← Back to Cape Cod National Seashore

Drone Rules for Cape Cod National Seashore

Chatham, Massachusetts (MA) • United States
Cape Cod National Seashore, Chatham, MA 02650, USA
Lat: 41.7159 • Lng: -69.9286
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 29, 2026
Summary
Edit rules/place details on map

Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Cape Cod National Seashore under NPS regulations. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit. Located within Boston Class B airspace proximity and protecting critical Piping Plover and Least Tern nesting beaches, the seashore en

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
  • ESA: ⚠️ Piping Plover + Least Tern — seasonal absolute ban
  • Airspace: ⚠️ Boston Class B (BOS) proximity — LAANC check required

Geographic Boundaries

Cape Cod National Seashore is located in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod.

  • Total area: ~43,607 acres
  • Length: ~40 miles of Atlantic coastline
  • Coordinates: 41.9436° N, 70.0322° W
  • Includes Province Lands, Marconi Station, Coast Guard Beach, Nauset Lighthouse, and Pilgrim Heights
  • Boston Logan (BOS) Class B ~70 miles northwest
  • Nearest city: Wellfleet, MA (headquarters area)

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
  • ESA (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) threatened; nesting beach UAS constitutes Section 9 harassment
  • MBTA (16 U.S.C. § 703) — Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) nesting colonies and migratory shorebirds
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations
  • Airspace: Class G; check UASFM for BOS Class B outer ring

Penalties

  • NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
  • ESA Section 9 Piping Plover: up to $25,000 civil + $50,000 criminal
  • MBTA Least Tern: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per incident
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
  • Equipment confiscation by park rangers

Special Permissions

  • NPS Special Use Permit required
  • Piping Plover and Least Tern blackout: April–August beaches
  • LAANC check required for BOS Class B outer ring proximity Submit requests to: Cape Cod NS Superintendent, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, MA 02667
Map is not loaded yet
Load the map only when you need to view the rule outline.
This shows the latest mapped outline for this rules page. Click a shape to view its note when available.
Rule sources
Parent Rule Pages