Can You Fly a Drone in Brooklyn Heights?

What Law Governs Drone Flights in Brooklyn Heights?

Brooklyn Heights, like all of New York City, falls under NYC Administrative Code § 10-126, which restricts the takeoff and landing of any aircraft—including drones—at locations other than designated airports or heliports. Since the July 21, 2023 amendment, the NYPD operates a formal permit system through 38 RCNY Chapter 24.

This means launching a drone from any rooftop, sidewalk, pier, or street in Brooklyn Heights without an NYPD permit is a violation of city law, regardless of the drone’s size or weight.

Airspace Considerations Near the East River

Brooklyn Heights sits directly across the East River from Lower Manhattan and is relatively close to multiple heliport operations. The area falls within New York Class B airspace, where LAANC authorization from the FAA is required before any drone flight. The LAANC grid ceiling in this area may be as low as 0 ft AGL, meaning no automated authorization is available and a manual DroneZone request to the FAA would be necessary.

Additionally, the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge are nearby. Flying near bridges poses safety concerns and may draw law enforcement attention even with proper authorization.

Brooklyn Heights Promenade and Parks

The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is managed by NYC Parks. Under NYC Administrative Code § 18-146 and 1 RCNY § 1-05(r)(2), drone operations are banned on all NYC Parks property except at the five designated model aircraft fields. The Promenade is not one of these designated fields, so drone takeoff, landing, or flight within the park boundary is not permitted.

Other green spaces in the neighborhood, such as Cadman Plaza Park and Pierrepont Playground, also fall under this Parks ban.

How to Fly Legally

1. Obtain FAA Part 107 certification (required for the NYPD permit process)
2. Check LAANC grid ceilings for the Brooklyn Heights area using B4UFLY or an FAA-approved app
3. Apply for an NYPD permit at nyc.gov/dronepermits at least 30 days in advance ($150 fee)
4. Secure insurance meeting 38 RCNY § 24-06 requirements ($2,000,000 per occurrence / $4,000,000 aggregate)
5. Equip your drone with Remote ID as required by 14 CFR Part 89

Nearest Designated Model Aircraft Field

The closest designated fields to Brooklyn Heights are Calvert Vaux Park (Gravesend/Bensonhurst area) and Marine Park (Gerritsen Avenue). These fields are exempt from the NYPD permit requirement under 38 RCNY § 24-02(b)(1), though FAA rules including LAANC and Remote ID still apply.