Can You Fly a Drone at the Statue of Liberty?

Federal Ban on NPS Land

The Statue of Liberty National Monument, including Liberty Island and the surrounding NPS-administered waters, falls under federal jurisdiction. The National Park Service issued Policy Memorandum 14-05 in 2014, which directs superintendents to use their authority under 36 CFR Section 1.5 to prohibit the launching, landing, and operation of unmanned aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS.

This is a federal prohibition — separate from and independent of any NYC or New York State law. It applies to all drones regardless of size, weight, or registration status. There is no recreational or commercial exception.

Can You Get an NPS Permit?

The NPS does issue Special Use Permits for drone operations in certain circumstances, but these are granted on a case-by-case basis and are typically limited to scientific research, resource management, and approved film productions. The application process is managed by the individual park superintendent. Casual recreational or commercial aerial photography requests are routinely denied at high-profile monuments.

Penalties for Violation

• NPS violation: Federal misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and a $5,000 fine under NPS regulations
• FAA enforcement: Unauthorized operations in Class B airspace carry civil penalties up to $75,000 per violation
• Drone seizure: NPS rangers and federal law enforcement can confiscate the drone as evidence

Airspace Over Liberty Island

Liberty Island sits within the New York Class B airspace structure. The LAANC ceiling in this area is 0 ft AGL. Even if the NPS ban did not exist, flying a drone here without FAA airspace authorization through DroneZone would independently constitute a federal aviation violation.

The waters surrounding Liberty Island are within the Upper New York Bay, adjacent to the Hudson River Exclusion corridor (14 CFR Part 93 Subpart W), which carries continuous manned helicopter traffic for commercial air tours, law enforcement, and news media operations.

Ellis Island — Same Rules Apply

Ellis Island, located nearby, is also a National Monument administered by NPS. The same drone prohibition under Policy Memorandum 14-05 applies. Both sites carry identical restrictions and penalties.

Alternative Options for Aerial Views

Operators seeking aerial views of the Statue of Liberty should consider licensed commercial operators who have obtained both NPS Special Use Permits and FAA authorization, or stock footage providers. Overflying from adjacent non-NPS airspace may be possible under FAA rules alone, but the practical constraints of Class B airspace, the Hudson River corridor traffic, and the LAANC 0 ft ceiling make this extremely difficult to accomplish lawfully.