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Drone Rules for Everglades National Park

Florida (FL) • United States
Florida, USA
Lat: 25.2866 • Lng: -80.8987

Rules Edit History: Everglades National Park

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May 30, 2026 11:56 AM Approved • Added NPS 36 CFR 1.5 drone prohibition for Everglades NP with Florida panther ESA, Cape Sable sparrow ESA, American crocodile ESA, and KMIA Class B proximity.
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Approved Confidence: 0.75
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition in Everglades 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 Everglades National Park per NPS closure order. Critical wetland and wildlife habitat. Everglades National Park prohibits all drone operations under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, and Ramsar Wetland — protecting the largest tropical wilderness in the US.
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Before
## Drone Rules - Everglades National Park

**Drone use is prohibited** throughout Everglades National Park.







### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within park boundaries
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
- Manatees, alligators, and nesting birds are highly sensitive to aerial disturbance


### Source
- Everglades NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/rules.htm
After
## Drone Rules - Everglades National Park

**All drone operations are prohibited** under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. The park's four UNESCO/international designations make wildlife disturbance protection a global priority.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Miami International (KMIA) Class B outer ring begins ~20 miles north
- Homestead ARB (KHST) Class D lies on the north park boundary
- Florida Keys Class E and G airspace extends south; Key West airport (KEYW) Class C
- Park spans 1.5 million acres of sawgrass marsh, mangrove estuary, and Florida Bay

### Key Rules
- No drone operations within park boundaries including Florida Bay
- Florida panther (ESA endangered) has 20-50% of population in and near Everglades
- Cape Sable seaside sparrow (ESA endangered) nests in the marl prairies
- American crocodile (ESA threatened) nests along Florida Bay shores

### Source
- NPS Everglades: https://www.nps.gov/ever
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  ## Drone Rules - Everglades National Park
  
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Miami International (KMIA) Class B outer ring begins ~20 miles north
+ - Homestead ARB (KHST) Class D lies on the north park boundary
+ - Florida Keys Class E and G airspace extends south; Key West airport (KEYW) Class C
+ - Park spans 1.5 million acres of sawgrass marsh, mangrove estuary, and Florida Bay
  
  ### Key Rules
+ - American crocodile (ESA threatened) nests along Florida Bay shores
  
  ### Source
  
May 29, 2026 6:08 AM Approved • Added NPS drone prohibition for Everglades with wildlife sensitivity context.
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Summary Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Everglades National Park under NPS regulations. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit. UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve protecting the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S., with critical habitat for th Drones are prohibited in Everglades National Park per NPS closure order. Critical wetland and wildlife habitat.
Mapped shapes d6eda93f-98b8-499a-b4b1-90ec2196c7f1 17b4b0d4-dcc5-471e-aba2-5a45f016ea3b
Before
## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- UNESCO WHC: ⚠️ World Heritage Site since 1979
- ESA: ⚠️ Florida panther + American crocodile + manatee

## Geographic Boundaries
Everglades National Park is located in Miami-Dade, Monroe,
and Collier Counties, Florida.
- Total area: ~1,508,938 acres
- Coordinates: 25.2866° N, 80.8987° W
- Includes Anhinga Trail, Flamingo, Ten Thousand Islands,
  Florida Bay, and Shark Valley
- Florida panther critical habitat zones
- Nearest city: Homestead, FL (~11 miles north)

## 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) — Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi)
  endangered; American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) threatened;
  UAS disturbance constitutes Section 9 harassment
- Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 1361) — West Indian
  manatee (Trichechus manatus) critical habitat
- MBTA (16 U.S.C. § 703) — Wood Stork and Snail Kite habitat
- NHPA (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — UNESCO World Heritage Site
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations
- Airspace: Class G; Miami Class B TMA ~40 miles north

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- ESA panther/crocodile: up to $50,000 + 1 year per incident
- MMPA manatee: civil fines up to $10,000 per incident
- 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
- Florida panther research: ESA Section 10 ITP required
- Manatee research: MMPA Letter of Authorization required
Submit requests to: Everglades NP Superintendent,
40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034
After
## Drone Rules - Everglades National Park





**Drone use is prohibited** throughout Everglades National Park.









### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within park boundaries
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
- Manatees, alligators, and nesting birds are highly sensitive to aerial disturbance










### Source
- Everglades NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/rules.htm











Show inline change markers
- - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- - UNESCO WHC: ⚠️ World Heritage Site since 1979
- - ESA: ⚠️ Florida panther + American crocodile + manatee
  
- Everglades National Park is located in Miami-Dade, Monroe,
- and Collier Counties, Florida.
- - Total area: ~1,508,938 acres
- - Coordinates: 25.2866° N, 80.8987° W
- - Includes Anhinga Trail, Flamingo, Ten Thousand Islands,
-   Florida Bay, and Shark Valley
- - Florida panther critical habitat zones
- - Nearest city: Homestead, FL (~11 miles north)
  
- - ESA (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi)
-   endangered; American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) threatened;
-   UAS disturbance constitutes Section 9 harassment
- - Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 1361) — West Indian
-   manatee (Trichechus manatus) critical habitat
- - MBTA (16 U.S.C. § 703) — Wood Stork and Snail Kite habitat
- - NHPA (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — UNESCO World Heritage Site
- - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations
- - Airspace: Class G; Miami Class B TMA ~40 miles north
  
