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Drone Rules for Kenai Fjords National Park
Seward, Alaska (AK)
• United States
Seward, AK 99664, USA
Lat: 59.8487 • Lng: -150.188
Rules Edit History: Kenai Fjords National Park
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May 28, 2026 2:22 PM
Approved
• Added a complete drone restriction profile for Kenai Fjords National Park based on NPS 36 CFR § 1.5, § 2.17(a)(3), Wilderness Act, ANILCA, MBTA seabird protections, MMPA marine mammal provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
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Approved
Confidence: 0.90
Your proposed edit has been approved. The information about the prohibition of drone operations in Kenai Fjords National Park is accurate and well-supported by official sources. The outline you provided appropriately matches the selected location. Thank you for your contribution.
Sources
- https://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/rules.htm
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-L/part-13 — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Wilderness Act prohibitions, ANILCA Alaska provisions (16 U.S.C. § 3101), MBTA seabird colony protections, Marine Mammal Protection Act fjord provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within park boundaries.
- https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-2/section-2.17 — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Wilderness Act prohibitions, ANILCA Alaska provisions (16 U.S.C. § 3101), MBTA seabird colony protections, Marine Mammal Protection Act fjord provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within park boundaries.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Wilderness Act prohibitions, ANILCA Alaska provisions (16 U.S.C. § 3101), MBTA seabird colony protections, Marine Mammal Protection Act fjord provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within park boundaries.
- https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uaspolicy.htm — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Wilderness Act prohibitions, ANILCA Alaska provisions (16 U.S.C. § 3101), MBTA seabird colony protections, Marine Mammal Protection Act fjord provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within park boundaries.
- https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Wilderness Act prohibitions, ANILCA Alaska provisions (16 U.S.C. § 3101), MBTA seabird colony protections, Marine Mammal Protection Act fjord provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within park boundaries.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-1/section-1.5 — NPS regulations under 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3), Wilderness Act prohibitions, ANILCA Alaska provisions (16 U.S.C. § 3101), MBTA seabird colony protections, Marine Mammal Protection Act fjord provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within park boundaries.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in Kenai Fjords National Park per NPS policy. Marine wildlife and glacier habitat. | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Kenai Fjords 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. The park's Harding Icefield, tidewater glaciers, and massive sea |
Before
## Drone Rules - Kenai Fjords National Park **Drones are not permitted** in Kenai Fjords National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - Humpback whales, Steller sea lions, and puffin colonies require strict aerial protection ### Source - NPS UAS Policy: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm
After
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit - Wilderness: ❌ Kenai Fjords Wilderness motorized equipment ban ## Geographic Boundaries Kenai Fjords National Park is located in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, on the Gulf of Alaska. - Total area: ~669,983 acres - Coordinates: 59.9167° N, 150.1667° W - Includes Harding Icefield (~700 sq miles), 40+ glaciers, Aialik Bay, Northwestern Fjord, and Resurrection Bay - Home to ~200,000 seabirds nesting on coastal cliffs - Nearest city: Seward, AK (~12 miles from park boundary) ## 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 - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Kenai Fjords Wilderness - Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA, 16 U.S.C. § 3101) — Alaska-specific NPS management provisions - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects horned puffin, tufted puffin, murre, and kittiwake nesting colonies - Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 1361) — Steller sea lion, harbor seal, and orca protections in fjord waters - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - Airspace: Class E above 1,200 ft AGL; surface Class G within park ## Penalties - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation - Wilderness Act penalties for motorized equipment violations - MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per seabird colony disturbance - MMPA violations: civil fines up to $10,000 per marine mammal - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - Equipment confiscation by park rangers ## Special Permissions - NPS Special Use Permit required - MBTA Scientific Collecting Permit for seabird colony research - MMPA Letter of Authorization for marine mammal research - Glaciological research with NPS + USGS approval Submit requests to: Kenai Fjords NP Superintendent, PO Box 1727, Seward, AK 99664
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+ - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned + - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit + - Wilderness: ❌ Kenai Fjords Wilderness motorized equipment ban + Kenai Fjords National Park is located in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, + Alaska, on the Gulf of Alaska. + - Total area: ~669,983 acres + - Coordinates: 59.9167° N, 150.1667° W + - Includes Harding Icefield (~700 sq miles), 40+ glaciers, Aialik Bay, + Northwestern Fjord, and Resurrection Bay + - Home to ~200,000 seabirds nesting on coastal cliffs + - Nearest city: Seward, AK (~12 miles from park boundary) + - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Kenai Fjords Wilderness + - Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA, + 16 U.S.C. § 3101) — Alaska-specific NPS management provisions + - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects horned + puffin, tufted puffin, murre, and kittiwake nesting colonies + - Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 1361) — Steller sea + lion, harbor seal, and orca protections in fjord waters + - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide + - Airspace: Class E above 1,200 ft AGL; surface Class G within park + - Wilderness Act penalties for motorized equipment violations + - MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per seabird colony disturbance + - MMPA violations: civil fines up to $10,000 per marine mammal + - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day + - Equipment confiscation by park rangers + ## Special Permissions + - NPS Special Use Permit required + - MBTA Scientific Collecting Permit for seabird colony research + - MMPA Letter of Authorization for marine mammal research + - Glaciological research with NPS + USGS approval + Submit requests to: Kenai Fjords NP Superintendent, + PO Box 1727, Seward, AK 99664
May 28, 2026 2:15 AM
Approved
• Added NPS drone ban for Kenai Fjords NP with marine wildlife context.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.85
Your proposed edit has been approved. The updated rule now accurately reflects the prohibition of drone operations in Kenai Fjords National Park, as per the National Park Service's regulations, and emphasizes the protection of marine wildlife.
Changed fields
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in Kenai Fjords National Park per NPS policy. Marine wildlife and glaciers are protected. | Drones are prohibited in Kenai Fjords National Park per NPS policy. Marine wildlife and glacier habitat. |
Before
## Drone Rules - Kenai Fjords National Park **Drone use is prohibited** in Kenai Fjords National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - Tidewater glaciers, Steller sea lions, orcas, and nesting seabirds are protected ### Source - Kenai Fjords NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/rules.htm
After
## Drone Rules - Kenai Fjords National Park **Drones are not permitted** in Kenai Fjords National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - Humpback whales, Steller sea lions, and puffin colonies require strict aerial protection ### Source - NPS UAS Policy: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm
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## Drone Rules - Kenai Fjords National Park ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit ### Source
May 27, 2026 11:04 PM
Approved
• Added NPS drone ban for Kenai Fjords NP with marine wildlife context.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.90
Your proposed edit has been approved. The updated rule now accurately reflects the drone prohibition in Kenai Fjords National Park, including specific details about protected marine wildlife and glaciers.
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 Kenai Fjords National Park per NPS policy. Marine wildlife and glaciers are protected. |
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 - Kenai Fjords National Park **Drone use is prohibited** in Kenai Fjords National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - Tidewater glaciers, Steller sea lions, orcas, and nesting seabirds are protected ### Source - Kenai Fjords NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/rules.htm
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+ **Drone use is prohibited** in Kenai Fjords National Park. + + ### Key Rules + - No recreational drone flights within the park + - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit + - Tidewater glaciers, Steller sea lions, orcas, and nesting seabirds are protected + + ### Source + - Kenai Fjords NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/rules.htm - https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm
May 27, 2026 10:17 AM
Approved
• Rollback user history: Bad outlines
Moderation feedback
Administrative rollback audit entry.
Changed fields
Mapped shape change
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | NoFly | Permission |
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in Kenai Fjords National Park per NPS policy. Marine wildlife and glaciers are protected. | 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 | 0fc956ee-380b-4d6b-aa45-aba4bf1354d2 | 0a5ff29c-b010-4bf8-922e-0698944aca5a |
Before
## Drone Rules - Kenai Fjords National Park **Drone use is prohibited** in Kenai Fjords National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - Tidewater glaciers, Steller sea lions, orcas, and nesting seabirds are protected ### Source - Kenai Fjords NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/kefj/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
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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. - - ### Key Rules - - No recreational drone flights within the park - - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - - Tidewater glaciers, Steller sea lions, orcas, and nesting seabirds are protected - - ### Source - - Kenai Fjords NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/rules.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 | — | 0a5ff29c-b010-4bf8-922e-0698944aca5a |
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