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Drone Rules for Congaree National Park
Gadsden, South Carolina (sc)
• United States
South Carolina, USA
Lat: 33.7919 • Lng: -80.749
Rules Edit History: Congaree National Park
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May 30, 2026 12:00 PM
Approved
• Added NPS 36 CFR 1.5 drone prohibition for Congaree NP with synchronous firefly event sensitivity, Red-cockaded Woodpecker ESA, and McEntire JNGB A-10 adjacency.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.95
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition in Congaree 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.
Sources
- https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within Congaree National Park boundaries. No exceptions without written superintendent approval.
- https://www.nps.gov/cong — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within Congaree National Park boundaries. No exceptions without written superintendent approval.
- https://www.nps.gov/cong/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within Congaree National Park boundaries. No exceptions without written superintendent approval.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Congaree 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 largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest | Congaree National Park prohibits all drone operations under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. The park protects the largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the US and hosts spectacular synchronous firefly displays. |
| Mapped shapes | 7a61371b-881e-4c4c-b49e-6ce548a9d27c | f89427a8-ce4d-4e2d-ab3a-16be2842aaf9 |
Before
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit - Wilderness: ❌ Congaree Wilderness absolute motorized ban ## Geographic Boundaries Congaree National Park is located in Richland County, South Carolina, southeast of Columbia. - Total area: ~26,476 acres - Coordinates: 33.7948° N, 80.7820° W - Includes Congaree River floodplain, Weston Lake, Cedar Creek canoe trail, old-growth loblolly pine and bald cypress, and Congaree Wilderness (~11,000 acres) - UNESCO Biosphere Reserve - Nearest city: Columbia, SC (~20 miles northwest) ## 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) — Congaree Wilderness - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects prothonotary warblers and neotropical migrants in old-growth - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - Airspace: Class G; Columbia Metropolitan Airport Class C ~20 miles northwest; check UASFM grid values ## Penalties - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation - Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months 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 - Wildlife research requires USFWS MBTA Scientific Collecting Permit - FAA LAANC check recommended for Columbia Class C proximity Submit requests to: Congaree NP Superintendent, 100 National Park Road, Hopkins, SC 29061
After
## Drone Rules - Congaree National Park **All UAS operations are prohibited** under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation and synchronous firefly events make light and noise disturbance a management priority. ### Airspace / Site Context - Columbia Metropolitan Airport (KCAE) Class C lies ~20 miles north - McEntire Joint National Guard Base lies ~10 miles east; A-10 operations nearby - Park elevation ~100-120 ft MSL; dense forest canopy makes drone operation risky - Flood cycles regularly inundate the forest floor to depths of several feet ### Key Rules - No drone operations within park boundaries - Synchronous firefly season (late May) has expanded ranger patrols - Red-cockaded Woodpecker (ESA endangered) nests in longleaf pine on park borders - South Carolina law prohibits UAS over state and national parks ### Source - NPS Congaree: https://www.nps.gov/cong
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- - Wilderness: ❌ Congaree Wilderness absolute motorized ban - - Includes Congaree River floodplain, Weston Lake, Cedar Creek - canoe trail, old-growth loblolly pine and bald cypress, - and Congaree Wilderness (~11,000 acres) - - UNESCO Biosphere Reserve - - Nearest city: Columbia, SC (~20 miles northwest) - - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects - prothonotary warblers and neotropical migrants in old-growth - - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - - Airspace: Class G; Columbia Metropolitan Airport Class C - ~20 miles northwest; check UASFM grid values - - Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months 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 - - Wildlife research requires USFWS MBTA Scientific Collecting Permit - - FAA LAANC check recommended for Columbia Class C proximity - Submit requests to: Congaree NP Superintendent, - 100 National Park Road, Hopkins, SC 29061
May 28, 2026 11:20 PM
Approved
• Added drone restriction profile for Congaree National Park based on NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, 36 CFR § 1.5, Wilderness Act, and MBTA old-growth bird habitat protections.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit to add a comprehensive drone restriction profile for Congaree National Park is approved. The information about the prohibition of drone operations in the 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/cong/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within Congaree National Park boundaries. No exceptions without written superintendent approval.
