Drone Rules in New Jersey (2026)
21 rules on the books across New Jersey, 10 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Recreational Drones
Local rules for flying drones as a hobby, including where you can fly, altitude limits, and restrictions near parks and public events.
New Jersey: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsNew Jersey state law (N.J.S.A. 2C:40-27) sets uniform criminal restrictions on drone operations statewide, including…
Read full rule →Atlantic County
Significant RestrictionsAtlantic County caps drone flights at 400 feet, requires line-of-sight operation and current FAA registration, and bars…
Read full rule →Bergen County
Significant RestrictionsFlying a drone, model airplane, or other radio-controlled aircraft anywhere in the Bergen County Park System requires a…
Read full rule →Piscataway
Significant RestrictionsPiscataway Township treats recreational drone flying in its parks the same as any other drone use: § 12-9.1 defines…
Read full rule →Somerset County
Significant RestrictionsSomerset County Park Commission Regulations treat unmanned aircraft like model airplanes and rockets: flying one is a…
Read full rule →Essex County
Some RestrictionsBeyond the county's own park permit requirement, drone operators on Essex County park property must also comply with…
Read full rule →Hamilton
Some RestrictionsHamilton Township confines recreational drone flying inside its parks to areas set aside for that purpose, and bans it…
Read full rule →Monroe Township Gloucester
Some RestrictionsMonroe Township, Gloucester County, NJ writes its drone chapter to work alongside FAA rules. Operators must show an FAA…
Read full rule →Commercial Drones
Additional permits and requirements for using drones for business purposes like photography, delivery, or inspections.
New Jersey: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsCommercial drone operations in New Jersey are governed by federal FAA Part 107 plus the uniform state criminal…
Read full rule →Piscataway
Some RestrictionsPiscataway Township lets businesses fly drones commercially without the Township's park-drone permit process in two…
Read full rule →Monroe Township Gloucester
Light RestrictionsMonroe Township, Gloucester County, NJ leaves business drone use alone on private property during daylight hours with…
Read full rule →Park Drone Restrictions
Bans on launching, landing, or operating drones in city and county parks, with exceptions for designated model-aircraft fields.
Atlantic County
Significant RestrictionsAtlantic County confines drone and park-flyer flights to two spots at Estell Manor County Park: the North End Field and…
Read full rule →Bergen County
Significant RestrictionsFlying a drone, model airplane, or other radio-controlled aircraft anywhere in the Bergen County Parks System requires…
Read full rule →Essex County
Significant RestrictionsLaunching, landing, or taking off a drone anywhere in an Essex County park or property requires a permit issued by the…
Read full rule →Gloucester County
Significant RestrictionsGloucester County bans flying drones in any county park. Section 2(j) of the Parks Rules & Regulations prohibits…
Read full rule →Mercer County
Significant RestrictionsFlying a drone or any radio controlled aircraft in Mercer County parks requires written permission from the Park…
Read full rule →Monroe Township Gloucester
Significant RestrictionsIn Monroe Township, Gloucester County, NJ, it is unlawful to take off from or land a drone on Township-owned property…
Read full rule →Passaic County
Significant RestrictionsFlying a drone anywhere on Passaic County park land or water is illegal unless the Director of Parks and Recreation…
Read full rule →Piscataway
Significant RestrictionsPiscataway Township requires a Township permit before flying any drone or unmanned aircraft, other than a toy aircraft…
Read full rule →Somerset County
Significant RestrictionsSomerset County Park Commission Regulations bar model airplane, rocket, and unmanned aircraft flying, drones…
Read full rule →Event Drone Restrictions
Temporary flight restrictions over stadiums, parades, and major public events, plus the federal sports-stadium TFR rules.