Drone Rules in New York (2026)
21 rules on the books across New York, 11 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.
Babylon
Heavy RestrictionsRecreational drone use in Babylon is governed by FAA Part 107 and the Recreational Flyer rules. Much of Babylon sits…
Read full rule →Suffolk County
Heavy RestrictionsRecreational drone operation in Suffolk County is strictly limited by FAA airspace. Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)…
Read full rule →New Rochelle
Significant RestrictionsNew Rochelle's Public Pedestrian Plazas chapter bans flying any aircraft, drone, kite or other aerial device in, on, or…
Read full rule →New York
Significant RestrictionsNew York City bars taking off or landing any aircraft, a term broad enough to cover drones, anywhere in the five…
Read full rule →North Hempstead
Significant RestrictionsRecreational and hobbyist drone flying at any North Hempstead Town facility needs a Town Clerk permit under § 57-20…
Read full rule →Rockland County
Significant RestrictionsRockland County's Drone Regulation Law confines recreational drone flights to a person's own private property, another…
Read full rule →Huntington
Some RestrictionsHobbyist drone pilots in Huntington face a flat 400-foot altitude ceiling, a rule against flying beyond visual line of…
Read full rule →Oyster Bay
Some RestrictionsHobbyist drone flyers still need a Town of Oyster Bay permit to launch from any park or Town facility, but AMA…
Read full rule →Commercial Drones
Additional permits and requirements for using drones for business purposes like photography, delivery, or inspections.
Orange County
Heavy RestrictionsCommercial operations require FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Stewart Airport and West Point airspace require…
Read full rule →Huntington
Significant RestrictionsFlying a drone for commercial use on Town-owned property in Huntington requires a permit from the Town Attorney's…
Read full rule →New York
Significant RestrictionsNew York City restricts where drones can take off or land: Administrative Code § 10-126 bans it anywhere except sites…
Read full rule →North Hempstead
Significant RestrictionsCommercial drone operators need a Town permit before flying at any North Hempstead facility under § 57-20, and § 57-19…
Read full rule →Oyster Bay
Significant RestrictionsCommercial drone operators need a Town of Oyster Bay permit before launching from any park, beach, or Town facility…
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.
Hempstead
Significant RestrictionsHempstead Code § 77-8 bars flying a drone or model aircraft on, near or above any Town-owned property, including parks…
Read full rule →Huntington
Significant RestrictionsBecause Town parks are Town-owned property, Huntington bars launching, landing or piloting a drone in them without a…
Read full rule →New York
Significant RestrictionsNew York City bars bringing, landing, or letting any aerial craft or device, including drones, alight in a city park if…
Read full rule →Oyster Bay
Significant RestrictionsNo one may launch or land a drone at any Oyster Bay park, beach, cemetery, or other Town facility without a Town Clerk…
Read full rule →Suffolk County
Significant RestrictionsSuffolk County requires a permit from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation before launching or landing…
Read full rule →Orange County
Some RestrictionsOrange County restricts remote-controlled models, the closest category its parks law covers to recreational drones, to…
Read full rule →Rockland County
Light RestrictionsRockland County's drone law allows flying a drone in a public park unless the entity with jurisdiction over that park…
Read full rule →Event Drone Restrictions
Temporary flight restrictions over stadiums, parades, and major public events, plus the federal sports-stadium TFR rules.