Monroe Township (Gloucester County), NJ Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)

Chapter 123 of the Monroe Township Code, adopted 9-24-2018 by Ord. No. O:27-2018, bans launching or landing a drone on Township land. Section 123-3A makes it unlawful for any person avigating any UA/UAS to take off from or land on Township-owned property, except in an emergency or as provided in Section 123-4. Section 123-2 defines public property as real property and structures owned or leased by the Township including, without limitation, parks, playgrounds, streets, sidewalks and other rights-of-way, and buildings, and it extends to property the Township leases to a lessee. The prohibition is worded around taking off and landing, not around flight in the air above a park.

Section 123-4C is the route to a lawful launch. A person can take off from or land on Township-owned property at any time of the year if the Township Code Enforcement Officer or a designee has issued a written waiver. The officer must first determine that the flight can be conducted in conformance with the requirements and restrictions of 14 CFR Part 101 or 14 CFR Part 107, whichever applies, including the operating rules and remote pilot certification rules, and in a manner that will not cause unreasonable risk of endangering the life or property of another. Section 123-4A separately allows law enforcement and emergency services organizations serving the Township, Gloucester County, the State of New Jersey, or the United States to operate from public property when flying lawfully under 14 CFR Part 107, a blanket certificate of waiver or authorization, or other state or federal authority.

Other Section 123-3 limits also apply in and around Township facilities. Section 123-3D bars flying less than 400 feet above ground level in an area the Township designates a temporary no fly zone, with notice posted on the official Township website and on the public announcement board in the Municipal Complex, plus warning signs near the zone. Section 123-3C(4) bars operation that interferes with law enforcement, firefighting, or government emergency operations. An operator must immediately report to the Monroe Township Police Department any injury or property damage from operation on public property under Section 123-6.

The Monroe Township Police Department and the Division of Code Enforcement enforce the chapter under Section 123-7, and enforcement actions are reported to the FAA.