I'm trying to fly my drone near a local airport but the LAANC app keeps saying it's not available for this area. Does this mean I can't fly here at all? I see other pilots flying in the area so I'm confused. The airport has a tower but appears to be Class D airspace.

What are my options when LAANC isn't available? Do I need to go through some manual process or is it just not allowed?

LAANC is not the only pathway to authorization. The key point is that LAANC is not the legal requirement, authorization is. LAANC simply provides the fastest pathway to obtain it. You can still get approval through the FAA's DroneZone portal - it just takes longer.

You must request authorization through the FAA DroneZone portal. DroneZone requests are reviewed manually and typically take longer to process. Approval timelines may range from several days to several weeks depending on complexity. Plan ahead!

I've been in the same situation. Some airports are not yet integrated into the LAANC system. Certain flight parameters may exceed automated altitude limits. Just because you see others flying doesn't mean they have proper authorization - always get yours through official channels.