- - ESA panther/crocodile: up to $50,000 + 1 year per incident
- - MMPA manatee: civil fines up to $10,000 per incident
- - 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
- - Florida panther research: ESA Section 10 ITP required
- - Manatee research: MMPA Letter of Authorization required
- Submit requests to: Everglades NP Superintendent,
- 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034
May 29, 2026 1:48 AM Approved • Added drone restriction profile for Everglades National Park based on NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, 36 CFR § 1.5, ESA Section 9 Florida panther and American crocodile, MMPA West Indian manatee, MBTA Wood Stork and Snail Kite, and NHPA UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.90
Your proposed edit for Everglades National Park has been approved. The information is accurate and well-supported by official sources, and the outline appropriately matches the selected location. Thank you for your contribution.
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Field Before After
Summary Drones are prohibited in Everglades National Park per NPS closure order. Critical wetland and wildlife habitat. Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Everglades National Park under NPS regulations. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit. UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve protecting the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S., with critical habitat for th
Before
## Drone Rules - Everglades National Park





**Drone use is prohibited** throughout Everglades National Park.









### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within park boundaries
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
- Manatees, alligators, and nesting birds are highly sensitive to aerial disturbance










### Source
- Everglades NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/rules.htm











After
## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- UNESCO WHC: ⚠️ World Heritage Site since 1979
- ESA: ⚠️ Florida panther + American crocodile + manatee

## Geographic Boundaries
Everglades National Park is located in Miami-Dade, Monroe,
and Collier Counties, Florida.
- Total area: ~1,508,938 acres
- Coordinates: 25.2866° N, 80.8987° W
- Includes Anhinga Trail, Flamingo, Ten Thousand Islands,
  Florida Bay, and Shark Valley
- Florida panther critical habitat zones
- Nearest city: Homestead, FL (~11 miles north)

## 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) — Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi)
  endangered; American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) threatened;
  UAS disturbance constitutes Section 9 harassment
- Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 1361) — West Indian
  manatee (Trichechus manatus) critical habitat
- MBTA (16 U.S.C. § 703) — Wood Stork and Snail Kite habitat
- NHPA (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — UNESCO World Heritage Site
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations
- Airspace: Class G; Miami Class B TMA ~40 miles north

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- ESA panther/crocodile: up to $50,000 + 1 year per incident
- MMPA manatee: civil fines up to $10,000 per incident
- 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
- Florida panther research: ESA Section 10 ITP required
- Manatee research: MMPA Letter of Authorization required
Submit requests to: Everglades NP Superintendent,
40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034
Show inline change markers
+ - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
+ - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
+ - UNESCO WHC: ⚠️ World Heritage Site since 1979
+ - ESA: ⚠️ Florida panther + American crocodile + manatee
  
+ Everglades National Park is located in Miami-Dade, Monroe,
+ and Collier Counties, Florida.
+ - Total area: ~1,508,938 acres
+ - Coordinates: 25.2866° N, 80.8987° W
+ - Includes Anhinga Trail, Flamingo, Ten Thousand Islands,
+   Florida Bay, and Shark Valley
+ - Florida panther critical habitat zones
+ - Nearest city: Homestead, FL (~11 miles north)
  
+ - ESA (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi)
+   endangered; American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) threatened;
+   UAS disturbance constitutes Section 9 harassment
+ - Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 1361) — West Indian
+   manatee (Trichechus manatus) critical habitat
+ - MBTA (16 U.S.C. § 703) — Wood Stork and Snail Kite habitat
+ - NHPA (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — UNESCO World Heritage Site
+ - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations
+ - Airspace: Class G; Miami Class B TMA ~40 miles north
  
+ - ESA panther/crocodile: up to $50,000 + 1 year per incident
+ - MMPA manatee: civil fines up to $10,000 per incident
+ - 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
+ - Florida panther research: ESA Section 10 ITP required
+ - Manatee research: MMPA Letter of Authorization required
+ Submit requests to: Everglades NP Superintendent,
+ 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034
May 28, 2026 1:58 AM Approved • Added NPS drone prohibition for Everglades with wildlife sensitivity context.
Moderation feedback
Approved Confidence: 0.90
Your proposed edit has been approved. The updated rule now accurately reflects the prohibition of drone operations in Everglades National Park, emphasizing the protection of its critical wetland and wildlife habitats.
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 Everglades National Park per NPS closure order. Critical wetland and wildlife habitat.
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 - Everglades National Park

**Drone use is prohibited** throughout Everglades National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within park boundaries
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
- Manatees, alligators, and nesting birds are highly sensitive to aerial disturbance

### Source
- Everglades NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/rules.htm

Show inline change markers
+ **Drone use is prohibited** throughout Everglades National Park.
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - No recreational drone flights within park boundaries
+ - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
+ - Manatees, alligators, and nesting birds are highly sensitive to aerial disturbance
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - Everglades NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/ever/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.
Changed fields
Field Before After
Flight status NoFly Permission
Summary Drones are prohibited in Everglades National Park per NPS closure order. No recreational drone use is permitted. 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 - Everglades National Park


**Drone use is prohibited** in Everglades National Park.

### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within park boundaries
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
- The park's sensitive wetland ecosystem and protected wildlife (manatees, crocodiles, wading birds) make drones especially disruptive

### Source
- Everglades NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/ever/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 within park boundaries
- - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
- - The park's sensitive wetland ecosystem and protected wildlife (manatees, crocodiles, wading birds) make drones especially disruptive
- 
- ### Source
- - Everglades NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/rules.htm
- 
May 20, 2026 4:19 PM Approved • Manual admin rule: Initial
Author: jaystechvault (11074)
Changed fields
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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 d6eda93f-98b8-499a-b4b1-90ec2196c7f1
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