Rules and Regulations
Updated Okaloosa County Airports’ General Aviation Rules and Regulations were adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on June 18, 2024. The codification necessary to officially update the Code of Ordinances is in process. We will add the link to the code once it is published.
The link below provides access to items from the agenda packet where the new Rules and Regulations were approved. The Rules and Regulations document itself begins on page 7 of the PDF file.
Archived information related to the revision process for the Minimum Standards and Rules and Regulations can be found at this link.
UAS Local Area Guidance:
Home – Know Before You Fly
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) | Federal Aviation Administration
UAS Facility Maps
Visualize It: See FAA UAS Data on a Map
Cranes and Tall Structures
The FAA’s prime objective is to ensure air safety. Construction of tall structures near an active airfield needs FAA approval and coordination for use any equipment that could impact safe operations.
Please see Obstruction Evaluation / Airport Airspace Analysis (OE/AAA) (faa.gov) for additional details.
You can also download the Tall Structure Guidance here.
Aircraft Complaints
The majority of complaints being reported regarding tour helicopters or helicopters in general are related to noise, flight routes or safety concerns, etc. Although these issues have an impact on our local community, Okaloosa County is preempted from restricting any flight operations at/from or to Destin Executive Airport (DTS) or any aircraft in flight. Okaloosa County has no authority to address these types of complaints. The agency that regulates aircraft in flight is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Should you have a complaint, the links below provide helpful information and describe how to file complaints with the FAA.
For aircraft operators believed to be dangerous, low flying (acrobatic) or erratic in nature, please contact the Alabama/NWF FAA-Flight Standards District Office.
For noise complaints and inquiries, please visit the Federal Aviation Administration’s Noise website.