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Can you fly a drone in NYC? NYC Drone Permitting (2025 Rules)

Yes, but review all of these details first!

This guide breaks down exactly how to navigate the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and NYPD permitting portal, the real costs involved, and the critical "gotchas" you need to know before bidding on a job in the city.

The Core Concept: It's About the Ground, Not the Air

While the FAA controls the National Airspace, NYC controls the ground. The new permit is technically a "Permit for Take-Off and Landing of Unmanned Aircraft." You are applying for permission to use a specific spot on the ground (like a sidewalk, park edge, or private property) to launch your drone.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before You Apply

You cannot just sign up and fly tomorrow. Ensure you have these four items ready before opening the portal:

  • FAA Part 107 Certificate: You must be a certified commercial pilot.
  • Drone Registration: Your aircraft must be registered with the FAA and be Remote ID compliant.
  • Commercial General Liability Insurance (Crucial Detail):
    • Standard $1M policies are not accepted.
    • You must upload a Certificate of Insurance (COI) showing $2,000,000 per occurrence / $4,000,000 aggregate limits.
    • The policy must specifically cover "Drone Aviation Liability/UAS coverage" and list the City of New York as an additional insured.
  • Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Policy: You are required to upload two simple documents:
    1. Data Privacy Policy: Explaining how you handle footage and redaction (e.g., blurring faces/license plates).
    2. Cybersecurity Policy: Explaining how you secure your equipment (e.g., encryption, physical custody of SD cards) and your protocol for reporting data breaches.

The Application Process (Step-by-Step)

1. The 30-Day vs. 14-Day Rule

The most critical constraint is time.

  • First-Time Applicants: You must submit your application at least 30 days in advance of your flight.
  • Repeat Pilots: If the designated operator has been listed on a valid NYC permit in the past 180 days, the lead time drops to 14 days. This is a massive benefit for regular NYC flyers.

2. Designating Your Site & Rain Dates

You cannot request a blanket "fly anywhere" permit. You must specify your exact take-off and landing coordinates.

  • The "5-in-1" Strategy: A single $150 application allows you to request up to 5 combinations of dates, times, and locations. Use this to your advantage.
  • Scanifly Tip: Don't just book one day. Use your 5 slots to book your primary date and 4 rain dates. If you get weathered out and didn't list a backup, you have to re-apply and pay again.

3. The Community Notification (The "Gotcha")

If your flight involves capturing video or photos (which virtually all commercial flights do), you have two extra responsibilities that fall on you, not the city:

  1. Notify the Community Board: You must notify the local Community Board for the district where you are flying.
  2. Post Public Notices: You must post physical notices within 100 feet of your take-off/landing zone.
    • Timing: These notices must be up at least 48 hours before your flight.
    • Strict Mounting Rule: You are prohibited from using tape on city trees. You must use elastic bands or string to hang notices on trees to avoid damaging them.

Cost Breakdown

Item Estimated Cost Notes
NYPD Permit Fee $150.00 Non-refundable, per application.
Commercial Insurance ~$200+ Per event/month (Higher due to $2M/$4M requirement).
Physical Signage ~$20.00 Printing/laminating notices + elastic bands.
Total ~$370+ Does not include your labor/time for admin.

Flight Day Protocol

Once approved, your permit will be issued electronically.

  • Carry Hard Copies: You must have your Permit, Part 107 card, Insurance Certificate, and FAA Registration printed and on your person for inspection.
  • Incident Reporting:
    • Crashes: Must be reported to the NYPD.
    • Cyber Incidents: Any data breach or unauthorized access to the drone software must be reported to NYC Cyber Command within 24 hours.

Summary Checklist

  • Plan 30+ days out (or 14 days if you have flown recently).
  • Upgrade Insurance to $2M/$4M limits.
  • Draft simple Privacy/Cybersecurity policies.
  • Apply on the NYPD portal ($150 fee) and utilize all 5 slots for rain dates.
  • Identify the local Community Board and notify them.
  • Post physical notices 48 hours prior (using string, not tape!).
  • Fly strictly within visual line of sight (VLOS).
Note: This permit process applies to the five boroughs of NYC only. It does not supersede FAA airspace restrictions. If you are flying in controlled airspace (e.g., near LGA or JFK), you still need LAANC or DroneZone authorization in addition to this ground permit.