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Drone Authority

Drone laws by state

California drone laws

Start with California's state, local, and land-manager rules. Then use the federal baseline as the floor before you launch.

Primary sources reviewed September 27, 2026Local rules may apply
Golden coastal aerial landscape seen from drone altitude, used as regional context for California drone lawsSTATE · CALIFORNIA
All states
By Reviewed September 27, 2026State and agency primary sources checked claim by claim

State answer first

What changes in California

You can generally fly a drone in California if you follow the FAA rules and then add the state, local, and land-manager restrictions below.

Federal FAA rules apply across California. No broad statewide UAS preemption was identified in the reviewed official sources, so city, county, launch-property, and state-land rules still require separate review. California also has a civil privacy statute, unit-specific State Park rules, detailed wildlife and protected-area restrictions, and, from January 1, 2027, a 400-foot drone buffer around outdoor ticketed events and amusement parks.6789

Local rules
Local rules may apply
Parks and land
Verify each launch site
Airspace
FAA rules still control

California drone laws at a glance

Can I fly here?Yes, generally. Follow the FAA rules, then add the California restrictions on this page.
Local ordinancesLocal rules may apply
State parks & landCalifornia State Park access is unit-specific: posted superintendent orders can prohibit drones, and state wilderness areas, natural preserves, and cultural preserves prohibit motorized equipment. CDFW lands separately require a Special Use Permit.78
License & registrationFederal, same in every state: Part 107 or TRUST, plus registration and Remote ID when the aircraft must be registered.
Where to flyFlying sites, clubs, and FRIAs in California
Last reviewedSeptember 27, 2026 · claim-level primary sources below

State-specific rules to check

  • 01

    California Civil Code § 1708.8 (the 'anti-paparazzi' law) creates civil liability for using a drone to capture images of someone engaged in a private/personal activity without consent.6

  • 02

    California Penal Code § 647(j)(1) names unmanned aircraft systems among the instruments covered: using one to view the interior of a bedroom, bathroom, changing room, fitting room, dressing room, tanning booth, or any other area where the occupant has a reasonable expectation of privacy, with intent to invade the privacy of the people inside, is disorderly conduct, a criminal misdemeanor. That is separate from the civil liability in Civil Code § 1708.8.5

  • 03

    California Penal Code § 402(a), amended by AB 1680 effective January 1, 2017: impeding police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, or other emergency personnel at the scene of an emergency such as a fire, crash, flood, or spill is a misdemeanor, and the statute expressly includes a person who operates a drone at the scene, wherever the pilot is standing. Under Government Code § 853, a local public entity or its employee is not liable for damaging a drone that was interfering with emergency medical, firefighting, or search and rescue services.4

  • 04

    No statewide preemption we could verify, so individual cities and counties may have their own drone ordinances (parks, launch sites, events). Check local rules in addition to federal rules.678

  • 05

    California State Parks generally allow drones except where a District Superintendent has posted an order prohibiting them; many popular units are posted, so check the specific park.7

  • 06

    California State Parks prohibits motorized equipment, including drones, in state wilderness areas, natural preserves, and cultural preserves.7

  • 07

    Commercial drone work inside a California state park also requires park approval and may require filming or photography permits in addition to FAA compliance.7

  • 08

    CDFW lands require a Special Use Permit. State wildlife rules also prohibit pursuing, driving, herding, taking, or intentionally harassing covered wildlife, and Fish and Game Code § 10501.5 sets special overflight floors above named refuges and islands.8

  • 09

    AB 2113 (Chapter 383, Statutes of 2026), signed September 20, 2026 and effective January 1, 2027, adds Public Utilities Code § 21752: no drone flight within 400 feet of an outdoor ticketed entertainment event or an amusement park. An event counts if it is professional music, sports, or performing arts at a gated venue holding 1,000 or more and no FAA restriction already covers it. The penalty is an infraction with a $500 fine per violation. Exempt: venue consent or venue staff, utility and transportation agency staff on official business, emergency personnel, and commercial operators who also hold FAA authorization to fly beyond visual line of sight.9

  • 10

    Federal border restriction: FAA NOTAM FDC 6/9954 bans drone flights within 1 nautical mile (about 1.15 miles) of the U.S.-Mexico border, on the U.S. side. It covers the ground up to 400 feet, from October 20, 2026 to October 19, 2027 (UTC). Only U.S. Customs and Border Protection can approve a flight, in advance, and only if it meets the NOTAM's listed requirements. That list names defense, homeland security, police, firefighting, medical evacuation, search and rescue, disaster response, and event operations. Requests go to SWBDRONEZONEWAIVERS@CBP.DHS.GOV at least 48 hours ahead.32

  • 11

    AB 1749 (Chapter 762, Statutes of 2026), approved September 29, 2026, adds Civil Code § 1714.57. Knowingly or recklessly using a drone to interfere with wildfire suppression, or with an emergency response under an FAA temporary flight restriction, can cost up to $75,000 per violation. The Attorney General, a county counsel, or a city attorney can sue.1

Launch-day workflow

Before you fly in California

Work through these state-specific checks before the usual FAA airspace, weather, aircraft, and crew review.

  1. 01

    Keep 400 feet from amusement parks and gated events

    From January 1, 2027, stay at least 400 feet from any amusement park, at any time, and from outdoor professional music, sports, or performing arts events at gated venues of 1,000 or more, unless you have the venue operator's consent. A Part 107 certificate alone does not exempt you.9

  2. 02

    Check the city and county

    California has no broad statewide preemption. Confirm park, event, beach, and launch-site ordinances for the exact locality.678

  3. 03

    Check the park unit designation

    Look for a District Superintendent's posted order and confirm the site is not a wilderness area, natural preserve, or cultural preserve.7

  4. 04

    Plan the camera path

    Do not use the aircraft to intrude on private activity or capture images in circumstances protected by Civil Code § 1708.8.6

  5. 05

    Map CDFW land and protected wildlife

    Check the CDFW Lands Viewer, named refuge and island overflight floors, nearby nesting activity, and whether a Special Use Permit or biological review is required.8

Beyond the airspace layer

Land access and wildlife are separate decisions

Managed land

California State Park access is unit-specific: posted superintendent orders can prohibit drones, and state wilderness areas, natural preserves, and cultural preserves prohibit motorized equipment. CDFW lands separately require a Special Use Permit.78

Compare public-land managers

Wildlife and hunting

Do not pursue, drive, herd, take, or intentionally harass covered wildlife. CDFW recommends launching and landing at least 300 feet from wildlife, staying at least 100 feet above it, and backing off at any response; named refuges and islands have statutory overflight floors.8

Read the wildlife guideCheck recovery rules
Local preemptionLocal rules may apply
There is no statewide preemption, so individual cities and counties may set their own drone rules on top of federal rules.
Parks and launch sitesCheck the land manager
California State Park access is unit-specific: posted superintendent orders can prohibit drones, and state wilderness areas, natural preserves, and cultural preserves prohibit motorized equipment. CDFW lands separately require a Special Use Permit.

Primary sources

These sources support the material state claims above. State laws, local park rules, and emergency restrictions can still change faster than a static guide.