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Drone Rules for Virgin Islands National Park
Central, St. John (St John)
• U.S. Virgin Islands
St John, USVI
Lat: 18.3435 • Lng: -64.7501
Rules Edit History: Virgin Islands National Park
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Mapped shape change
Old outline is gray. New outline is blue.
May 29, 2026 1:51 AM
Approved
• Added drone restriction profile for Virgin Islands National Park based on NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, 36 CFR § 1.5, ESA Section 9 Leatherback sea turtle nesting, MMPA humpback whale habitat, and STT Airport Class D airspace proximity.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit for Virgin Islands 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.
Sources
- https://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations. ESA Leatherback sea turtle nesting protections, MMPA humpback whale seasonal habitat, and STT Class D airport proximity add multi-layer federal restrictions.
- https://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/rules.htm
Changed fields
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in Virgin Islands National Park per NPS closure order. Coral reefs and sea turtles are protected. | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Virgin Islands National Park under NPS regulations. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit. The park covers nearly two-thirds of St. John island and protects critical coral reef ecosystems — including Trunk Bay, one of the m |
Before
## Drone Rules - Virgin Islands National Park **Drone flights are banned** in Virgin Islands National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights over land or reef areas within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration - Hawksbill and leatherback sea turtle nesting beaches and coral reef ecosystems require strict protection ### Source - Virgin Islands NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/rules.htm
After
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit - Marine: ⚠️ Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument adjacent - ESA: ⚠️ Leatherback sea turtle critical nesting habitat ## Geographic Boundaries Virgin Islands National Park is located on St. John island, U.S. Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean Sea. - Total area: ~14,945 acres (land + submerged) - Coordinates: 18.3350° N, 64.7282° W - Includes Trunk Bay (underwater snorkel trail), Cinnamon Bay, Annaberg Plantation ruins, and Ram Head - Adjacent to Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument - Nearest city: Cruz Bay, St. John (park headquarters adjacent) ## 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) — Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) critically endangered; nesting beach UAS = Section 9 - Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 1361) — humpback whale seasonal feeding in waters adjacent - NHPA (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — Annaberg Plantation historic site - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations - Airspace: Class G; Cyril E. King Airport (STT) Class D ~4 miles west ## Penalties - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation - ESA Leatherback: up to $50,000 + 1 year per nesting incident - MMPA: civil fines up to $10,000 per marine mammal incident - FAA Class D STT violation: civil penalties up to $27,500/day - Equipment confiscation by park rangers ## Special Permissions - NPS Special Use Permit required - FAA LAANC check required for STT Class D proximity - Sea turtle nesting blackout: March–October beaches Submit requests to: Virgin Islands NP Superintendent, 1300 Cruz Bay Creek, St. John, VI 00830
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+ - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned + - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit + - Marine: ⚠️ Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument adjacent + - ESA: ⚠️ Leatherback sea turtle critical nesting habitat + Virgin Islands National Park is located on St. John island, + U.S. Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean Sea. + - Total area: ~14,945 acres (land + submerged) + - Coordinates: 18.3350° N, 64.7282° W + - Includes Trunk Bay (underwater snorkel trail), Cinnamon Bay, + Annaberg Plantation ruins, and Ram Head + - Adjacent to Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument + - Nearest city: Cruz Bay, St. John (park headquarters adjacent) + - ESA (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys + coriacea) critically endangered; nesting beach UAS = Section 9 + - Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 1361) — + humpback whale seasonal feeding in waters adjacent + - NHPA (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — Annaberg Plantation historic site + - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations + - Airspace: Class G; Cyril E. King Airport (STT) Class D ~4 miles west + - ESA Leatherback: up to $50,000 + 1 year per nesting incident + - MMPA: civil fines up to $10,000 per marine mammal incident + - FAA Class D STT violation: civil penalties up to $27,500/day + - Equipment confiscation by park rangers + ## Special Permissions + - NPS Special Use Permit required + - FAA LAANC check required for STT Class D proximity + - Sea turtle nesting blackout: March–October beaches + Submit requests to: Virgin Islands NP Superintendent, + 1300 Cruz Bay Creek, St. John, VI 00830
May 27, 2026 11:15 PM
Approved
• Added NPS drone ban for Virgin Islands NP with sea turtle and reef context.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit has been approved. The updated rule now accurately reflects the drone prohibition in Virgin Islands National Park, including specific details about protected areas and wildlife.
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 Virgin Islands National Park per NPS closure order. Coral reefs and sea turtles 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 - Virgin Islands National Park **Drone flights are banned** in Virgin Islands National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights over land or reef areas within the park - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration - Hawksbill and leatherback sea turtle nesting beaches and coral reef ecosystems require strict protection ### Source - Virgin Islands NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/rules.htm
Show inline change markers
+ **Drone flights are banned** in Virgin Islands National Park. + + ### Key Rules + - No recreational drone flights over land or reef areas within the park + - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration + - Hawksbill and leatherback sea turtle nesting beaches and coral reef ecosystems require strict protection + + ### Source + - Virgin Islands NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/rules.htm - https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm
Changed fields
Mapped shape change
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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 | — | 9c6bb7b8-3806-446a-ba9c-a0e5a09b76e9 |
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