Passaic County, NJ Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Drones
- Banned park-wide without a permit
- Permit authority
- Director of Parks and Recreation
- Coverage
- All lands and waters in the park system
- Penalty
- Up to $200 fine or 90 days jail
- Conviction effect
- Automatic revocation of any permit
Summary
Flying a drone anywhere on Passaic County park land or water is illegal unless the Director of Parks and Recreation issues a written permit first. Article II, Section 25 of the Park Property Ordinance covers every drone, remote-controlled airplane and similar device across the entire county park system.
The operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone, remote controlled airplane or other similar device) is prohibited within all lands and waters within the Passaic County Park System unless specifically approved via permit by the Director of the Passaic County Parks and Recreation Department. Recreational drone flying will not be permitted.
Full Breakdown
Section 25's ban is written broadly, 'within all lands and waters within the Passaic County Park System', so it covers every county park, golf course and parkway the ordinance's Article I, Section 1(b) reaches, not just a subset of high-traffic parks. by the Director of the Passaic County Parks and Recreation Department,' meaning approval sits with one named county office rather than a generic parks staffer or a municipality (drone rules for private land or a municipal park are set separately by each of the county's 16 towns).
That permit route closes for anyone flying for fun: the same section adds, 'Recreational drone flying will not be permitted,' a categorical exclusion distinct from the general permit standard the rest of the sentence sets up, a separate record covers that clause specifically. ' Enforcement runs through the Passaic County Sheriff's Department and any New Jersey peace officer under Article I, Section 1(c), with the case heard in the municipal court for whichever municipality the park sits in, and a conviction under Section 25 also triggers the ordinance's automatic permit-revocation clause for anyone who held a drone permit.
Violations & Fines
Article I, Section 1(f)'s default penalty applies, up to 90 days in the county jail, a fine of up to $200, or both, since Section 25 states no penalty of its own. A conviction also operates as an automatic revocation of the offender's drone permit, or any other County Parks & Recreation permit they hold, without further action by the County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a drone in a Passaic County park?
Who approves a drone permit for a county park?
Does the drone ban cover every county park?
What happens if I fly a drone without a permit and get caught?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Passaic County
Compare Passaic County to another location·View the New Jersey drone rules overview
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