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Drone Rules for Sedona Ranger District
Yavapai County, Arizona (AZ)
• United States
Sedona Ranger District, Arizona 86336, USA
Lat: 34.85 • Lng: -111.868
Rules Edit History: Sedona Ranger District
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May 30, 2026 6:43 AM
Approved
• Added USFS drone advisory for Coconino NF with Sedona Airport Class D overlap at Cathedral Rock, Red Rock SP boundary, and San Francisco Peaks sacred land context.
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Approved
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Your proposed edit detailing drone regulations in Coconino National Forest, including proximity to Sedona Airport's Class D airspace, Red Rock State Park's no-fly zone, and the sacred status of the San Francisco Peaks, has been approved. This aligns with the U.S. Forest Service's guidelines that prohibit drone operations in designated no-fly zones and areas of cultural significance. The added context about the forest's proximity to Sedona Airport and Red Rock State Park enhances the understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | — | USFS Coconino NF encompasses Sedona's red rock country and the San Francisco Peaks. Red Rock State Park (AZ State Parks, no-fly) shares boundaries with the forest; commercial drone demand in Sedona is extremely high. |
| Mapped shapes | — | 378f7025-ce76-4d1b-914b-54ac730c24b9 |
Before
After
## Drone Rules - Coconino NF, Arizona **No Wilderness designation**, but Red Rock State Park (AZ State Parks, drone prohibited) borders the forest, and Sedona's commercial drone demand requires a USFS Special Use Permit. ### Airspace / Site Context - Sedona Airport (SEZ) Class D sits on Airport Mesa at 4,830 ft MSL -- active approach traffic over Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock - Flagstaff Pulliam (FLG) Class D is ~28 NM north; Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) Class B outer ring reaches toward Camp Verde - San Francisco Peaks (12,633 ft MSL) are sacred to Navajo, Hopi, and other tribes; drone flights near the summit require sensitivity ### Key Rules - LAANC required near SEZ Class D -- Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock are within the Class D surface area - Commercial photography (a major Sedona industry) requires USFS Special Use Permit; high demand means permit queue is long - Confirm launch site is on USFS land vs. AZ State Parks (Red Rock) land before flying ### Source - USFS Coconino: https://www.fs.usda.gov/coconino
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+ ## Drone Rules - Coconino NF, Arizona + + **No Wilderness designation**, but Red Rock State Park (AZ State Parks, drone prohibited) borders the forest, and Sedona's commercial drone demand requires a USFS Special Use Permit. + + ### Airspace / Site Context + - Sedona Airport (SEZ) Class D sits on Airport Mesa at 4,830 ft MSL -- active approach traffic over Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock + - Flagstaff Pulliam (FLG) Class D is ~28 NM north; Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) Class B outer ring reaches toward Camp Verde + - San Francisco Peaks (12,633 ft MSL) are sacred to Navajo, Hopi, and other tribes; drone flights near the summit require sensitivity + + ### Key Rules + - LAANC required near SEZ Class D -- Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock are within the Class D surface area + - Commercial photography (a major Sedona industry) requires USFS Special Use Permit; high demand means permit queue is long + - Confirm launch site is on USFS land vs. AZ State Parks (Red Rock) land before flying + + ### Source + - USFS Coconino: https://www.fs.usda.gov/coconino +