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Drone Rules for Redwood National and State Parks

Orick, California (CA) • United States
California, USA
Lat: 41.4017 • Lng: -124.042

Rules Edit History: Redwood National and State Parks

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May 29, 2026 6:28 AM Approved • Added NPS drone ban for Redwood NP with marbled murrelet nesting context.
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.95
Your proposed edit to prohibit drone operations in Redwood National and State Parks, emphasizing the protection of the marbled murrelet's nesting habitat, has been approved. The prohibition aligns with National Park Service regulations and the park's status as a protected area for wildlife. The added context about the marbled murrelet's nesting behavior enhances the understanding of the restriction. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the park's boundaries.
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Summary Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Redwood National and State Parks under NPS and California State Parks regulations, jointly controlled by the National Park Service and California Department of Parks and Recreation. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without explicit permits from both agencie Drones are prohibited in Redwood National and State Parks per NPS policy. Old-growth coast redwood ecosystem.
Mapped shapes cfed90bb-6c7b-4468-871f-76e1f2be6382 01998ef5-0b3e-4617-8064-158cfcf8002c
Before
## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned — both NPS and CA State Parks
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Dual permit: NPS + CA State Parks
- UNESCO WHC: ⚠️ World Heritage Site since 1980
- ESA: ⚠️ Marbled murrelet threatened — old-growth nesting ban

## Geographic Boundaries
Redwood National and State Parks span Del Norte and Humboldt
Counties, California, along the Pacific coast.
- Total area: ~138,999 acres (combined NPS + state)
- Coordinates: 41.2132° N, 124.0046° W
- Includes Tall Trees Grove (Hyperion — 380.3 ft tallest tree),
  Prairie Creek, Del Norte Coast, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods
- Redwood Wilderness: ~8,983 acres
- Nearest city: Crescent City, CA (~5 miles north)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — NPS Superintendent's closure authority
- California State Parks Regulation — Title 14 CCR § 4326
  prohibits UAS in California State Parks without permit
- ESA (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus
  marmoratus) threatened; old-growth UAS overflight = Section 9
- Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Redwood Wilderness
- NHPA (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — UNESCO World Heritage Site
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations
- Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over parks

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- CA State Parks: fines up to $1,000 per violation under CCR § 4326
- ESA marbled murrelet: up to $25,000 civil + $50,000 criminal
- NHPA UNESCO penalties for heritage site disturbance
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by NPS and/or CA State Parks rangers

## Special Permissions
- Dual permit: NPS Special Use Permit + CA State Parks permit
- Marbled murrelet nesting blackout: April–August old-growth
- Scientific research subject to both agency reviews
Submit requests to: Redwood NP Superintendent,
1111 2nd Street, Crescent City, CA 95531
After
## Drone Rules - Redwood National and State Parks





**Drone use is prohibited** throughout Redwood National and State Parks.









### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within national park portions
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from NPS
- Marbled murrelet nesting in old-growth canopy is highly sensitive to aerial disturbance








### Source
- Redwood NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/rules.htm












Show inline change markers
- - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned — both NPS and CA State Parks
- - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Dual permit: NPS + CA State Parks
- - UNESCO WHC: ⚠️ World Heritage Site since 1980
- - ESA: ⚠️ Marbled murrelet threatened — old-growth nesting ban
  
- Redwood National and State Parks span Del Norte and Humboldt
- Counties, California, along the Pacific coast.
- - Total area: ~138,999 acres (combined NPS + state)
- - Coordinates: 41.2132° N, 124.0046° W
- - Includes Tall Trees Grove (Hyperion — 380.3 ft tallest tree),
-   Prairie Creek, Del Norte Coast, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods
- - Redwood Wilderness: ~8,983 acres
- - Nearest city: Crescent City, CA (~5 miles north)
  
-   prohibits UAS in California State Parks without permit
- - ESA (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus
-   marmoratus) threatened; old-growth UAS overflight = Section 9
- - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Redwood Wilderness
- - NHPA (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — UNESCO World Heritage Site
- - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations
- - Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over parks
  
- - CA State Parks: fines up to $1,000 per violation under CCR § 4326
- - ESA marbled murrelet: up to $25,000 civil + $50,000 criminal
- - NHPA UNESCO penalties for heritage site disturbance
- - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- - Equipment confiscation by NPS and/or CA State Parks rangers
- 
- ## Special Permissions
- - Dual permit: NPS Special Use Permit + CA State Parks permit
- - Marbled murrelet nesting blackout: April–August old-growth
- - Scientific research subject to both agency reviews
- Submit requests to: Redwood NP Superintendent,
- 1111 2nd Street, Crescent City, CA 95531
  
