Drone No-Fly Zone Expands Across NJ: See Where

NEW JERSEY — The Federal Aviation Administration has temporarily banned drone flights in another nine New Jersey towns for "special security reasons" until mid-January.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the temporary flight restrictions were issued over critical infrastructure facilities in New Jersey "out of an abundance of caution."

Authorities have been looking into reports of drones hovering around Garden State communities and near important infrastructure for more than a month, with multiple federal agencies involved in the investigation. And despite concerns from residents and local officials about the aircrafts' origin and purpose, those agencies insist there is no threat to the public.

Still, the FAA has issued 57 drone flight restrictions over parts of New Jersey since Nov. 18, also including the Salem Nuclear Plant, the area around Red Bull Arena in Harrison, and the Balzano Marine Terminal in Camden where the Battleship New Jersey is docked. The new restrictions also include locations along Sandy Hook Bay.

These newest restrictions cover parts of Atlantic Highlands, Belford, Highlands, Linden, Fort Hancock (Middletown), Paulsboro, South Kearny, Westville, and Port Reading (Woodbridge).

When asked for specifics about the restrictions, the FAA told Patch their role is "to ensure drones operate safely within the broader National Airspace System" and that they continue to support other security partners in investigating the reports.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation told Patch they have received more than 6,000 tips about drone activity in the state, about 100 of which warranted further investigation.

Drones are banned from the airspace over parts of the following areas, with the restrictions covering from the ground to 400 feet of altitude. Towns with an asterisk were just added on Dec. 30, and some towns may have more than one restricted area:

• Absecon
• Atlantic Highlands*
• Avenel
• Bayonne
• Bayville
• Bedminster
• Belford*
• Branchburg
• Brick
• Bridgewater
• Burlington
• Camden
• Cedar Grove
• Clifton
• Colts Neck
• Columbus
• Delran
• Edison
• Elizabeth
• Evesham
• Fort Hancock*
• Gloucester City
• Hamilton
• Hancocks Bridge
• Harrison
• Highlands*
• Howell
• Jersey City
• Kearny
• Lebanon
• Linden*
• Metuchen
• Neptune
• North Brunswick Township
• Paulsboro*
• Perth Amboy
• Pleasantville
• Port Reading*
• Sewaren
• Short Hills
• Somerset
• South Brunswick
• South Kearny*
• Wall Township
• West Brick
• West Creek
• West Deptford
• Westampton
• Westville*
• Winslow

Click here to view all temporary flight restrictions issued by the FAA.

Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but they are subject to local and FAA regulations and flight restrictions.