New York City Developers Lobby to Legalize Drones

Real-estate developers in Los Angeles and Chicago are embracing drone technology to help speed up the building process and reduce costs. But in New York City, a 71-year-old local statute is keeping drones grounded.

The 1948 law requires that all aircraft take off and land in a location designated for flight by the Port Authority—namely airports. This effectively prohibits drones from flying within city boundaries, despite the Federal Aviation Administration’s 2016 rule that legalized commercial drone use. Drones, however, are allowed in a few city parks.