NEW YORK CITY DRONE PERMITS

While the use of drone technology has become widespread throughout the country, New York City has generally lagged behind the pack by prohibiting the take-off and landing of drones within city limits. For years, the city had cited the "Avigation Law" as the reasoning behind this ban. The law states:

"It shall be unlawful for any person avigating an aircraft to take off or land, except in an emergency, at any place within the limits of the city other than places of landing designated by the department of transportation or the port of New York authority."

Avignation, for the purpose of this law, is defined as: To pilot, steer, direct, fly or manage an aircraft in or through the air, whether controlled from the ground or otherwise.

Despite of this law being in place, remote pilots have been operating from within the city limits for years. Enforcement of this law has been selective, creating a state of limbo for the drone industry in the city. On paper, drone operations from within the city limits were generally prohibited, but in practice, it was a crap shoot.

Our stance has, and will always be, to follow the law, so we've avoided expanding our business into the city on the grounds that it simply wasn't worth the risk to our operations or to our clients.

Finally, though, in July of 2023, the city introduced legislation providing a means through which a qualified drone operator could apply for and, assuming they meet the qualifications, receive a permit to take-off and land within city limits. 

Therefore, we now operate regularly within the Five Boroughs under City Issued Unmanned Aircraft (UA) Take-off and Landing Permits.

Contact us today to discuss your project, and to learn how we can help you to navigate the NYC Permit Process.



• Imagery Collection and Evaluation (Facade, Roof)
• Aerial Thermal Imaging
• Asset and Infrastructure Evaluation
• Aerial Solar Panel Evaluation
• Video for Marketing, Advertising and Cinema
• Permit and Authorization Consulting