May 29, 2026 1:50 AM Approved • Added drone restriction profile for Redwood National and State Parks based on NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, 36 CFR § 1.5, California CCR § 4326 State Parks UAS prohibition, ESA Section 9 marbled murrelet old-growth nesting, and NHPA UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Moderation feedback
NeedsHumanReview Confidence: 0.75
Your proposed edit for Redwood National and State Parks has been reviewed. The information is accurate and well-supported by official sources, and the outline appropriately matches the selected location. However, further verification is needed to confirm the specific drone restrictions in the state park portions of the area.
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Changed fields
Field Before After
Summary Drones are prohibited in Redwood National and State Parks per NPS policy. Old-growth coast redwood ecosystem. Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Redwood National and State Parks under NPS and California State Parks regulations, jointly controlled by the National Park Service and California Department of Parks and Recreation. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without explicit permits from both agencie
Before
## Drone Rules - Redwood National and State Parks















**Drone use is prohibited** throughout Redwood National and State Parks.











### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within national park portions
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from NPS
- Marbled murrelet nesting in old-growth canopy is highly sensitive to aerial disturbance




### Source
- Redwood NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/rules.htm




After
## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned — both NPS and CA State Parks
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Dual permit: NPS + CA State Parks
- UNESCO WHC: ⚠️ World Heritage Site since 1980
- ESA: ⚠️ Marbled murrelet threatened — old-growth nesting ban

## Geographic Boundaries
Redwood National and State Parks span Del Norte and Humboldt
Counties, California, along the Pacific coast.
- Total area: ~138,999 acres (combined NPS + state)
- Coordinates: 41.2132° N, 124.0046° W
- Includes Tall Trees Grove (Hyperion — 380.3 ft tallest tree),
  Prairie Creek, Del Norte Coast, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods
- Redwood Wilderness: ~8,983 acres
- Nearest city: Crescent City, CA (~5 miles north)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — NPS Superintendent's closure authority
- California State Parks Regulation — Title 14 CCR § 4326
  prohibits UAS in California State Parks without permit
- ESA (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus
  marmoratus) threatened; old-growth UAS overflight = Section 9
- Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Redwood Wilderness
- NHPA (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — UNESCO World Heritage Site
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations
- Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over parks

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- CA State Parks: fines up to $1,000 per violation under CCR § 4326
- ESA marbled murrelet: up to $25,000 civil + $50,000 criminal
- NHPA UNESCO penalties for heritage site disturbance
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by NPS and/or CA State Parks rangers

## Special Permissions
- Dual permit: NPS Special Use Permit + CA State Parks permit
- Marbled murrelet nesting blackout: April–August old-growth
- Scientific research subject to both agency reviews
Submit requests to: Redwood NP Superintendent,
1111 2nd Street, Crescent City, CA 95531
Show inline change markers
+ - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned — both NPS and CA State Parks
+ - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Dual permit: NPS + CA State Parks
+ - UNESCO WHC: ⚠️ World Heritage Site since 1980
+ - ESA: ⚠️ Marbled murrelet threatened — old-growth nesting ban
+ 
+ ## Geographic Boundaries
+ Redwood National and State Parks span Del Norte and Humboldt
+ Counties, California, along the Pacific coast.
+ - Total area: ~138,999 acres (combined NPS + state)
+ - Coordinates: 41.2132° N, 124.0046° W
+ - Includes Tall Trees Grove (Hyperion — 380.3 ft tallest tree),
+   Prairie Creek, Del Norte Coast, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods
+ - Redwood Wilderness: ~8,983 acres
+ - Nearest city: Crescent City, CA (~5 miles north)
  
+ - NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
+ - 36 CFR § 1.5 — NPS Superintendent's closure authority
+ - California State Parks Regulation — Title 14 CCR § 4326
+   prohibits UAS in California State Parks without permit
+ - ESA (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus
+   marmoratus) threatened; old-growth UAS overflight = Section 9
+ - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Redwood Wilderness
+ - NHPA (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — UNESCO World Heritage Site
+ - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations
+ - Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over parks
  
