Puerto Rico Drones

Puerto Rico Drone Rules

FAA rules apply territory-wide. Law 68-2021 limits drone surveillance and imaging of people and private property. San Juan National Historic Site requires written NPS approval. Drones requiring FAA registration must broadcast Remote ID unless flown within a Federally-Recognized Identification Area.

PUERTO RICO PRIVACY LAW

Law 68-2021, the Law to Limit the Use of Images Captured by Unmanned Aerial Systems, as amended by Law 62-2025.

Absent a search warrant or consent, no person, entity or government agency may use a drone to conduct surveillance of, collect evidence or information about, or photograph or electronically record specific persons or private property.

Identifiable images captured by a drone may not be retained or shared unless there is reasonable suspicion that the image contains evidence of criminal activity or relates to an ongoing or pending criminal investigation.

This is not a blanket ban on flying over private property. It regulates the specified surveillance and image-collection conduct.

EXCEPTIONS TO LAW 68-2021

- Emergency or safety situations that present imminent danger to life or serious bodily harm
- Search and rescue situations
- Operations, exercises or missions of any branch of the United States armed forces
- The CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT programs administered by the Puerto Rico Department of Housing, for data collection needed to implement the GeoFrame geospatial infrastructure program and the RAD risk and resource data program (added by Law 62-2025)
- Area-measurement and registry programs of the Municipal Revenue Collection Center (CRIM), provided CRIM notifies the affected taxpayer; information obtained under these exceptions may be used only for the authorized purposes (added by Law 62-2025)
- The statutory definition of unmanned aerial system excludes systems used in the creation of maps

PENALTIES

Violating the prohibition is a misdemeanor. A person harmed by the prohibited conduct also has a civil cause of action and may recover damages plus attorney fees and costs.

FAA REQUIREMENTS

- Register your drone if it weighs 250 grams (0.55 lb) or more, mark it on the outside with the registration number, and carry proof of registration when flying
- A drone that requires a registration number must broadcast Remote ID unless flown within an FAA-Recognized Identification Area
- Recreational flyers must pass the free Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) and carry proof of passage, keep the drone within visual line of sight, give way to other aircraft, and fly at or below 400 feet in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace
- Flying in controlled airspace (Class B, C, D, and surface Class E designated for an airport) requires prior FAA authorization through LAANC or DroneZone
- Any flight that is not purely for recreation defaults to 14 CFR Part 107, which requires a Remote Pilot Certificate (at least 16 years old, pass the Unmanned Aircraft General knowledge test) and drone registration through FAADroneZone

SAN JUAN NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Launching, landing or operating an uncrewed or remotely piloted aircraft from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service within the boundaries of San Juan National Historic Site is prohibited except as approved in writing by the superintendent.

Launching or landing an uncrewed aircraft is on the park's list of activities that require a permit. Kites and other devices, including uncrewed aircraft, may never be flown over or inside the Castillo structures.

EL YUNQUE NATIONAL FOREST

Recreational drone use is generally allowed on National Forest System lands, subject to FAA rules, closures, temporary flight restrictions, wildlife protections and land-management restrictions. Forest Service guidance: fly below 400 feet and clear of obstacles, stay out of areas under a temporary flight restriction such as a wildfire, launch more than 100 meters (328 feet) from wildlife and do not fly over or near animals, and keep away from campgrounds, trailheads and visitor centers.

Drones count as both motorized equipment and mechanical transport, so they cannot take off from, land in or be operated from congressionally designated wilderness. The El Toro Wilderness, about 10,000 acres designated by the Caribbean National Forest Act of 2005, lies within the forest. That wilderness restriction does not make the entire national forest off limits.

Check current forest alerts and closure orders before flying.