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Drone Rules for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Maple City, Michigan (MI) • United States
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Maple City, MI 49664, USA
Lat: 45.0986 • Lng: -86.0093

Rules Edit History: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

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May 30, 2026 12:02 PM Approved • Added NPS 36 CFR 1.5 drone prohibition for Sleeping Bear Dunes with Piping Plover ESA active enforcement, 450 ft dunes thermal hazard, and Michigan MCL 259.322.
Author: be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc (1118)
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.95
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 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/slbe/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. ESA Section 9 Piping Plover nesting beach protections add federal wildlife restriction layers with seasonal absolute bans.
  • https://www.nps.gov/slbe — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. ESA Section 9 Piping Plover nesting beach protections add federal wildlife restriction layers with seasonal absolute bans.
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Field Before After
Summary Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 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. Voted "Most Beautiful Place in America" by viewers o Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore prohibits all drone operations under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. The park protects 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, towering sand dunes up to 450 ft, and critical Piping Plover nesting beaches.
Mapped shapes bd3c085d-3fce-495d-9abf-68786df6a8a2 e9e237ca-0c97-4045-b6ac-5f89bcafc316
Before
## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- ESA: ⚠️ Piping Plover critical nesting habitat — absolute seasonal ban

## Geographic Boundaries
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located in Benzie
and Leelanau Counties, Michigan, on Lake Michigan.
- Total area: ~71,199 acres
- Coordinates: 44.8744° N, 86.0567° W
- Includes Sleeping Bear Dune Climb, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive,
  North and South Manitou Islands, and Glen Lake
- Critical Piping Plover nesting beaches (May–August)
- Nearest city: Traverse City, MI (~25 miles northeast)

## 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) — Piping Plover
  (Charadrius melodus) threatened; nesting beach UAS overflight
  constitutes ESA Section 9 harassment
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects
  all migratory species on lakeshore
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over lakeshore

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- ESA Section 9 Piping Plover: up to $25,000 civil +
  $50,000 criminal + 1 year imprisonment
- MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per bird disturbance
- 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 nesting blackout: May–August absolute ban
- Wildlife research: USFWS ESA + MBTA permits required
Submit requests to: Sleeping Bear Dunes NL Superintendent,
9922 Front Street, Empire, MI 49630
After
## Drone Rules - Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore




**All UAS operations are prohibited** under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. Piping Plover ESA enforcement has been active at this park, with fines issued for drone disturbance of nest sites.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Cherry Capital Airport (KTVC) Class D lies ~20 miles north in Traverse City
- Lake Michigan over-water flights are Class G; park boundary extends to the OHWM
- Sand dunes rise 450 ft above Lake Michigan; thermal updrafts create drone hazards
- Part of the Great Lakes shoreline ecosystem critical for migratory shorebirds



### Key Rules
- No drone launches or landings anywhere in the national lakeshore
- Piping Plover (ESA threatened) nest sites are clearly posted and actively patrolled
- Bald Eagle (BGEPA) nests in the forest sections of the lakeshore
- Michigan state law MCL 259.322 restricts drone operations over parks







### Source
- NPS Sleeping Bear Dunes: https://www.nps.gov/slbe
Show inline change markers 
- - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- - ESA: ⚠️ Piping Plover critical nesting habitat — absolute seasonal ban
  
- - Critical Piping Plover nesting beaches (May–August)
- - Nearest city: Traverse City, MI (~25 miles northeast)
  
-   (Charadrius melodus) threatened; nesting beach UAS overflight
-   constitutes ESA Section 9 harassment
- - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects
-   all migratory species on lakeshore
- - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- - Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over lakeshore
  
- - ESA Section 9 Piping Plover: up to $25,000 civil +
-   $50,000 criminal + 1 year imprisonment
- - MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per bird disturbance
- - 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 nesting blackout: May–August absolute ban
- - Wildlife research: USFWS ESA + MBTA permits required
- Submit requests to: Sleeping Bear Dunes NL Superintendent,
- 9922 Front Street, Empire, MI 49630
May 28, 2026 11:34 PM Approved • Added drone restriction profile for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore based on NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, 36 CFR § 1.5, ESA Section 9 Piping Plover threatened species nesting beach protections, and MBTA migratory bird provisions.
Author: e8be7a99-29f2-421e-95ec-190919c58f9b (1091)
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit to the drone restriction profile for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 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/slbe/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. ESA Section 9 Piping Plover nesting beach protections add federal wildlife restriction layers with seasonal absolute bans.
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Field Before After
Flight status Unknown NoFly
Summary — Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 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. Voted "Most Beautiful Place in America" by viewers o
Mapped shapes — bd3c085d-3fce-495d-9abf-68786df6a8a2
Before
After
## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- ESA: ⚠️ Piping Plover critical nesting habitat — absolute seasonal ban

## Geographic Boundaries
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located in Benzie
and Leelanau Counties, Michigan, on Lake Michigan.
- Total area: ~71,199 acres
- Coordinates: 44.8744° N, 86.0567° W
- Includes Sleeping Bear Dune Climb, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive,
  North and South Manitou Islands, and Glen Lake
- Critical Piping Plover nesting beaches (May–August)
- Nearest city: Traverse City, MI (~25 miles northeast)

## 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) — Piping Plover
  (Charadrius melodus) threatened; nesting beach UAS overflight
  constitutes ESA Section 9 harassment
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects
  all migratory species on lakeshore
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over lakeshore

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- ESA Section 9 Piping Plover: up to $25,000 civil +
  $50,000 criminal + 1 year imprisonment
- MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per bird disturbance
- 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 nesting blackout: May–August absolute ban
- Wildlife research: USFWS ESA + MBTA permits required
Submit requests to: Sleeping Bear Dunes NL Superintendent,
9922 Front Street, Empire, MI 49630
Show inline change markers 
+ ## Authorization Status
+ - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
+ - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
+ - ESA: ⚠️ Piping Plover critical nesting habitat — absolute seasonal ban
+ 
+ ## Geographic Boundaries
+ Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located in Benzie
+ and Leelanau Counties, Michigan, on Lake Michigan.
+ - Total area: ~71,199 acres
+ - Coordinates: 44.8744° N, 86.0567° W
+ - Includes Sleeping Bear Dune Climb, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive,
+   North and South Manitou Islands, and Glen Lake
+ - Critical Piping Plover nesting beaches (May–August)
+ - Nearest city: Traverse City, MI (~25 miles northeast)
+ 
+ ## 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) — Piping Plover
+   (Charadrius melodus) threatened; nesting beach UAS overflight
+   constitutes ESA Section 9 harassment
+ - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects
+   all migratory species on lakeshore
+ - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
+ - Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over lakeshore
+ 
+ ## Penalties
+ - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
+ - ESA Section 9 Piping Plover: up to $25,000 civil +
+   $50,000 criminal + 1 year imprisonment
+ - MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per bird disturbance
+ - 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 nesting blackout: May–August absolute ban
+ - Wildlife research: USFWS ESA + MBTA permits required
+ Submit requests to: Sleeping Bear Dunes NL Superintendent,
+ 9922 Front Street, Empire, MI 49630