New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 280.05 — Unlawful use of a drone
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 280: Offenses Relating to Unlawful Use of a Drone, New York Penal Law.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 280.05
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
* § 280.05 Unlawful use of a drone.
A person commits unlawful use of a drone when such person:
1. operates a drone in a nefarious manner; or
2. operates a drone over prohibited space without express prior
approval from someone the person reasonably believes has the authority
to grant such approval.
Unlawful use of a drone is a class A misdemeanor.
* NB Effective August 25, 2026
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
What class of misdemeanor is unlawful use of a drone in New York?
Unlawful use of a drone is a Class A Misdemeanor in New York under N.Y. Penal Law § 280.05.
Which New York statute covers unlawful use of a drone?
Unlawful use of a drone is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 280.05 (Unlawful use of a drone).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.