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Drone Rules for Muir Woods National Monument

Mill Valley, California (CA) • United States
Mill Valley, CA 94941, USA
Lat: 37.897 • Lng: -122.581

Rules Edit History: Muir Woods National Monument

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May 29, 2026 1:56 AM Approved • Added drone restriction profile for Muir Woods National Monument based on NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, 36 CFR § 1.5, FAA San Francisco Class B mandatory ATC clearance, ESA Section 9 Coho salmon critical habitat, and MBTA Marbled murrelet old-growth protections.
Author: e8be7a99-29f2-421e-95ec-190919c58f9b (1091)
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Your proposed edit for Muir Woods National Monument has been approved. The information is accurate and well-supported by official sources, and the outline appropriately matches the selected location. Thank you for your contribution.
Sources
  • https://www.nps.gov/muwo/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations. San Francisco Class B airspace (SFO) mandatory ATC clearance, ESA Coho salmon Redwood Creek critical habitat, and MBTA Marbled murrelet old-growth nesting add multi-layer federal restrictions.
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Flight status Unknown NoFly
Summary — Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Muir Woods National Monument under NPS regulations. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit. Located within San Francisco Class B airspace, this old-growth coastal redwood cathedral — just 12 miles north of San Francisco — re
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## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- Airspace: 🚫 San Francisco Class B (SFO) — most restrictive category
- ESA: ⚠️ Coho salmon critical habitat in Redwood Creek below

## Geographic Boundaries
Muir Woods National Monument is located in Marin County,
California, within Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
- Total area: ~554 acres
- Coordinates: 37.8970° N, 122.5811° W
- Includes Cathedral Grove (old-growth coast redwoods up to
  258 ft tall and 1,000+ years old), Redwood Creek,
  and Bohemian Grove
- Within San Francisco Class B airspace (SFO/OAK/SJC)
- Nearest city: Mill Valley, CA (~3 miles east)

## 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
- FAA Class B Airspace (SFO) — ALL UAS require explicit ATC clearance;
  LAANC grid cells show 0 ft AGL authorized altitude
- ESA (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
  threatened; Redwood Creek critical habitat
- MBTA (16 U.S.C. § 703) — Marbled murrelet old-growth nesting
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- FAA Class B violation: civil penalties up to $27,500/day
  + immediate certificate suspension/revocation
- ESA Coho salmon: up to $25,000 civil + $50,000 criminal
- MBTA murrelet: up to $15,000 + 6 months per disturbance
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required
- FAA Class B ATC clearance mandatory — no LAANC auto-approval
- Coho salmon research: ESA Section 10 ITP + NOAA coordination
Submit requests to: Muir Woods NM Superintendent,
1 Muir Woods Road, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Show inline change markers 
+ ## Authorization Status
+ - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
+ - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
+ - Airspace: 🚫 San Francisco Class B (SFO) — most restrictive category
+ - ESA: ⚠️ Coho salmon critical habitat in Redwood Creek below
+ 
+ ## Geographic Boundaries
+ Muir Woods National Monument is located in Marin County,
+ California, within Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
+ - Total area: ~554 acres
+ - Coordinates: 37.8970° N, 122.5811° W
+ - Includes Cathedral Grove (old-growth coast redwoods up to
+   258 ft tall and 1,000+ years old), Redwood Creek,
+   and Bohemian Grove
+ - Within San Francisco Class B airspace (SFO/OAK/SJC)
+ - Nearest city: Mill Valley, CA (~3 miles east)
+ 
+ ## 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
+ - FAA Class B Airspace (SFO) — ALL UAS require explicit ATC clearance;
+   LAANC grid cells show 0 ft AGL authorized altitude
+ - ESA (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
+   threatened; Redwood Creek critical habitat
+ - MBTA (16 U.S.C. § 703) — Marbled murrelet old-growth nesting
+ - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations
+ 
+ ## Penalties
+ - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
+ - FAA Class B violation: civil penalties up to $27,500/day
+   + immediate certificate suspension/revocation
+ - ESA Coho salmon: up to $25,000 civil + $50,000 criminal
+ - MBTA murrelet: up to $15,000 + 6 months per disturbance
+ - Equipment confiscation by park rangers
+ 
+ ## Special Permissions
+ - NPS Special Use Permit required
+ - FAA Class B ATC clearance mandatory — no LAANC auto-approval
+ - Coho salmon research: ESA Section 10 ITP + NOAA coordination
+ Submit requests to: Muir Woods NM Superintendent,
+ 1 Muir Woods Road, Mill Valley, CA 94941