Can You Fly a Drone in Greenpoint, Brooklyn?

Greenpoint Drone Regulations

Greenpoint, at the northernmost tip of Brooklyn, sits along Newtown Creek and the East River waterfront. Despite its expansive waterfront views, NYC Administrative Code § 10-126 applies throughout the neighborhood. No drone may take off or land anywhere in Greenpoint without an NYPD Unmanned Aircraft Permit issued under 38 RCNY Chapter 24.

Waterfront Parks Are Off-Limits

Greenpoint’s waterfront parks—including Transmitter Park, WNYC Transmitter Park, and sections of the Greenpoint waterfront esplanade—are NYC Parks property. Under § 18-146, drone operations on all NYC Parks land are restricted to designated model aircraft fields only. None of the five designated fields are located in Greenpoint.

Proximity to LaGuardia Airport

Greenpoint is located approximately 4–5 miles from LaGuardia Airport (LGA), placing it well within the Class B airspace structure. The LAANC grid ceiling in parts of Greenpoint may be restricted to low altitudes or even 0 ft AGL. Operators should verify the exact ceiling at their planned launch site using the FAA’s B4UFLY app or UAS Facility Maps before applying for permits.

If the ceiling is 0 ft, no automated LAANC authorization is available. The operator must submit a manual request through FAA DroneZone, which may take significantly longer to process.

NYPD Permit Application

To fly in Greenpoint with an NYPD permit:

• Apply at nyc.gov/dronepermits at least 30 days in advance
• All operators must hold FAA Part 107 certificates
• The application fee is $150 (non-refundable)
• Insurance must meet $2M/$4M minimums with the City of New York as additional insured
• Community notification is required if your drone will capture images, video, or audio—notice must go to the relevant community board at least 48 hours before flight

Designated Fields in Brooklyn

The nearest designated model aircraft fields are Calvert Vaux Park and Marine Park, both in southern Brooklyn. These are the only locations in Brooklyn where you can fly without an NYPD permit, though FAA rules including LAANC and Remote ID still apply.