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Drone Rules for Indiana Dunes National Park
Porter, Indiana (IN)
• United States
Porter, IN 46304, USA
Lat: 41.6533 • Lng: -87.0524
Rules Edit History: Indiana Dunes National Park
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May 30, 2026 12:04 PM
Approved
• Added NPS 36 CFR 1.5 drone prohibition for Indiana Dunes NP with Gary Class D adjacency, O'Hare Class B overlay, Piping Plover ESA beaches, and Indiana state law.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.85
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition at Indiana Dunes 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.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Indiana Dunes 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. Located on the southern shore of Lake Michigan between Chicago | Indiana Dunes National Park prohibits all drone operations under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. The park's proximity to Chicago makes it the most visited NPS unit in the Midwest per unit area, and it lies directly under Chicago's complex Class B airspace. |
| Mapped shapes | 4ddfb7b2-a9a2-44f4-ac5b-8d806575161a | e1af492f-035f-4816-8659-7a547333515b |
Before
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit - Airspace: 🚫 Chicago Class B (ORD) — most restrictive FAA category ## Geographic Boundaries Indiana Dunes National Park is located along the southern shore of Lake Michigan in Porter and LaPorte Counties, Indiana. - Total area: ~15,349 acres - Coordinates: 41.6516° N, 87.0528° W - Includes Mount Baldy (126 ft dune), West Beach, Cowles Bog (National Natural Landmark), and Calumet Trail - Located within Chicago O'Hare (ORD) Class B airspace - Nearest city: Chicago, IL (~40 miles west); Gary, IN (~15 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 - FAA Class B Airspace (ORD/MDW) — strictest FAA category; ALL aircraft including UAS require explicit ATC clearance before entering Class B airspace regardless of altitude - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - LAANC: check FAA UAS Facility Map — most grid cells show 0 ft AGL ## Penalties - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation - FAA Class B violation: most severe civil penalties up to $27,500/day + immediate certificate suspension/revocation - Criminal prosecution for willful Class B intrusion - Equipment confiscation by park rangers ## Special Permissions - NPS Special Use Permit required - FAA Class B ATC clearance mandatory — no LAANC auto-approval - DroneZone waiver required for any Class B operations Submit requests to: Indiana Dunes NP Superintendent, 1100 N Mineral Springs Road, Porter, IN 46304
After
## Drone Rules - Indiana Dunes National Park **All drone operations are prohibited** under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. Chicago O'Hare Class B airspace creates an additional hard ceiling on any drone operations in this area. ### Airspace / Site Context - Gary/Chicago International Airport (KGYY) Class D lies adjacent to the park boundary - Chicago O'Hare (KORD) Class B shelf descends over the Indiana Dunes area - Chicago Midway (KMDW) Class C lies ~20 miles west across Lake Michigan - Park spans 15,349 acres along 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline ### Key Rules - No drone launches or operations within park boundaries - Gary LAANC required for airspace compliance; O'Hare Class B may require additional authorization - Piping Plover (ESA threatened) beaches are posted and patrolled May-August - Indiana state law prohibits UAS over state and national park units ### Source - NPS Indiana Dunes: https://www.nps.gov/indu
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- - Airspace: 🚫 Chicago Class B (ORD) — most restrictive FAA category - - Includes Mount Baldy (126 ft dune), West Beach, Cowles Bog - (National Natural Landmark), and Calumet Trail - - Located within Chicago O'Hare (ORD) Class B airspace - - Nearest city: Chicago, IL (~40 miles west); Gary, IN (~15 miles west) - ALL aircraft including UAS require explicit ATC clearance - before entering Class B airspace regardless of altitude - - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - - LAANC: check FAA UAS Facility Map — most grid cells show 0 ft AGL - - FAA Class B violation: most severe civil penalties up to - $27,500/day + immediate certificate suspension/revocation - - Criminal prosecution for willful Class B intrusion - - Equipment confiscation by park rangers - ## Special Permissions - - NPS Special Use Permit required - - FAA Class B ATC clearance mandatory — no LAANC auto-approval - - DroneZone waiver required for any Class B operations - Submit requests to: Indiana Dunes NP Superintendent, - 1100 N Mineral Springs Road, Porter, IN 46304
May 28, 2026 11:28 PM
Approved
• Added drone restriction profile for Indiana Dunes National Park based on NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, 36 CFR § 1.5, and FAA Chicago Class B airspace mandatory ATC clearance requirements — most restrictive FAA category.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit to the drone restriction profile for Indiana Dunes 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/indu/planyourvisit/rules.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within Indiana Dunes National Park. Chicago Class B airspace (ORD) adds the most restrictive FAA airspace category requiring explicit ATC clearance for any UAS operation.
