Commercial Drone Rules in New York

FAA Part 107 requires Remote Pilot Certification for commercial drone operations and preempts state and local regulation of airspace and flight rules. New York Penal Law Section 250.45 prohibits unlawful surveillance statewide, and General Business Law Section 399-aaaa addresses commercial data privacy. Public Service Law and Highway Law authorize uniform restrictions near critical infrastructure such as utilities and bridges. The New York State Police enforce drone-related criminal statutes consistently statewide. Municipalities cannot adopt local commercial drone licensing or operational rules that conflict with federal Part 107.

Operating commercially without a Remote Pilot Certificate violates FAA Part 107 with civil penalties up to twenty-seven thousand five hundred dollars. Unlawful surveillance is a class E felony under Penal Law Section 250.45. Reckless endangerment using a drone can be prosecuted under Penal Law Article 120.