Union City, NJ Drone Rules: Commercial Drones (2026)

Commercial drone flight in Hudson County demands FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate plus LAANC authorization for nearly every flight due to EWR, TEB, and LGA Class B coverage. Real estate photography for Jersey City and Hoboken high-rises (Newport, Exchange Place, Journal Square, Hoboken waterfront) is the dominant commercial use case. Part 107 operators must pass the FAA aeronautical knowledge test, maintain currency every 24 months, and file LAANC requests through approved apps (Aloft, Skyward, DroneDeploy, KittyHawk). Jersey City requires a separate Film/Video Production Permit from the Division of Cultural Affairs for any commercial filming including drone aerial shots, with fees starting at $150 per day. Hoboken requires a film permit from the Business Administrator's office. Operations over people (Category 1-4) and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) require additional FAA waivers (Part 107.29, 107.39, 107.45). Flights within 5 miles of EWR or TEB face airspace blockouts during high-traffic periods. Night flight since the 2021 rule change requires anti-collision lighting visible 3 miles. Operations near Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Journal Square PATH hub, and Hudson River rail crossings are subject to Port Authority and TSA coordination.