## Drone Rules - Montezuma Castle National Monument































**Drone use is prohibited** at Montezuma Castle National Monument.

























### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the monument
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- The 20-room, five-story Sinagua cliff dwelling built around 1100 AD is one of the best-preserved prehistoric structures in the US









### Source
- Montezuma Castle NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/moca/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned (both monuments)
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- Dual Monument Layer: ⚠️ Single superintendent oversees both —
  permit applications must address both sites if operating
  in Verde Valley corridor
- Tribal Layer: ⚠️ Yavapai-Apache Nation — direct cultural
  affiliation; tribal THPO exercises active oversight
- Archaeological Layer: ⚠️ ARPA maximum sensitivity —
  Montezuma Castle is best-preserved cliff dwelling in North America

## Geographic Boundaries
Montezuma Castle National Monument:
- Total area: ~858 acres (two units: Castle and Well)
- Coordinates: 34.6117° N, 111.8356° W
- Nearest city: Camp Verde, AZ (~3 miles south)
- Terrain: Beaver Creek limestone cliff; 20-room five-story
  Sinagua cliff dwelling; Montezuma Well unit (limestone sink,
  ~1.5 miles north — separate detached unit)

Tuzigoot National Monument:
- Total area: ~801 acres
- Coordinates: 34.7731° N, 112.0278° W
- Nearest city: Clarkdale, AZ (~1 mile south)
- Terrain: 120-ft basalt hilltop; Verde River floodplain;
  110-room Sinagua pueblo (~1000–1425 CE)
- Both monuments in Verde Valley, ~19 miles apart
- Yavapai-Apache Nation Reservation immediately adjacent to
  both monuments
- Verde River corridor — important migratory bird habitat
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G (both)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority (both)
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval (both)
- Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) —
  Montezuma Castle is the best-preserved cliff dwelling in North
  America; five-story original masonry, wooden beams, and plaster
  intact; drone prop wash near cliff face threatens irreplaceable
  structural fabric; among highest ARPA enforcement priorities
  in Arizona NPS system
- National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) —
  both monuments listed on National Register of Historic Places;
  Montezuma Castle is a National Historic Landmark
- American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. § 1996) —
  Yavapai-Apache Nation maintains active ceremonial and
  ancestral relationship with both sites
- Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
  (25 U.S.C. § 3001) — ancestral remains documented at
  Tuzigoot excavation areas
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — Verde River
  corridor; vermilion flycatcher; common black hawk; bald
  eagle winter presence on Verde River
- Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 668) —
  bald eagle winter presence on Verde River at Tuzigoot
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation per monument
- Misdemeanor charges under 36 CFR § 1.3
- ARPA violations: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment;
  Montezuma Castle cliff face disturbance = among most serious
  ARPA violations possible at any AZ NPS site
- NHPA civil penalties for National Historic Landmark damage
- NAGPRA violations: federal criminal prosecution
- MBTA violations: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment
- BGEPA violations: fines up to $100,000 + 2 years imprisonment
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by NPS rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required; single permit may cover
  both monuments if issued by Verde Valley superintendent
- Yavapai-Apache Nation THPO consultation mandatory for any
  cliff dwelling or pueblo proximity operations at either site
- ARPA federal research permit required; structural vibration
  assessment required before any low-altitude Montezuma Castle
  cliff face permit is considered
- NAGPRA consultation required for Tuzigoot excavation area
  operations
Submit requests to: Montezuma Castle/Tuzigoot NM Superintendent,
PO Box 219, Camp Verde, AZ 86322
Yavapai-Apache Nation THPO:
2400 W Datsi Street, Camp Verde, AZ 86322

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ Banned
- Commercial: ❌ Prohibited

## Geographic Boundaries
Entire monument area including cliff dwellings, trails, parking areas, and protected archaeological zones.

## Regulations
- NPS drone prohibition policy
- 36 CFR §1.5
- FAA Part 107

## Penalties
- Federal citations
- Park removal
- FAA penalties

## Special Permissions
Only authorized operations approved by the National Park Service are allowed.

## Drone Rules - Montezuma Castle National Monument



**Drone use is prohibited** at Montezuma Castle National Monument.


### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the monument
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- The 20-room, five-story Sinagua cliff dwelling built around 1100 AD is one of the best-preserved prehistoric structures in the US

### Source
- Montezuma Castle NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/moca/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ Banned
- Commercial: ❌ Prohibited

## Geographic Boundaries
Entire monument area including cliff dwellings, trails, parking areas, and protected archaeological zones.

## Regulations
- NPS drone prohibition policy
- 36 CFR §1.5
- FAA Part 107

## Penalties
- Federal citations
- Park removal
- FAA penalties

## Special Permissions
Only authorized operations approved by the National Park Service are allowed.