Oyster Bay, NY Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)

The Town Board adopted Chapter 231 in 2017 after finding a proliferation of drone use in and around Oyster Bay and declaring that it presents a noisy and potentially dangerous condition to the public and wildlife that may be present at Town facilities, making drone use inconsistent with the establishment and maintaining of a safe and pleasing public environment, per § 231-1A. Section 231-3 defines Town facility broadly as any park, beach, cemetery, property, building or repair facility the Town or any of its departments owns or controls, and defines a regulated UAS as any radio-controlled mechanical device weighing two pounds or more, airborne or not.

Under § 231-2A, no private, commercial, or business person may launch or land a UAS at any of those facilities without a permit from the Town Clerk. Section 231-2B clarifies the chapter supplements, rather than replaces, state and federal aviation law, and that the more restrictive rule controls if they conflict. Section 231-14 carves out active law-enforcement drone use and any operation already authorized by another federal, state, or Town permit, license, or approval. Permit applicants must give the activity's location, dates, times, and altitude, and once a permit issues the Town Clerk notifies the Supervisor, Councilmembers, and the Commissioners of Parks and Public Safety.