California Drone Laws

Prohibits operating a drone to capture visual images, sound recordings, or other impressions of a person engaging in private, personal, or familial activity on private property without consent. Covers both physical trespass onto land and constructive invasion through airspace without landing. Applies to drones hovering over private yards, pools, patios, or through windows.

Makes it a misdemeanor to willfully remain at the scene of an emergency or to fly a drone over a wildfire, emergency response, or public safety operation in a manner that impedes firefighters, peace officers, emergency medical personnel, or military personnel. Enforced aggressively by CalFire during wildfire seasons. Flying over a wildfire grounds firefighting aircraft.

Prohibits using cameras, camcorders, mobile phones, unmanned aircraft systems, or other recording devices to view the interior of a bedroom, bathroom, dressing room, or other private area with a reasonable expectation of privacy, with intent to invade that privacy. Explicitly includes unmanned aircraft as a covered instrumentality.

California is a two-party-consent state for recording confidential audio. Prohibits recording private conversations without the consent of all parties to the conversation. Drone operators using microphones to capture private audio without consent are subject to both criminal and civil liability under this statute.

Provides immunity from civil liability for local public entities and first responders who damage or destroy an unmanned aircraft system that is interfering with emergency services operations (emergency medical services, firefighting, search and rescue).

Prohibits peace officers from taking photographs at crime scenes without a valid law enforcement purpose. Applies to all photography methods including drone-captured imagery.

Statewide regulation prohibiting the use of motorized equipment, including drones, within state park wilderness areas, cultural preserves, and natural preserves administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Applies regardless of District Superintendent posted orders.

Prohibits pursuing, driving, herding, or taking any bird or mammal from any motorized air vehicle, including drones. Prohibits using drones, helicopters, or other aircraft to locate or assist in locating big-game mammals beginning 48 hours before and continuing 48 hours after any big-game hunting season.

Prohibits harassing any game or nongame bird or mammal with a drone or any other method.

Prohibits operating drones on California Department of Fish and Wildlife-administered land except under a Special Use Permit issued by the department.

Makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly and intentionally operate an unmanned aircraft system on or above the grounds of a state prison, jail, or juvenile hall, camp, or ranch.

Provides immunity to local public entities and their employees from civil liability for damage caused to an unmanned aircraft system if the damage occurred while providing emergency medical services, firefighting, search and rescue, or related emergency services that the UAS was interfering with.

Operating a drone over the California State Highway System (including state highways, interstate roads, shoulders, weight stations, berms, vista points, and rest areas) requires a Caltrans encroachment permit. Applies to both recreational and commercial operations.

Prohibits launching, landing, or operating model aircraft or unmanned aircraft systems within park units of the Orange Coast District (Bolsa Chica State Beach, Huntington State Beach, Corona del Mar State Beach, Crystal Cove State Park, Doheny State Beach, San Clemente State Beach, San Onofre State Beach).

Prohibits model aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems in all Santa Cruz District park units except Seacliff State Beach (above field on southern end of primary day-use parking lot) and Sunset State Beach (non-motorized gliders at designated glider port). Exemptions may be requested in writing to District Superintendent.

Los Angeles Municipal Code § 56.31 - Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Restricts drone operations in Los Angeles city parks and properties. Codifies several FAA-parallel rules as local law: 400-foot altitude cap, visual line of sight requirement, daylight-only operation for model aircraft, 5-mile airport notification, 25-foot standoff from persons not operating or observing. Specifically prohibits flying over active public-safety operations (fire, police, rescue).

San Francisco Park Code § 3.09 - Aviation Equipment in Parks

Prohibits launching or landing any airplane, helicopter, parachute, hang glider, hot-air balloon, or other aviation machine (including drones) in any city park without written permission from the Recreation and Park Department. Predates modern drones but enforced against them under catch-all language.

Sacramento County Code § 9.36.068 - Drones in Parks

Prohibits drone operations in Sacramento County parks except in designated areas or with express permission of the Parks Director.