Changed fields
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in Indiana Dunes National Park per NPS closure order. | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Indiana Dunes 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. Located on the southern shore of Lake Michigan between Chicago |
Before
## Drone Rules - Indiana Dunes National Park **Drones are not permitted** in Indiana Dunes National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights on beaches or inland dune areas - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration - Shorebird nesting habitat along Lake Michigan is protected from aerial disturbance ### Source - Indiana Dunes NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/rules.htm
After
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit - Airspace: 🚫 Chicago Class B (ORD) — most restrictive FAA category ## Geographic Boundaries Indiana Dunes National Park is located along the southern shore of Lake Michigan in Porter and LaPorte Counties, Indiana. - Total area: ~15,349 acres - Coordinates: 41.6516° N, 87.0528° W - Includes Mount Baldy (126 ft dune), West Beach, Cowles Bog (National Natural Landmark), and Calumet Trail - Located within Chicago O'Hare (ORD) Class B airspace - Nearest city: Chicago, IL (~40 miles west); Gary, IN (~15 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 - FAA Class B Airspace (ORD/MDW) — strictest FAA category; ALL aircraft including UAS require explicit ATC clearance before entering Class B airspace regardless of altitude - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - LAANC: check FAA UAS Facility Map — most grid cells show 0 ft AGL ## Penalties - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation - FAA Class B violation: most severe civil penalties up to $27,500/day + immediate certificate suspension/revocation - Criminal prosecution for willful Class B intrusion - Equipment confiscation by park rangers ## Special Permissions - NPS Special Use Permit required - FAA Class B ATC clearance mandatory — no LAANC auto-approval - DroneZone waiver required for any Class B operations Submit requests to: Indiana Dunes NP Superintendent, 1100 N Mineral Springs Road, Porter, IN 46304
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+ - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned + - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit + - Airspace: 🚫 Chicago Class B (ORD) — most restrictive FAA category + Indiana Dunes National Park is located along the southern shore + of Lake Michigan in Porter and LaPorte Counties, Indiana. + - Total area: ~15,349 acres + - Coordinates: 41.6516° N, 87.0528° W + - Includes Mount Baldy (126 ft dune), West Beach, Cowles Bog + (National Natural Landmark), and Calumet Trail + - Located within Chicago O'Hare (ORD) Class B airspace + - Nearest city: Chicago, IL (~40 miles west); Gary, IN (~15 miles west) + - FAA Class B Airspace (ORD/MDW) — strictest FAA category; + ALL aircraft including UAS require explicit ATC clearance + before entering Class B airspace regardless of altitude + - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide + - LAANC: check FAA UAS Facility Map — most grid cells show 0 ft AGL + - FAA Class B violation: most severe civil penalties up to + $27,500/day + immediate certificate suspension/revocation + - Criminal prosecution for willful Class B intrusion + - Equipment confiscation by park rangers + ## Special Permissions + - NPS Special Use Permit required + - FAA Class B ATC clearance mandatory — no LAANC auto-approval + - DroneZone waiver required for any Class B operations + Submit requests to: Indiana Dunes NP Superintendent, + 1100 N Mineral Springs Road, Porter, IN 46304
May 27, 2026 11:08 PM
Approved
• Added NPS drone ban for Indiana Dunes NP with Lake Michigan shorebird context.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit has been approved. The updated rule now accurately reflects the drone prohibition in Indiana Dunes National Park, including specific details about protected areas and wildlife.
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 Indiana Dunes National Park per NPS closure order. |
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 - Indiana Dunes National Park **Drones are not permitted** in Indiana Dunes National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights on beaches or inland dune areas - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration - Shorebird nesting habitat along Lake Michigan is protected from aerial disturbance ### Source - Indiana Dunes NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/rules.htm
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+ **Drones are not permitted** in Indiana Dunes National Park. + + ### Key Rules + - No recreational drone flights on beaches or inland dune areas + - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration + - Shorebird nesting habitat along Lake Michigan is protected from aerial disturbance + + ### Source + - Indiana Dunes NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/rules.htm - https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.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 | — | 4ddfb7b2-a9a2-44f4-ac5b-8d806575161a |
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