+ - NHPA UNESCO penalties for heritage site disturbance
+ - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
+ - Equipment confiscation by NPS and/or CA State Parks rangers
  
+ - Marbled murrelet nesting blackout: April–August old-growth
+ - Scientific research subject to both agency reviews
+ Submit requests to: Redwood NP Superintendent,
+ 1111 2nd Street, Crescent City, CA 95531
  
May 28, 2026 2:11 AM Approved • Added NPS drone ban for Redwood NP with marbled murrelet nesting context.
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.85
Your proposed edit has been approved. The updated rule now accurately reflects the prohibition of drone operations in Redwood National and State Parks, emphasizing the protection of marbled murrelet nesting sites.
Changed fields
Field Before After
Flight status Permission NoFly
Summary United States National Parks are restricted from taking off, landing, or controlling a drone within the park to those with permission. Which is rare to receive. Drones are prohibited in Redwood National and State Parks per NPS policy. Old-growth coast redwood ecosystem.
Before
##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.









 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm
After
## Drone Rules - Redwood National and State Parks

**Drone use is prohibited** throughout Redwood National and State Parks.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within national park portions
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from NPS
- Marbled murrelet nesting in old-growth canopy is highly sensitive to aerial disturbance

### Source
- Redwood NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/rules.htm

Show inline change markers
+ **Drone use is prohibited** throughout Redwood National and State Parks.
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - No recreational drone flights within national park portions
+ - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from NPS
+ - Marbled murrelet nesting in old-growth canopy is highly sensitive to aerial disturbance
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - Redwood NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/rules.htm
  
- https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm
May 27, 2026 10:57 PM Approved • Rollback user history: Included broken and wrong link... In every post. Mass edit spam of national parks adding nothing specific.
Author: jaystechvault (11074)
Moderation feedback
Administrative rollback audit entry.
Changed fields
Field Before After
Flight status NoFly Permission
Summary Drones are prohibited in Redwood National and State Parks per NPS closure order. United States National Parks are restricted from taking off, landing, or controlling a drone within the park to those with permission. Which is rare to receive.
Before
## Drone Rules - Redwood National Park


**Drone use is banned** in Redwood National and State Parks.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the national park
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
- The old-growth redwood groves and Roosevelt elk herds are protected from aerial disturbance

### Source
- Redwood NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/rules.htm
After
##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.
 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm








Show inline change markers
+ This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.
   
- 
- ### Key Rules
- - No recreational drone flights within the national park
- - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
- - The old-growth redwood groves and Roosevelt elk herds are protected from aerial disturbance
- 
- ### Source
- - Redwood NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/rules.htm
- 
May 27, 2026 10:17 AM Approved • Rollback user history: Bad outlines
Author: jaystechvault (11074)
Moderation feedback
Administrative rollback audit entry.
Changed fields
Mapped shape change
Click to load this change into the shared map viewer here.
Field Before After
Flight status NoFly Permission
Summary Drones are prohibited in Redwood National and State Parks per NPS closure order. United States National Parks are restricted from taking off, landing, or controlling a drone within the park to those with permission. Which is rare to receive.
Mapped shapes 02fdd4b7-13d6-4d69-91be-7e94614ae580 cfed90bb-6c7b-4468-871f-76e1f2be6382
Before
## Drone Rules - Redwood National Park


**Drone use is banned** in Redwood National and State Parks.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the national park
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
- The old-growth redwood groves and Roosevelt elk herds are protected from aerial disturbance

### Source
- Redwood NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/rules.htm
After
##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.
 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm








Show inline change markers
+ This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.
   
- 
- ### Key Rules
- - No recreational drone flights within the national park
- - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
- - The old-growth redwood groves and Roosevelt elk herds are protected from aerial disturbance
- 
- ### Source
- - Redwood NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/rules.htm
- 
May 20, 2026 4:45 PM Approved • Manual admin rule: Initial
Author: jaystechvault (11074)
Changed fields
Mapped shape change
Click to load this change into the shared map viewer here.
Field Before After
Rule category Ground
Flight status Permission
Summary United States National Parks are restricted from taking off, landing, or controlling a drone within the park to those with permission. Which is rare to receive.
Mapped shapes cfed90bb-6c7b-4468-871f-76e1f2be6382
Before


After
##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.
 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm
Show inline change markers
+ ##
+ This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.
+  
+ https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm