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Drone Rules for Channel Islands National Park

California (CA) • United States
California, USA
Lat: 34.015 • Lng: -119.752

Rules Edit History: Channel Islands National Park

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May 30, 2026 11:47 AM Approved • Added NPS 36 CFR 1.5 drone prohibition for Channel Islands NP with 145 endemic species, California condor ESA reintroduction, Brown pelican MBTA, and Point Mugu Class D.
Author: be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc (1118)
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.95
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition in Channel Islands 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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Summary Drones are prohibited in Channel Islands National Park. Island fox and seabird habitat protection. Channel Islands National Park prohibits all drone operations under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. The five islands are a biodiversity hotspot with 2,000+ plant and animal species, including 145 endemic species found nowhere else on Earth.
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## Drone Rules - Channel Islands National Park

**Drone flights are not permitted** in Channel Islands National Park.







### Key Rules
- No recreational drone use over any of the five islands
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Threatened island fox and Xantus's murrelet nesting require strict aerial protection


### Source
- Channel Islands Rules: https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/rules.htm
After
## Drone Rules - Channel Islands NP

**All UAS operations are prohibited** under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. The park protects 145 endemic species; aerial disturbance of breeding seabirds and marine mammals is an active enforcement priority.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Santa Barbara Airport (KSBA) Class C lies ~30 miles north of Santa Cruz Island
- Point Mugu Naval Air Station (KNGU) Class D lies ~20 miles east; R-2501 Warning Area offshore
- Islands span 150 miles of the Southern California Bight; Pacific Missile Range adjacent
- California condor (ESA endangered) has been reintroduced on Santa Cruz Island

### Key Rules
- No drone operations on any of the five islands or in park waters
- California condor nest sites are absolute no-fly zones; ESA Section 9 applies
- Brown pelican (ESA delisted but MBTA protected) nests in large colonies on Anacapa Island
- Island Fox (ESA delisted 2016) recovery program sensitive to aerial disturbance

### Source
- NPS Channel Islands: https://www.nps.gov/chis
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+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Santa Barbara Airport (KSBA) Class C lies ~30 miles north of Santa Cruz Island
+ - Point Mugu Naval Air Station (KNGU) Class D lies ~20 miles east; R-2501 Warning Area offshore
+ - Islands span 150 miles of the Southern California Bight; Pacific Missile Range adjacent
+ - California condor (ESA endangered) has been reintroduced on Santa Cruz Island
+ 
  ### Key Rules
+ - Island Fox (ESA delisted 2016) recovery program sensitive to aerial disturbance
  
  ### Source
May 29, 2026 6:27 AM Approved • Added NPS drone ban for Channel Islands NP with island fox and seabird context.
Author: be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc (1118)
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.95
Your proposed edit to prohibit drone operations in Channel Islands National Park, emphasizing the protection of island fox and seabird habitats, has been approved. The prohibition aligns with National Park Service regulations and the park's status as a protected area for wildlife. The added context about island fox and seabird habitats enhances the understanding of the restriction. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the park's boundaries.
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Mapped shapes 17785dd7-bbb8-4d89-a356-2b9794da4c11 0d20bf52-dffd-4449-9a13-8d86c9972e20
May 28, 2026 2:10 AM Approved • Added NPS drone ban for Channel Islands NP with island fox and seabird context.
Author: be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc (1118)
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.85
Your proposed edit has been approved. The updated rule now accurately reflects the prohibition of drone operations in Channel Islands National Park, emphasizing the protection of its unique island fox and seabird habitats.
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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 Channel Islands National Park. Island fox and seabird habitat protection.
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 - Channel Islands National Park

**Drone flights are not permitted** in Channel Islands National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone use over any of the five islands
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Threatened island fox and Xantus's murrelet nesting require strict aerial protection

### Source
- Channel Islands Rules: https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/rules.htm
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+ **Drone flights are not permitted** in Channel Islands National Park.
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - No recreational drone use over any of the five islands
+ - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
+ - Threatened island fox and Xantus's murrelet nesting require strict aerial protection
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - Channel Islands Rules: https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/rules.htm
  
- https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm
May 27, 2026 10:57 PM Approved • Rollback user history: Included broken and wrong link... In every post. Mass edit spam of national parks adding nothing specific.
Author: jaystechvault (11074)
Moderation feedback
Administrative rollback audit entry.
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Field Before After
Flight status NoFly Permission
Summary Drones are prohibited in Channel Islands National Park per NPS closure order. No recreational use allowed. 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.
Before
## Drone Rules - Channel Islands National Park


**Drones are not permitted** in Channel Islands National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights on any of the five islands
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Nesting seabirds and sea lion colonies are highly sensitive to drone disturbance

### Source
- Channel Islands NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/chis/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
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.
   
- 
- ### Key Rules
- - No recreational drone flights on any of the five islands
- - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- - Nesting seabirds and sea lion colonies are highly sensitive to drone disturbance
- 
- ### Source
- - Channel Islands NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/rules.htm
-
May 27, 2026 10:17 AM Approved • Rollback user history: Bad outlines
Author: jaystechvault (11074)
Moderation feedback
Administrative rollback audit entry.
Changed fields
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Field Before After
Flight status NoFly Permission
Summary Drones are prohibited in Channel Islands National Park per NPS closure order. No recreational use allowed. 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.
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Before
## Drone Rules - Channel Islands National Park


**Drones are not permitted** in Channel Islands National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights on any of the five islands
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Nesting seabirds and sea lion colonies are highly sensitive to drone disturbance

### Source
- Channel Islands NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/chis/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
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.
   
- 
- ### Key Rules
- - No recreational drone flights on any of the five islands
- - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- - Nesting seabirds and sea lion colonies are highly sensitive to drone disturbance
- 
- ### Source
- - Channel Islands NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/rules.htm
-
May 20, 2026 4:16 PM Approved • Manual admin rule: Initial
Author: jaystechvault (11074)
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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 — 17785dd7-bbb8-4d89-a356-2b9794da4c11
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