmland fills the frame to the skyline.
The freight train
From a distance
Hold a hover well off to the side and let a train roll into frame at sunset. Never fly over a moving train.
Storms rolling in
Spring
Out here you can watch a storm build from miles away. Grab the shot early and land before the wind and lightning arrive.
Sunset hyperlapse
From the tiny home
Park the drone in a hover and let the hyperlapse mode turn 20 minutes of sunset into 10 seconds.
More spots to shoot from the ground, from trains to Victorian homes, are in our photo and film guide.
Camera settings that work out here
| Shooting | Starting point |
|---|---|
| Smooth video | Shutter at about twice your frame rate: 1/50 at 24 fps, 1/60 at 30 fps, 1/120 at 60 fps. |
| Bright Texas sun | You'll need a strong ND filter, around ND32 to ND64 at midday, to hold that shutter speed. ND8 to ND16 at golden hour. |
| Color | Lowest ISO, with a log or flat profile if you'll color-grade; standard color if you won't. |
| Sunset stills | RAW, with auto exposure bracketing to hold the bright sky and the dark fields. |
| Big views | Panorama mode for the farmland; it stitches the horizon for you. |
Golden hour and sunset times for every month are in our photo guide.
Wind, heat, and fire ants
- Wind: North Texas gets gusty, especially in spring, and it's usually windier at 400 feet than on the porch. Check wind at altitude in a forecast app, and come home with battery to spare.
- Heat: don't leave batteries in a hot car, and let them cool before you charge.
- Fire ants: they build loose dirt mounds in the grass. Launch from a landing pad or the driveway, not the lawn.
- Lightning: if you can hear thunder, you're done flying.
Questions we get
Can I fly a drone at The Waxahachie Tiny Home?
Yes. Take off from the property and fly wherever the law allows; we don't limit flights over the surrounding farmland. You're responsible for following all federal, state, and local laws, and we're not responsible for any laws broken.
Do I need a license to fly a drone in Texas?
For fun, you need to pass the free TRUST test and register any drone that weighs 250 grams or more. For paid work, like real estate or client shoots, you need an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
Is it legal to fly a drone over private property in Texas?
The FAA regulates the airspace, but Texas adds its own limits: it's a crime to use a drone to capture images of people or private property with intent to conduct surveillance, and to fly under 400 feet over critical infrastructure or big sports venues. You also need permission to take off or land on someone else's land. Know the current law before you fly.
Where can I fly my drone near Dallas?
Private land where the owner says yes is the simplest answer, and our tiny home's yard is one. Check every spot in an FAA-approved app first. Most Texas state parks need a permit, and Army Corps lakes like Joe Pool and Bardwell ban drones outside designated fields.
Do I need to register my drone?
If it weighs 250 grams or more, yes. Registration costs $5 at FAA DroneZone, lasts three years, and for recreational flyers covers all your drones. Put the number on each drone, and make sure it broadcasts Remote ID.
Can I fly a drone in Texas state parks?
Usually not without a permit. Ask the park office before you go.
Can I fly near AT&T Stadium or Globe Life Field on game day?
No. The FAA bans drones within 3 nautical miles of big stadiums, up to 3,000 feet, from an hour before to an hour after NFL, MLB, NCAA Division I football, and NASCAR Cup events. Texas law also bans flying under 400 feet over large sports venues.
Can I fly a drone at night?
Yes. Part 107 pilots need anti-collision lights visible for 3 statute miles and updated training. Recreational flyers should follow their community-based organization's guidelines, and lights are smart either way.
What is the TRUST test?
The Recreational UAS Safety Test, the FAA's required test for hobby pilots. It's free online through FAA-approved test administrators, and you keep your own certificate, because they don't keep records.
When is the best time to fly near Waxahachie?
Calm mornings and golden hour, about 35 minutes before sunset. North Texas wind usually picks up in the afternoon, especially in spring.
About this guide
Written by the hosts of The Waxahachie Tiny Home, a family-run rental on farmland just outside Waxahachie. We checked the details on this page against official sources and update it as things change. Hours, prices, and dates move around, so confirm before you go.
Last updated October 3, 2026
