---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 44812"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "44812"
heading: "Temporary flight restrictions for unmanned aircraft"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/44812"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part A — Air Commerce and Safety"
  - "Subpart iii — safety"
  - "Chapter 448 — Unmanned Aircraft Systems"
---

# §44812. Temporary flight restrictions for unmanned aircraft

- (a) **In General.—**
  - (1) **Temporary flight restrictions.—** The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall, upon the request by an eligible entity, temporarily restrict [unmanned aircraft](/usc/49/44801.md?p=11) operations over eligible large public gatherings.
  - (2) **Denial.—** Notwithstanding [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the Administrator may deny a request for a temporary flight restriction sought under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) if—
    - (A) the temporary flight restriction would be inconsistent with aviation safety or security, would create a hazard to people or property on the ground, or would unnecessarily interfere with the efficient use of the airspace;
    - (B) the entity seeking the temporary flight restriction does not comply with the requirements in [subsection (b)](#b);
    - (C) the eligibility requirements in subsections [(c)](#c) and [(d)](#d) have not been met;
    - (D) a flight restriction exists to the airspace overlying the same location as the temporary flight restriction sought under this section; or
    - (E) the Administrator determines appropriate for any other reason.
- (b) **Requirements.—**
  - (1) **Advance notice.—** Eligible entities may only request a temporary flight restriction under [subsection (a)](#a) not less than 30 calendar days prior to the eligible large public gathering.
  - (2) **Required information.—** Eligible entities seeking a temporary flight restriction under this section shall provide the Administrator with all relevant information, including the following:
    - (A) Geographic boundaries of the stadium or other venue hosting the eligible large public gathering, as applicable.
    - (B) The dates and anticipated starting and ending times for the large public gathering.
    - (C) Points of contact for the requesting eligible entity and the on-scene incident command responsible for securing the large public gathering.
    - (D) Any other information the Administrator considers necessary to establish the restriction.
- (c) **Eligible Large Public Gatherings.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** To be eligible for a temporary flight restriction under this section, large public gatherings hosted in a stadium or other venue shall—
    - (A) be hosted in a stadium or other venue that—
      - (i) has previously hosted events qualifying for the application of special security instructions in accordance with [section 521](/usc/49/521.md) of the Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 (Public Law 108–199);[^1] and
      - (ii) is not enclosed;
    - (B) have an estimated attendance of at least 30,000 people; and
    - (C) be advertised in the public domain.
  - (2) **Additional gatherings.—** To be eligible for a temporary flight restriction under this section, large public gatherings hosted in a venue other than a stadium or other venue described in [paragraph (1)(A)](#c-1-A) shall—
    - (A) have an estimated attendance of at least 100,000 people;
    - (B) be primarily outdoors;
    - (C) have a defined and static geographical boundary; and
    - (D) be advertised in the public domain.
- (d) **Eligible Entities.—** An entity eligible to request a temporary flight restriction under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be a credentialed law enforcement organization of the Federal Government or a State, local, Tribal, or territorial government.
- (e) **Timeliness.—** The Administrator shall make every practicable effort to assess eligibility and establish temporary flight restrictions under [subsection (a)](#a) in a timely fashion.
- (f) **Public Information.—** Any temporary flight restriction designated under this section shall be published by the Administrator in a publicly accessible manner at least 2 days prior to the start of the eligible large public gathering.
- (g) **Prohibition on Operations.—** No person may operate an [unmanned aircraft](/usc/49/44801.md?p=11) within a temporary flight restriction established under this section unless—
  - (1) the Administrator authorizes the operation for operational or safety purposes;
  - (2) the operation is being conducted for safety, security, or compliance oversight purposes and is authorized by the Administrator; or
  - (3) the [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) operation is conducted with the approval of the eligible entity.
- (h) **Savings Clause.—** Nothing in this section may be construed as prohibiting the Administrator from authorizing the operation of an [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6), including an [unmanned aircraft system](/usc/49/44801.md?p=12), over, under, or within a specified distance from an eligible large public gathering for which a temporary flight restriction has been established under this section or cancelling a temporary flight restriction established under this section.
- (i) **Rule of Construction.—** Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the Administrator from using existing processes or procedures to meet the intent of this section.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 118–63, title IX, § 935(a), May 16, 2024, 138 Stat. 1370.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 521 of the Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 (Public Law 108–199), referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(A)(i), probably means section 521 of title V of div. F of Pub. L. 108–199, which is set out as a note under section 40103 of this title. The Act is comprised of div. F of Pub. L. 108–199.