NYC Parks Department Drone Rules: The Ban and Its Exceptions

The Legal Basis for the Ban

Two provisions establish the drone ban in NYC parks:

• NYC Administrative Code § 18-146 ("Prohibitions in parks"): Prohibits engaging in toy or model aviation, model boating, or similar activities except at designated times and places
• 1 RCNY § 1-05(r)(2) (NYC Parks Rules, "Regulated Uses — Model Aircraft"): Implements the ban on drone and model aircraft operations in all NYC Parks-managed property except at designated model aircraft fields

These provisions apply to all Parks Department-managed land across all five boroughs — parks, playgrounds, beaches, greenways, and other property under Parks jurisdiction.

What the Ban Covers

• All commercial and recreational drone operations
• Any size or weight of drone — from sub-250g micro drones to heavy commercial platforms
• Both flight within park boundaries and launch/landing from within a park
• Photography, videography, mapping, and any other drone use

Central Park: Complete No-Fly Zone

Central Park is the most-asked-about location for drone flights in NYC. The answer is definitive: Central Park is a complete drone no-fly zone. There is no designated model aircraft field within Central Park, no exception pathway, and no permit that authorizes recreational or commercial drone flights there.

Additionally, much of Central Park sits under Class B airspace with a LAANC grid ceiling of 0 ft AGL — meaning no automated FAA altitude authorization is available at any altitude.

The Five Designated Model Aircraft Fields

NYC Parks has designated five locations where model aircraft (including drones) may be operated:

1. Flushing Meadows Corona Park — Queens (Van Wyck Expressway by Meadow Lake)
2. Calvert Vaux Park — Brooklyn (Gravesend/Bensonhurst area)
3. Marine Park — Brooklyn (Gerritsen Avenue between Seba and Lois Avenues)
4. Forest Park — Queens (Jackie Robinson Parkway & Forest Parkway)
5. LaTourette Park & Golf Course — Staten Island (Marsh Avenue off Richmond Avenue)

Rules at Designated Fields

Even at designated fields, important rules apply:

• NYPD permit: Not required — designated fields are exempt under 38 RCNY § 24-02(b)(1)
• FAA rules: All federal requirements apply (Part 107 or recreational rules, Remote ID, LAANC authorization)
• Posted rules: Each field may have posted hours, boundaries, and operational restrictions
• Line of sight: You must maintain visual line of sight with your drone at all times

Penalties for Flying in Parks

Unauthorized drone operation in a NYC park may result in:

• Fine of up to $1,000
• Up to 90 days imprisonment
• Drone seizure by Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) or NYPD
• Possible parks exclusion order for repeat offenders

A parks violation may trigger a separate § 10-126 violation (unauthorized takeoff/landing) simultaneously — these are independent legal violations under separate authorities.

Enforcement: Parks PEP and NYPD

Two enforcement bodies patrol NYC parks for drone violations:

• Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP): NYC Parks' own uniformed officers with authority to issue summonses and make arrests within park boundaries
• NYPD: Full police authority; frequently conducts joint patrols with PEP in high-profile parks like Central Park

Private Property Adjacent to Parks

A common point of confusion: even if you have permission from a private property owner to take off from a rooftop adjacent to a park, flying the drone over NYC Parks property may still violate the Parks rules. The ban covers drone operations within park boundaries, not just launches from park land.