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Drone Rules for Hohokam Pima National Monument

Chandler, Arizona (AZ) • Estados Unidos
Hohokam Pima National Monument, Chandler, AZ 85249, EUA
Lat: 33.189 • Lng: -111.922
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 28, 2026
Summary
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Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Hohokam Pima National Monument under NPS regulations, controlled by the National Park Service. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit from the park superintendent. One of the most restricted national monuments in the United

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned — site closed to all public access
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS + tribal permits
  • Tribal land: ⚠️ Gila River Indian Community — tribal sovereignty
  • NAGPRA: ⚠️ Active ancestral Hohokam village site

Geographic Boundaries

Hohokam Pima National Monument is located within the Gila River Indian Community Reservation, Maricopa County, Arizona.

  • Total area: ~1,690 acres
  • Coordinates: 33.1500° N, 111.8333° W
  • Includes Snaketown — one of the largest and most significant Hohokam archaeological sites (~300 BCE to 1400 CE)
  • Entirely within Gila River Indian Community tribal lands
  • No public access permitted; tribal sovereignty applies
  • Nearest city: Chandler, AZ (~12 miles north)

Regulations

  • NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
  • 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
  • 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
  • Gila River Indian Community Tribal Code — complete sovereignty over reservation lands and airspace
  • Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) — Snaketown is one of the most significant Hohokam sites in existence
  • Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. § 3001) — ancestral Hohokam burial sites
  • National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — National Historic Landmark protections
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
  • Airspace: Class G; Phoenix Class B TMA ~30 miles northwest

Penalties

  • NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
  • ARPA: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment
  • NAGPRA: fines up to $100,000 + criminal prosecution
  • Gila River tribal court penalties for sovereignty violations
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
  • Equipment confiscation by tribal police and/or NPS rangers

Special Permissions

  • Dual permit: NPS Special Use Permit + Gila River IC tribal permit
  • ARPA + NAGPRA federal research permits required
  • Tribal consultation with Gila River Indian Community mandatory
  • Site is closed to all public — research access extremely limited Submit requests to: Hohokam Pima NM c/o Casa Grande Ruins NM Superintendent, 1100 W Ruins Drive, Coolidge, AZ 85128
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Rule sources
  • https://www.nps.gov/hopi/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within Hohokam Pima National Monument. Gila River Indian Community tribal sovereignty, ARPA Snaketown archaeological protections, NAGPRA ancestral burial provisions, and NHPA National Historic Landmark status create the most restrictive UAS framework of any NPS unit in Arizona.
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