Bahamas Tourist Laws: Cannabis, Drones, Driving & Fishing Rules

Bahamas tourist laws at a glance

The practical pattern is that several activities are legal with the right licence, registration or location. National rules can also be supplemented by stricter restrictions inside protected areas.

Rules checked on September 2, 2026. Laws, local restrictions and penalties can change; verify the linked official guidance before travel.

Cannabis is not recreationally legal for tourists

The Bahamas passed the Cannabis Act, 2024, but that did not create a general right for tourists to possess or use recreational cannabis. The official legislation database still lists the Dangerous Drugs Act as current legislation, while the Cannabis Act appointed-day notice brought Parts I and II and sections 76, 77, 78 and 82 of the new Act into force from September 2, 2024.

Those commenced provisions mainly establish the Cannabis Authority and related administrative powers. The new Act’s broader possession and supply framework was not included in that commencement notice.

For an ordinary visitor, the practical rule is therefore straightforward: do not treat the 2024 reforms as recreational legalization. Official Bahamas visitor guidance continues to state that purchasing and using marijuana are illegal.

Cannabis rules are also different from border rules. Bringing cannabis, CBD products or other controlled substances into the country raises separate customs and import questions rather than merely domestic possession or use.

Drone rules: registration first, and parks are stricter

The Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas requires all drones to be registered. Visitors must provide identification, travel details and information about the aircraft through the CAA-B recreational drone registration process.

For drones weighing more than 249 g, the current registration form asks visitors to upload a drone registration certificate, licence or equivalent issued by their home country. It also states that geofencing must be enabled to operate a drone in The Bahamas.

CAA-B’s recreational guidance includes several parallel operating requirements:

• Keep the drone within visual line of sight and give way to manned aircraft.

• Obtain airspace authorization before operating in controlled airspace.

• Do not fly higher than 400 feet above ground level in uncontrolled airspace.

• Register and mark the drone before operating it.

Registration does not mean every location is open to flight. Protected areas can impose a second layer of restrictions.

Under the Bahamas National Trust park bylaws, an unauthorized person may not take off in an aircraft from a national park or fly or hover below 1,000 feet over. The rules are even stricter over Andros West Side National Park and Inagua National Park, where the specified altitude is 3,000 feet.

Because ordinary CAA-B recreational operations are generally capped at 400 feet above ground level, do not assume registration alone allows a recreational flight over a Bahamas National Trust park. Check the specific site and obtain the relevant authorization before flying.

If you expect to rely on registration pages, park information or maps while moving between islands, Internet in the Bahamas: eSIM, SIM Card, Roaming & WiFi explains the main ways to stay connected during the trip. 

Driving laws visitors need to know

The Bahamas Road Traffic Act allows a qualifying bona fide visitor to drive using a licence issued outside The Bahamas or a valid international driving licence recognized by the issuing state.

For this provision, a bona fide visitor is someone visiting for no more than three months who is not employed in The Bahamas. The statutory minimum age under the provision is generally 17, although rental companies can impose higher contractual age requirements.

Four road rules are especially relevant when renting a car, scooter or motorcycle:

• Drive on the left. Traffic keeps to the left in The Bahamas.

• Use seat belts. Drivers and passengers in ordinary private vehicles are subject to seat-belt requirements, with statutory exceptions for specified circumstances or vehicles.

• Wear a motorcycle helmet. Both the driver and passenger must wear the required protective helmet.

• Use the correct licence entitlement. The fact that a company is willing to rent a particular vehicle does not itself establish that your licence authorizes you to drive that vehicle class.

Keep your licence with you while driving and check the vehicle class before agreeing to a motorcycle or scooter rental. Rental terms and minimum ages are separate from the underlying road-law requirements.

Fishing and national park rules can change what you can do

Fishing from a foreign vessel is regulated separately from casual shore activity. Under the official sportsfishing regulations, a foreign vessel engaged in sportsfishing generally needs the applicable permit. Bahamian-owned and licensed charter operations are treated differently under the regulatory framework.

The rules also set limits on methods, equipment and catches. Important examples include:

• Ordinary sportsfishing uses hook-and-line methods; spears, traps and nets other than landing nets require authorization under the applicable permit.

• A vessel may normally use no more than six rods or reels unless a permit authorizes more.

• Billfish such as marlin, sailfish and swordfish must generally be returned to the sea unharmed unless landed under an approved sportsfishing event or tournament.

• Specific vessel limits apply to migratory fish, conch, crawfish and demersal fish.

A general fishing permission does not override protected-area restrictions. Bahamas National Trust bylaws prohibit fishing in national parks unless authorized and create additional restrictions for particular parks or zones.

That distinction matters on island-hopping trips: a legal fishing setup in location may not be legal the vessel enters a protected area. Check the exact park or marine area before casting, spearfishing or collecting marine life.

Protected places, smoking and venue etiquette

Bahamas National Trust parks have rules that go beyond fishing and drones. Removing natural or archaeological material can also be prohibited.

Unless authorized, visitors should not remove protected material such as:

• soil, rocks, beach sand or seabed sand;

• shells, wood or other natural material;

• fossils or archaeological remains.

Feeding animals is also prohibited unless authorization is provided through the Trust’s rules or site signage.

Caves have additional site-specific restrictions. Trust bylaws prohibit activities including smoking tobacco or other products in a cave, interfering with artefacts, adding graffiti and lighting fires. Entry or diving in caves and sinkholes is also subject to the Trust’s authorization rules. These are protected-site restrictions, not a nationwide claim that smoking is prohibited everywhere outdoors.

Vaping similarly requires separating two questions. Whether a vape can enter The Bahamas is a customs issue; where it can be used after arrival is a separate conduct issue. For import treatment, use Bahamas Customs Rules: Food, Vapes & Duty-Free Limits rather than assuming that possession after entry proves import is permitted.

Alcohol has a clearer age rule: licensed premises may not sell intoxicating liquor to anyone under 18. Hotels, restaurants, bars, casinos, cruise operators and events may apply stricter admission or service policies of their own.

Dress expectations are different again. Official tourism guidance recommends covering beachwear away from the beach or pool and notes that churches, restaurants and casinos may expect more appropriate clothing. Treat those expectations as etiquette or venue policy, not as a general criminal dress law.

Before you go: action checklist

• Do not buy or use recreational marijuana in The Bahamas.

• Register your drone with CAA-B and obtain any required airspace or park authorization before flying.

• Carry a valid foreign or recognized international driving licence and keep left on the road.

• Wear seat belts in a rental car and a compliant helmet when riding a motorcycle.

• Confirm that a foreign vessel has the required sportsfishing permit before fishing.

• Check whether your beach, reef or fishing spot falls inside a national park or sensitive zone.

• Leave shells, sand, rocks, fossils and other natural material inside Bahamas National Trust parks.

• Treat dress expectations and venue rules as separate from criminal law.

What matters most

Three checks prevent the most avoidable problems: do not interpret the cannabis reforms as recreational legalization, complete drone registration and any location-specific permission before taking off, and verify fishing or protected-area restrictions for the exact place you plan to visit.

If you are driving, keep your valid licence with you and remember that traffic keeps left.