Bonita Springs, FL Drone Rules: Commercial Drones (2026)

Section 28-41(k) of the Bonita Springs Code, in the parks article, treats commercial drone activity differently from hobby flying. The last sentence of the subsection says any delivery service or commercial use of drones must obtain the consent of the parks and recreation director through the use of a written concessionaire agreement for operation on any city lands. The consent has to come through a written agreement with the city, and the director, not park staff on site, gives it.

One narrow exception sits in the first sentence of the subsection. Any person who obtains a special event permit can use a drone to photograph their special event in the park during the course of the event. That exception covers photographing the permitted event only. Under section 28-32(h), an event in the case of over 200 people or amplified sound needs a special event permit issued by the city council or its designee, and section 28-44 governs how a park permit application is filed with the director.

The concessionaire requirement fits the wider park rules on commerce. Section 28-35 bars operating a concession or offering any service, article or thing for sale on park property except for a regularly licensed concessionaire or another person authorized by the city council, city manager or director, and it makes all authorized activities subject to reasonable regulation by the director. Section 28-36 bars advertising and commercial signs in and around parks except by special permission from the director.

The operating limits for hobby drones, such as staying 25 feet from people, power lines, buildings and light fixtures, appear in the same subsection and are covered on the park drone page.