California Drone Operation Laws – Part I (2024)

FAQs

What are the rules for drones in California? ›

California law recognizes the rights of property owners to control access to their land. Operating a drone over someone's property without permission may constitute a trespass, particularly if it interferes with the owner's use and enjoyment of the property.

Drone Size and Weight Factors

In the U.S., drones weighing less than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) are exempt from registration if used recreationally.

Yes, but it is NOT one of the expensive manned aircraft pilot licenses most people think about. You only need the Part 107 remote pilot certificate (also informally known as a “commercial drone license”) to operate your drone commercially. This commercial drone license allows you to fly your drone for profit.

Legal Action for Unwanted Drones

You should first contact the person controlling the drone and ask them to stop flying it over your property. In most cases, they will stop the conduct right away when they realize that it bothers you. If that does not work, you can raise a private nuisance claim.

If you see a drone near your house and are worried about your privacy, contact your local police department and the FAA. The FAA has special agents that work with federal and local regulations, called the Law Enforcement Assistance Program (LEAP) that can help with this type of cases.

The answer is not a simple yes or no. While technically permissible under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, responsible drone use requires obtaining permission from landowners, maintaining a safe altitude, and respecting the privacy of others.

Contact your local law enforcement and the FAA to report illegal drone activity. Give them the information you gathered with your counter drone. The more information that the authorities have, the easier it is for them to prosecute the pilot. It could take years for FAA to change its rules.

4577. (a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b), (c), and (d), a person who knowingly and intentionally operates an unmanned aircraft system on or above the grounds of a state prison, a jail, or a juvenile hall, camp, or ranch is guilty of an infraction, punishable by a fine of five hundred dollars ($500).

Police and security agencies often use drones in low-light conditions. And, because of their resolution capabilities, many police departments around the world use night vision drones for nighttime surveillance.

How hard is it to get part 107? ›

The drone license test is a bit harder than the driver's test. Everyone drives a car. But the Part 107 certification process isn't overwhelming by any means. Even people who haven't picked up a book in years can easily pass.

The Part 107 exam costs roughly $175 to take and it's administered by an FAA authorized center. We don't get any of your testing fee. The testing fee is non-refundable, so make sure you study before taking it. If you fail the exam, you will need to wait 2 full weeks before you can retake it.

To help recreational drone flyers know where they can and can't fly, the FAA and Kittyhawk released the B4UFLY mobile app, an easy-to-use tool that includes interactive maps. Click below to download the free B4UFLY app on your platform of choice, or access in your browswer.

Only the FAA can restrict airspace. However, the FAA recognizes that drone safety is a partnership with local, state, tribal, and territorial government entities who have rights to regulate where drones are allowed to take off and land.

The use of a drone under this paragraph (5) on private property requires either a search warrant based on probable cause under Section 108-3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 or lawful consent to search.