Restricted areas, airspace rules, park regulations. 3 state-level rules for New York, each linked to its official government source.
New York City effectively PROHIBITS drones. State Parks have strict rules.
NYC effectively PROHIBITS drone flying (need very difficult to obtain permit). Multiple airport TFRs cover most of NYC area. State Parks require permit in most cases. Adirondack Park has varying rules by area. Statue of Liberty and other NPS areas prohibit drones. Extremely challenging environment for drone operators.
New York state parks: Drone flying prohibited. Parks & Rec Law prohibits in state parks without permit
DRONES IN NEW YORK STATE PARKS
GENERAL RULE
New York: Drone flying in state parks is PROHIBITED.
Parks & Rec Law prohibits in state parks without permit
New York: flying a drone in a state park or historic site requires a written OPRHP permit; using one to secretly view or record someone's body without consent can be a felony under Penal Law 250.45.
New York does not have a single statute titled a drone privacy law. Two narrower provisions apply. First, OPRHP Procedure OPR-PCD-018 (effective 01/06/2015) states any launch or operation of a UAS on OPRHP-controlled property without a prior written permit is prohibited; recreational drone flying is further subject to 9 NYCRR Section 372.7(j). Second, Penal Law Section 250.45, Unlawful Surveillance in the Second Degree (a class E felony), bars using any imaging device, including a drone, to surreptitiously view, broadcast, or record a person's body without consent where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. It targets voyeurism, not surveillance generally, and is not drone-specific.
This page covers New York state-level law. The ZoneWise app checks drones and 15 more categories across 35,000+ state, county & city jurisdictions at your exact GPS location — and alerts you when the rules change as you travel.
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