The Official Sources Every NYC Drone Operator Should Bookmark

When rules change without notice, the only dependable references are the official government sources themselves. This directory gathers the primary federal, city, and state resources every NYC drone operator should bookmark. We link only official government and regulatory sources — no commercial products or endorsements — so you can verify current requirements directly before every flight.

Federal (FAA & Federal Law)

• FAA UAS Portal — the FAA's main drone hub
• 14 CFR Part 107 — the Small UAS Rule
• 14 CFR Part 89 — Remote ID
• FAA LAANC — airspace authorization
• FAA No Drone Zone / SFRA information
• 49 U.S.C. § 46301 — civil penalties

New York City (NYPD, Parks & MOME)

• NYPD Drone Permit Portal — apply for a takeoff/landing permit (also at NYC.gov/DronePermits)
• NYPD Drone Detection Systems Policy
• NYPD UAS Reports
• NYC Parks Rules and Model Aircraft Fields
• MOME Film Permits
• OATH — administrative hearings

Primary Statutes & Codes

• NYC Admin Code § 10-126 — the permit requirement
• 38 RCNY Chapter 24 — NYPD permit rules
• 1 RCNY § 1-05 — parks rules
• NY Penal Law — including §§ 120.20, 120.25, 250.45

How These Sources Fit Together

Each source covers a distinct layer of NYC drone compliance, and together they form the complete picture. The FAA sources govern airspace and your federal credentials — Part 107, registration, Remote ID, and LAANC — which apply no matter where in the country you fly. The NYC sources cover the local layer that is unique to the five boroughs: the NYPD permit you apply for at the official portal, the parks rules that limit flight to five designated fields, and MOME's separate requirements for film work. The statutes themselves are where the precise legal language lives, including the § 10-126 permit requirement and the New York Penal Law provisions that govern reckless or invasive flights. Reading across all three layers — federal, city, and state — is what gives you the full compliance picture rather than a partial one.

How to Use These Sources

• Verify FAA airspace and LAANC status at the FAA portal close to flight time.
• Apply for and re-check your NYPD permit at the official portal.
• Confirm parks designations directly with NYC Parks.
• Read the statutes themselves when a question turns on specific legal wording.

Why Official Sources Beat Secondhand Information

Drone regulation is a fast-moving area, and a great deal of secondhand information online is outdated, oversimplified, or simply wrong. Penalty figures change with inflation adjustments, LAANC ceilings can be revised, and the NYPD updates its policies — as it did with the February 4, 2026 Drone Detection Systems policy. Relying on the original agency pages means you see the current rule, not a stale summary. When two sources disagree, the official government source controls. For legal wording — for example, the precise scope of § 10-126 or the elements of reckless endangerment — reading the statute or rule directly is the only reliable approach, and a qualified New York attorney can interpret it for a specific situation.

Bookmarking these official sources is the simplest way to stay current. Drone flight in NYC is legal but requires authorization, and these are the places that define what that authorization is.