Yes, but legal spots are limited. Key West International Airport is on the island and Naval Air Station Key West is just up the Keys, so much of the area is controlled airspace that needs FAA authorization. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park doesn't allow drone takeoffs, Dry Tortugas National Park bans drones, and crowded spots like Mallory Square and Duval Street aren't places a recreational pilot can fly over.
Airspace: check before every flight
- Key West International Airport sits on the east side of the island, with airliners, private jets and seaplane tours.
- Naval Air Station Key West at Boca Chica Key trains fighter pilots, and military airspace extends over nearby waters.
- Helicopter and seaplane tours fly low around the island and out to Dry Tortugas.
Open B4UFLY or Aloft at your exact launch spot. In controlled airspace, request LAANC authorization; some grids near the runways may not be available at all.
Parks and protected areas
- Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park and Bahia Honda State Park are Florida state parks. Rule 62D-2.014(15) of the Florida Administrative Code bars any "aerial apparatus" from taking off or landing in a state park except in a life-threatening emergency, and the Florida State Parks FAQ confirms drones are included.
- Dry Tortugas National Park is a National Park Service unit. The park's FAQ says drones and other unmanned aircraft are not allowed in the park. That includes flying from the ferry or a seaplane trip there.
- National wildlife refuges cover many of the islands around Key West. Check with the refuge before flying near them, and stay away from nesting birds.
Crowds, privacy and town rules
Florida law limits how much cities can regulate drones, but Key West still has a short drone ordinance (city code Sec. 26-302, from 2016). It allows drone flights over the city only by operators with an FAA authorization or by recreational pilots following FAA rules. A first violation gets a warning; later ones are punished under the city's general penalty section. Other laws also apply:
- Don't fly over people. Mallory Square at sunset, Duval Street and the Southernmost Point marker are packed.
- Privacy. Florida law bars recording people on private property, like pool decks and balconies, where they expect privacy.
- Private property. Hotels and guesthouses decide whether you can launch from their grounds.
- Schools and critical infrastructure are off-limits under state law.
See Florida drone laws for the state rules.
Wildlife and water
Key West is surrounded by protected reefs, seagrass and wildlife. Don't hover over sea turtles, dolphins or manatees, and keep well clear of bird colonies. Over water, wind and salt spray are constant, and a drone that goes into the sea is usually gone. Keep a big battery reserve and launch from land you can return to.
Sub-250 g drones in Key West
The DJI Mini 5 Pro and Mini 4 Pro weigh 249 g, and the DJI Neo weighs 135 g, so none need FAA registration for recreational flights. They still need airspace authorization in controlled airspace, and they're still banned in state park takeoffs and Dry Tortugas.
Before you fly
- Pass the TRUST test.
- Register drones of 250 g or more.
- Check airspace and TFRs, and get LAANC where required.
- Launch from private property with permission or open public land, never from a state park.
For other beaches in the state, see can you fly a drone on Florida beaches.
Rules current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
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