New York may have some of the most scenic drone flying spots in the United States. However keep in mind that flying in the city may come with extra hoops you’ll need to jump through. Don’t let that discoruage you as we’re here to help. Firstly, if you haven’t already, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the Federal Drone Laws in the US. On top of that, there are many legislatures that apply to the specific state or local area.
In this article we list out the major New York state and local laws regarding drones and summarize them in an easy to understand format.
Note: We try our best to update this list, but in case we forgot anything, please let us know in the comments!
New York State Drone Laws
Use of Drones in New York State Parks
Drones use is only permitted with express permission from the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). Permits are issued for a specific time, location, and type of use.
Local Drone Laws in New York
New York City
Administrative Code § 10-126(c) // 2017
Drones can only take off and land in designated by the department of transportation or the port of New York authority. Drones cannot be used to display advertising, including towing a banner. Disallows flying under the influence.
Westchester County
Code of Ordinance Sec 706.11
Drones cannot be flown within 1000 ft. of correctional facilities.
Where Can I Fly My Drone in New York?
With so many federal, state, and local drone laws, it’s hard to tell where you can actually fly your drone.
You can download an app that gives you a map of where you can fly your drone and where it’s restricted. There are many different apps, but here are some of the ones we recommend using:
- Airmap
- B4UFly
- UAV Forecast
Keep in mind that even if it’s clear to fly your drone on the app, there may be local laws or signs saying that drones are prohibited, so always fly with caution.
Conclusion
Similar to driving, you’ll need to educate yourself on the rules of the air before flying. Drones can be dangerous if operated recklessly so regulations are necessary. Doing due diligence on all your local laws about drone operation is your responsibility. That’s why we’re here, to gather all the laws about drones so that you don’t have to. Make sure to check back here regularly to make sure that you’re up to date on the latest laws and regulations.
Leave a Reply