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Drone Rules for Padre Island National Seashore

Yarborough, Texas (TX) • United States
Texas, USA
Lat: 27.0855 • Lng: -97.3841
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 28, 2026
Summary
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Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Padre Island National Seashore 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. Home to the world's largest Kemp's ridley sea turtle nesting

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
  • ESA: ⚠️ Kemp's ridley sea turtle — critically endangered nesting
  • Military: ⚠️ NAS Corpus Christi restricted airspace adjacent

Geographic Boundaries

Padre Island National Seashore is located in Kleberg, Kenedy, and Willacy Counties, Texas, on the Gulf of Mexico.

  • Total area: ~130,434 acres
  • Length: 70 miles (longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island)
  • Coordinates: 27.0000° N, 97.3667° W
  • Includes Malaquite Beach, Bird Island Basin, South Beach, and Laguna Madre (hypersaline lagoon)
  • Adjacent to NAS Corpus Christi restricted airspace
  • Nearest city: Corpus Christi, TX (~40 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 within park
  • Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) critically endangered; UAS overflight constitutes ESA Section 9 harassment during nesting season
  • Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects nesting colonial waterbirds on Bird Island Basin
  • Military airspace: NAS Corpus Christi Class D + restricted areas adjacent to seashore boundary
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
  • Airspace: Class G within seashore; Class D near NAS Corpus Christi

Penalties

  • NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
  • ESA Section 9 Kemp's ridley: up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment
  • MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per bird disturbance
  • Military airspace violation: federal criminal prosecution
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
  • Equipment confiscation by NPS rangers and/or Naval security

Special Permissions

  • NPS Special Use Permit required
  • ESA Section 10 ITP for sea turtle nesting research
  • NAS Corpus Christi coordination for southern seashore operations
  • Sea turtle nesting blackout: April–August absolute ban on beaches Submit requests to: Padre Island NS Superintendent, 20420 Park Road 22, Corpus Christi, TX 78418
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Rule sources
  • https://www.nps.gov/pais/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within Padre Island National Seashore. ESA Section 9 Kemp's ridley sea turtle critical nesting habitat and NAS Corpus Christi military airspace add federal wildlife and security restriction layers.
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