Changed fields
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drone flight is not allowed from the ground (take off, control, and landing) | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Congaree 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 largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest |
Before
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm
After
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit - Wilderness: ❌ Congaree Wilderness absolute motorized ban ## Geographic Boundaries Congaree National Park is located in Richland County, South Carolina, southeast of Columbia. - Total area: ~26,476 acres - Coordinates: 33.7948° N, 80.7820° W - Includes Congaree River floodplain, Weston Lake, Cedar Creek canoe trail, old-growth loblolly pine and bald cypress, and Congaree Wilderness (~11,000 acres) - UNESCO Biosphere Reserve - Nearest city: Columbia, SC (~20 miles northwest) ## 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) — Congaree Wilderness - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects prothonotary warblers and neotropical migrants in old-growth - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - Airspace: Class G; Columbia Metropolitan Airport Class C ~20 miles northwest; check UASFM grid values ## Penalties - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation - Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months 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 - Wildlife research requires USFWS MBTA Scientific Collecting Permit - FAA LAANC check recommended for Columbia Class C proximity Submit requests to: Congaree NP Superintendent, 100 National Park Road, Hopkins, SC 29061
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+ - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned + - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit + - Wilderness: ❌ Congaree Wilderness absolute motorized ban + + ## Geographic Boundaries + Congaree National Park is located in Richland County, + South Carolina, southeast of Columbia. + - Total area: ~26,476 acres + - Coordinates: 33.7948° N, 80.7820° W + - Includes Congaree River floodplain, Weston Lake, Cedar Creek + canoe trail, old-growth loblolly pine and bald cypress, + and Congaree Wilderness (~11,000 acres) + - UNESCO Biosphere Reserve + - Nearest city: Columbia, SC (~20 miles northwest) + + ## 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) — Congaree Wilderness + - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects + prothonotary warblers and neotropical migrants in old-growth + - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide + - Airspace: Class G; Columbia Metropolitan Airport Class C + ~20 miles northwest; check UASFM grid values + + ## Penalties + - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation + - Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months 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 + - Wildlife research requires USFWS MBTA Scientific Collecting Permit + - FAA LAANC check recommended for Columbia Class C proximity + Submit requests to: Congaree NP Superintendent, + 100 National Park Road, Hopkins, SC 29061
May 26, 2026 4:39 AM
Approved
• Restored rules to match edit 783a9175-df7f-4d3f-9f8e-838adacccb8e
Changed fields
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in Congaree National Park per NPS closure order. | Drone flight is not allowed from the ground (take off, control, and landing) |
| Mapped shapes | 153b476e-4ba2-470c-90bd-070c21ac67c8 | 7a61371b-881e-4c4c-b49e-6ce548a9d27c |
Before
## Drone Rules - Congaree National Park **Drone use is prohibited** in Congaree National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration - The largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the US is protected ### Source - Congaree NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/cong/planyourvisit/rules.htm
After
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm
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- - **Drone use is prohibited** in Congaree National Park. - - ### Key Rules - - No recreational drone flights within the park - - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration - - The largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the US is protected - - ### Source - - Congaree NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/cong/planyourvisit/rules.htm -
May 26, 2026 4:39 AM
Approved
• Restored rules to match edit d9f13e77-9ce6-454b-97f4-15d6703b2152
May 26, 2026 4:13 AM
Approved
• Added NPS drone ban for Congaree NP with old-growth forest context.
Moderation feedback
Rollback skipped because newer changes no longer match this edit's published snapshot.
Changed fields
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drone flight is not allowed from the ground (take off, control, and landing) | Drones are prohibited in Congaree National Park per NPS closure order. |
| Mapped shapes | 7a61371b-881e-4c4c-b49e-6ce548a9d27c | 153b476e-4ba2-470c-90bd-070c21ac67c8 |
Before
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm
After
## Drone Rules - Congaree National Park **Drone use is prohibited** in Congaree National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration - The largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the US is protected ### Source - Congaree NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/cong/planyourvisit/rules.htm
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+ + **Drone use is prohibited** in Congaree National Park. + + ### Key Rules + - No recreational drone flights within the park + - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration + - The largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the US is protected + + ### Source + - Congaree NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/cong/planyourvisit/rules.htm +
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | Unknown | NoFly |
| Summary | — | Drone flight is not allowed from the ground (take off, control, and landing) |
| Mapped shapes | — | 7a61371b-881e-4c4c-b49e-6ce548a9d27c |
Before
After
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm
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+ https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm