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Drone Rules for The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center at Channel Islands National Park

Ventura, California (ca) • United States
1901 Spinnaker Dr, Ventura, CA 93001, USA
Lat: 34.2485 • Lng: -119.267
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 27, 2026
Summary
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Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Channel Islands National Park 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. The park's remote island location, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve d

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
  • Marine Sanctuary: ⚠️ Channel Islands NMS overlay adds NOAA restrictions
  • ESA species: ⚠️ Island fox and seabird colony heightened enforcement

Geographic Boundaries

Channel Islands National Park encompasses five islands off the coast of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, California.

  • Total area: ~249,561 acres (land + submerged)
  • Coordinates: 33.9833° N, 119.7833° W
  • Islands: Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, Santa Barbara
  • Overlaps Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (1,470 sq miles)
  • Nearest city: Ventura, CA (~14 miles from Anacapa Island)

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
  • Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary regulations (15 CFR Part 922, Subpart L) — NOAA prohibits UAS over sanctuary
  • Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects Scripps's murrelet, Ashy storm-petrel, and other seabird colonies
  • Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Island fox (Urocyon littoralis) listed as threatened on multiple islands
  • Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 1361) — California sea lion and harbor seal haul-out and pupping sites
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
  • Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within park

Penalties

  • NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
  • NOAA/NMS civil penalties up to $100,000 per day per violation
  • MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per seabird disturbance
  • ESA Section 9 Island fox "take": up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment
  • MMPA violations: civil fines up to $10,000 per marine mammal
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
  • Equipment confiscation by NPS rangers and/or NOAA officers

Special Permissions

  • NPS Special Use Permit + NOAA NMS permit required
  • ESA Section 10 Incidental Take Permit for Island fox zone research
  • MBTA Scientific Collecting Permit for seabird colony research
  • Marine mammal research requires MMPA Letter of Authorization Submit requests to: Channel Islands NP Superintendent, 1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, CA 93001
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Rule sources
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-15/chapter-IX/part-922 — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Channel Islands NMS rules under 15 CFR Part 922, MBTA seabird colony protections, ESA Island fox provisions, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within park and sanctuary boundaries.
  • https://www.fws.gov/media/unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-policy — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Channel Islands NMS rules under 15 CFR Part 922, MBTA seabird colony protections, ESA Island fox provisions, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within park and sanctuary boundaries.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-2/section-2.17 — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Channel Islands NMS rules under 15 CFR Part 922, MBTA seabird colony protections, ESA Island fox provisions, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within park and sanctuary boundaries.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Channel Islands NMS rules under 15 CFR Part 922, MBTA seabird colony protections, ESA Island fox provisions, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within park and sanctuary boundaries.
  • https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uaspolicy.htm — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Channel Islands NMS rules under 15 CFR Part 922, MBTA seabird colony protections, ESA Island fox provisions, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within park and sanctuary boundaries.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-1/section-1.5 — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Channel Islands NMS rules under 15 CFR Part 922, MBTA seabird colony protections, ESA Island fox provisions, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within park and sanctuary boundaries.
Parent Rule Pages