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Regulations § 11.01.01

Prohibits the use of drones on or over property managed by the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. Exception: emergency response, firefighting, and law enforcement operations are exempt from the permit requirement.

Marin County Municipal Code § 10.03.060 - Model Aircraft Ban

Prohibits the operation of self-propelled model airplanes and unmanned aircraft systems in Marin County parks, playgrounds, bicycle and multi-use paths, recreation centers, and other county recreational facilities.

San Diego County Parks and Recreation UAS Regulations

Establishes operational rules for UAS on county property: 25-foot minimum separation between operators, 25-foot buffer from permanent and temporary structures or vehicles, commercial operations require written permission with proof of insurance, recreational use generally permitted without permission (may be temporarily or permanently restricted).

City of Los Alamitos Municipal Ordinance - Drone Flight Restrictions

Creates restrictions on drone flight and activity within the city of Los Alamitos designed to maintain safety and prevent interference with law enforcement and emergency response.

City of Yorba Linda Municipal Ordinance No. 2017-1047 - Drone Regulations

Prohibits drone takeoffs and landings outside the visual line of sight of the operator, within 25 feet of any person except the designated observer, on private property without owner consent, and within 500 feet of special events or emergency response situations.

City of Calabasas Municipal Ordinance No. 2017-354 - FAA Rule Enforcement

Gives local authorities power to enforce FAA drone regulations by classifying FAA violations as misdemeanors. Establishes additional local restrictions: 200-foot buffer from school facilities, 100-foot buffer from public buildings or facilities, 1500-foot buffer from manned or unmanned aircraft.

City of Hermosa Beach Ordinance 16-1363 - Drone Operating Permits

Requires drone operators to obtain annual operating permit and identification number from the city. Reinforces privacy laws: prohibits recording or transmitting images or audio of any person or private property without consent when a reasonable expectation of privacy exists. Restricts flights less than 350 feet AGL over public schools during school hours and within airspace overlaying civic center complex or city parks/beaches during scheduled special events.

City of La Mesa Municipal Ordinance 9.08.150 - Model Aircraft Ban

Blanket ban on all types of motorized and non-motorized model airplanes and remote-controlled aircraft in all city parks.

Chula Vista Municipal Code § 2.66.180 - Drones in Parks

Prohibits operating drones in any Chula Vista city park or recreation area except in areas specifically designated by the Director of Public Works with signage.

Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code § 12.16.040 - Motorized Drone Ban

Prohibits motorized drone flight in all Rancho Palos Verdes city parks and city-owned property except at Point Vicente Park/Civic Center. Operations at Point Vicente require permit from Parks and Recreation Department through Southern California Organization of Radio-Controlled Helicopters (SCORCH); operator must be current AMA member with associated fees.

Pacific Grove Municipal Code § 11.72.010 - Aircraft Launch/Landing Permit

Prohibits launching or landing any aircraft, helicopter, drone, or other unmanned aircraft without a permit issued by the City Manager or designee.

Port of Los Angeles Municipal Code § 63.44(B) - No Drone Zone

Designates the Port of Los Angeles as a 'No Drone Zone.' Third parties may apply for drone permits with minimum 3-week advance notice. Port Police escort fee (minimum $448) required at time of flight.

City of Malibu - Drone Filming Permit Requirements

Allows commercial drone filming with required city permit. Applications must be submitted 7 days in advance of scheduled use. Most Malibu airspace falls under National Park Service no-fly zone restrictions.

MRCA Park Ordinance - Drone Prohibition

Prohibits all drone operations in parks owned and managed by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority unless official permits have been granted by the Executive Officer or designee.

MROSD Regulations § 409.4 - Remote-Controlled Aircraft Prohibition

Prohibits operation of remote-controlled aircraft and drones on or over MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District-managed lands and water areas unless in designated areas or with written permit from the District.