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Drone Rules for Biscayne National Park
Islandia, Florida (FL)
• United States
Florida, USA
Lat: 25.5003 • Lng: -80.1828
Rules Edit History: Biscayne National Park
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Mapped shape change
Old outline is gray. New outline is blue.
May 30, 2026 11:58 AM
Approved
• Added NPS 36 CFR 1.5 drone prohibition for Biscayne NP with 95% water coverage, KMIA Class B overlay, West Indian manatee ESA, and boat-launched drone enforcement focus.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.90
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition in Biscayne National Park has been approved. This aligns with National Park Service regulations, which prohibit the use of unmanned aircraft in the park to protect public safety, minimize visitor-use conflicts, and prevent unacceptable impacts to scenic values, natural soundscapes, and wildlife. The added context regarding the park's unique features enhances understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
Sources
- https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/rules.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within Biscayne National Park. Miami Class B airspace (MIA) adds the most restrictive FAA category and ESA manatee/sea turtle habitat adds federal wildlife protections.
- https://www.nps.gov/bisc
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Biscayne 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. With 95% of its area underwater, Biscayne protects the northernmost | Biscayne National Park prohibits all drone operations under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. The park is 95% water, protecting coral reefs, mangroves, and Biscayne Bay just south of Miami — the most accessible reef ecosystem in the continental US. |
| Mapped shapes | 44a322c1-4069-4f39-b390-630d827f0037 | 3eeaa3d1-8cc3-4665-85e0-898538c09be2 |
Before
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit - Airspace: 🚫 Miami Class B (MIA) — most restrictive FAA category - Marine: ⚠️ Coral reef ecosystem — ESA + Marine protection layers ## Geographic Boundaries Biscayne National Park is located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, between Miami and the Florida Keys. - Total area: ~172,971 acres (95% water) - Coordinates: 25.4824° N, 80.4170° W - Includes Biscayne Bay, Elliott Key, Convoy Point, and northernmost Florida Reef tract - Within Miami International Airport (MIA) Class B airspace - Nearest city: Homestead, FL (~9 miles west) ## 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 - Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — manatee, sea turtle, and smalltooth sawfish critical habitat - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — seabird colonies - FAA Class B Airspace (MIA) — ALL UAS require explicit ATC clearance - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - LAANC: most grid cells show 0 ft AGL under Class B floor ## Penalties - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation - ESA Section 9: up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment per species - FAA Class B violation: civil penalties up to $27,500/day + immediate certificate suspension/revocation - Equipment confiscation by park rangers ## Special Permissions - NPS Special Use Permit required - FAA Class B ATC clearance mandatory — no LAANC auto-approval - Marine wildlife research: USFWS + NMFS permits required Submit requests to: Biscayne NP Superintendent, 9700 SW 328th Street, Homestead, FL 33033
After
## Drone Rules - Biscayne National Park **All drone operations are prohibited** under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. The park's 95% water coverage means boat-launched drones are the primary enforcement concern. ### Airspace / Site Context - Miami International (KMIA) Class B inner shelf overlies the northern bay - Homestead ARB (KHST) Class D lies at the park's northern boundary - Opa-locka Executive Airport (KOPF) Class D lies ~15 miles north - Park encompasses 172,924 acres of Biscayne Bay and offshore coral reefs ### Key Rules - No drone operations within park waters or over the coral reef ecosystem - Coral reef disturbance from low-altitude drone wash violates park resource protection laws - West Indian manatee (ESA delisted to threatened 2017) forages throughout the park - American crocodile (ESA threatened) nests on the northern bay shores ### Source - NPS Biscayne: https://www.nps.gov/bisc
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- - Airspace: 🚫 Miami Class B (MIA) — most restrictive FAA category - - Marine: ⚠️ Coral reef ecosystem — ESA + Marine protection layers - - Includes Biscayne Bay, Elliott Key, Convoy Point, - and northernmost Florida Reef tract - - Within Miami International Airport (MIA) Class B airspace - - Nearest city: Homestead, FL (~9 miles west) - and smalltooth sawfish critical habitat - - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — seabird colonies - - FAA Class B Airspace (MIA) — ALL UAS require explicit ATC clearance - - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - - LAANC: most grid cells show 0 ft AGL under Class B floor - - ESA Section 9: up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment per species - - FAA Class B violation: civil penalties up to $27,500/day - + immediate certificate suspension/revocation - - Equipment confiscation by park rangers - ## Special Permissions - - NPS Special Use Permit required - - FAA Class B ATC clearance mandatory — no LAANC auto-approval - - Marine wildlife research: USFWS + NMFS permits required - Submit requests to: Biscayne NP Superintendent, - 9700 SW 328th Street, Homestead, FL 33033
May 28, 2026 11:32 PM
Approved
• Added drone restriction profile for Biscayne National Park based on NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, 36 CFR § 1.5, FAA Miami Class B airspace mandatory ATC clearance, and ESA manatee and sea turtle critical habitat protections.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit to the drone restriction profile for Biscayne National Park is 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/subjects/sound/uas.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/rules.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within Biscayne National Park. Miami Class B airspace (MIA) adds the most restrictive FAA category and ESA manatee/sea turtle habitat adds federal wildlife protections.
