Commercial drone operators in Onondaga County must hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Much of the county falls within Syracuse Hancock International (SYR) Class C airspace, requiring LAANC authorization. County park operations need separate permits.
FAA Part 107 (14 CFR 107) requires commercial operators to pass the Aeronautical Knowledge Test, register each drone over 0.55 lb, and carry Remote ID broadcast capability (as of September 2023). Syracuse Hancock Class C airspace extends 5 nautical miles from the airport with a 4,000-ft AGL ceiling, covering most of Syracuse, Salina, Cicero, DeWitt, and Mattydale. Flights in this zone require FAA Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) approval, typically instant via Kittyhawk, Aloft, or AirMap apps. Onondaga County Parks (Highland Forest, Onondaga Lake Park, Pratts Falls) require a commercial filming/drone permit from Parks Department. NY does not have a statewide drone preemption statute; Syracuse Chapter 27-21 restricts drone use in city parks without permission. NY Penal Law 250.45 prohibits drone surveillance that violates reasonable privacy expectations.
FAA Part 107 violations: civil penalties up to $37,506 per violation (2024 adjusted). Unauthorized Class C entry: certificate suspension plus fines. County park drone operations without permit: $100-$500 fine.
Onondaga County, NY
Commercial noise regulated by municipal codes. Syracuse zoning limits industrial noise at residential property lines to 65 dBA day, 55 dBA night.
Onondaga County, NY
Commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs or bearing commercial signage are generally prohibited on residential streets overnight in Syracuse and most Onondaga Cou...
Onondaga County, NY
RV and boat parking regulated by town zoning codes. Most Onondaga County towns prohibit on-street RV parking over 24-48 hours and require side or rear yard s...
Onondaga County, NY
Street parking in Onondaga County follows NY Vehicle & Traffic Law plus local codes. City of Syracuse enforces odd-even street cleaning rules Nov 15-Apr 1 an...
Onondaga County, NY
Smoke and CO detectors required in all NY dwellings under 19 NYCRR Part 1225 (Uniform Code). Amanda's Law requires CO alarms in homes with fuel-burning appli...
Onondaga County, NY
Outdoor burning of brush, leaves, or debris is prohibited in Onondaga County from March 15 to May 15 under the NYSDEC statewide burn ban. Burning household t...
See how Onondaga County's commercial drones rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.