14 CFR § 120.121 - Preemption.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t14/s120.121"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "14 CFR § 120.121 - Preemption."
title_number: 14
title_name: "Aeronautics and Space"
section_number: "120.121"
section_name: "Preemption."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
subchapter_number: "G"
subchapter_name: "AIR CARRIERS AND OPERATORS FOR COMPENSATION OR HIRE: CERTIFICATION AND OPERATIONS"
part_number: "120"
part_name: "DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING PROGRAM"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40101-40103, 40113, 40120, 41706, 41721, 44106, 44701, 44702, 44703, 44709, 44710, 44711, 45101-45105, 46105, 46306."
regulatory_source: "Docket FAA-2008-0937, 74 FR 22653, May 14, 2009, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "120"
---


# 120.121 Preemption.

(a) The issuance of 14 CFR parts 65, 91, 121, and 135 by the FAA preempts any State or local law, rule, regulation, order, or standard covering the subject matter of 14 CFR parts 65, 91, 121, and 135, including but not limited to, drug testing of aviation personnel performing safety-sensitive functions.

(b) The issuance of 14 CFR parts 65, 91, 121, and 135 does not preempt provisions of state criminal law that impose sanctions for reckless conduct of an individual that leads to actual loss of life, injury, or damage to property whether such provisions apply specifically to aviation employees or generally to the public.