Changed fields
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in Biscayne National Park per NPS policy. Coral reef and marine wildlife habitat. | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Biscayne 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. With 95% of its area underwater, Biscayne protects the northernmost |
Before
## Drone Rules - Biscayne National Park **Drone flights are banned** in Biscayne National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights over land or water within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - Coral reefs and endangered sea turtles require strict protection ### Source - NPS UAS Policy: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm
After
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit - Airspace: 🚫 Miami Class B (MIA) — most restrictive FAA category - Marine: ⚠️ Coral reef ecosystem — ESA + Marine protection layers ## Geographic Boundaries Biscayne National Park is located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, between Miami and the Florida Keys. - Total area: ~172,971 acres (95% water) - Coordinates: 25.4824° N, 80.4170° W - Includes Biscayne Bay, Elliott Key, Convoy Point, and northernmost Florida Reef tract - Within Miami International Airport (MIA) Class B airspace - Nearest city: Homestead, FL (~9 miles west) ## 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 - Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — manatee, sea turtle, and smalltooth sawfish critical habitat - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — seabird colonies - FAA Class B Airspace (MIA) — ALL UAS require explicit ATC clearance - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - LAANC: most grid cells show 0 ft AGL under Class B floor ## Penalties - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation - ESA Section 9: up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment per species - FAA Class B violation: civil penalties up to $27,500/day + immediate certificate suspension/revocation - Equipment confiscation by park rangers ## Special Permissions - NPS Special Use Permit required - FAA Class B ATC clearance mandatory — no LAANC auto-approval - Marine wildlife research: USFWS + NMFS permits required Submit requests to: Biscayne NP Superintendent, 9700 SW 328th Street, Homestead, FL 33033
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+ - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned + - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit + - Airspace: 🚫 Miami Class B (MIA) — most restrictive FAA category + - Marine: ⚠️ Coral reef ecosystem — ESA + Marine protection layers + Biscayne National Park is located in Miami-Dade County, + Florida, between Miami and the Florida Keys. + - Total area: ~172,971 acres (95% water) + - Coordinates: 25.4824° N, 80.4170° W + - Includes Biscayne Bay, Elliott Key, Convoy Point, + and northernmost Florida Reef tract + - Within Miami International Airport (MIA) Class B airspace + - Nearest city: Homestead, FL (~9 miles west) + - Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — manatee, sea turtle, + and smalltooth sawfish critical habitat + - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — seabird colonies + - FAA Class B Airspace (MIA) — ALL UAS require explicit ATC clearance + - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide + - LAANC: most grid cells show 0 ft AGL under Class B floor + - ESA Section 9: up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment per species + - FAA Class B violation: civil penalties up to $27,500/day + + immediate certificate suspension/revocation + - Equipment confiscation by park rangers + ## Special Permissions + - NPS Special Use Permit required + - FAA Class B ATC clearance mandatory — no LAANC auto-approval + - Marine wildlife research: USFWS + NMFS permits required + Submit requests to: Biscayne NP Superintendent, + 9700 SW 328th Street, Homestead, FL 33033
May 28, 2026 1:59 AM
Approved
• Added NPS drone ban for Biscayne NP with marine ecosystem context.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.95
Your proposed edit has been approved. The updated rule now accurately reflects the prohibition of drone operations in Biscayne National Park, emphasizing the protection of its marine ecosystems and endangered sea turtles.
Changed fields
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in Biscayne National Park per NPS closure order. Marine ecosystems are protected. | Drones are prohibited in Biscayne National Park per NPS policy. Coral reef and marine wildlife habitat. |
Before
## Drone Rules - Biscayne National Park **Drone flights are banned** in Biscayne National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone use over land or water within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - Coral reefs, seagrass beds, and manatee habitat are fully protected ### Source - Biscayne NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/rules.htm
After
## Drone Rules - Biscayne National Park **Drone flights are banned** in Biscayne National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights over land or water within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - Coral reefs and endangered sea turtles require strict protection ### Source - NPS UAS Policy: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm
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## Drone Rules - Biscayne National Park **Drone flights are banned** in Biscayne National Park. ### Key Rules - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit ### Source
May 27, 2026 10:59 PM
Approved
• Added NPS drone ban for Biscayne NP with marine ecosystem context.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit has been approved. The updated rule now accurately reflects the drone prohibition in Biscayne National Park, including specific details about the protected marine ecosystems.
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 Biscayne National Park per NPS closure order. Marine ecosystems are protected. |
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 - Biscayne National Park **Drone flights are banned** in Biscayne National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone use over land or water within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - Coral reefs, seagrass beds, and manatee habitat are fully protected ### Source - Biscayne NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/rules.htm
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+ **Drone flights are banned** in Biscayne National Park. + + ### Key Rules + - No recreational drone use over land or water within the park + - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit + - Coral reefs, seagrass beds, and manatee habitat are fully protected + + ### Source + - Biscayne NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/rules.htm - https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm
May 27, 2026 10:17 AM
Approved
• Rollback user history: Bad outlines
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Administrative rollback audit entry.
Changed fields
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | NoFly | Permission |
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in Biscayne National Park per NPS closure order. Marine ecosystems are protected. | 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 | aba43da5-5681-4f8a-b059-009e91a79b6e | 44a322c1-4069-4f39-b390-630d827f0037 |
Before
## Drone Rules - Biscayne National Park **Drone flights are banned** in Biscayne National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone use over land or water within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - Coral reefs, seagrass beds, and manatee habitat are fully protected ### Source - Biscayne NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/bisc/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
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+ 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 use over land or water within the park - - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - - Coral reefs, seagrass beds, and manatee habitat are fully protected - - ### Source - - Biscayne NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/rules.htm -
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 | — | 44a322c1-4069-4f39-b390-630d827f0037 |
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
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+ ## + 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