Federal Drone Laws in California
Reposted from UAVCoach.com
These are drone laws that apply to every state in the U.S., including California, and were created by the federal government.
To fly a drone as a commercial pilot in the state of California (i.e. for work / business purposes) you are required to follow the requirements of the FAA’s Part 107 Small UAS Rule (Part 107), which includes passing the FAA’s Aeronautical Knowledge Test to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate.
To fly a drone as a hobbyist in the state of California (i.e. for fun / pleasure) you are required to register your dronewith the FAA and follow the FAA’s Special Rule for Model Aircraft.
To fly a drone as a government employee in the state of California (i.e., for a police or fire department) you may either operate under the FAA’s Part 107 rule or obtain a federal Certificate of Authorization (COA).
Note: The content on this page is meant for informational purposes only, and is not meant to take the place of legal counsel.
State Drone Laws in California
These are drone laws that apply to the entire state of California, and were created by the California State Legislature.
According to the California Department of Transportation and the California General Assembly, California has three state-wide laws concerning the use of drones in the state.
This law provides immunity for first responders who damage a UAS that was interfering with the first responder while he or she was providing emergency services.
This law makes it a misdemeanor to interfere with the activities of first responders during an emergency.
This law prohibits entering the airspace of an individual in order to capture an image or recording of that individual engaging in a private, personal or familial activity without permission. This legislation is a response to the use of UAS by the press in covering celebrities and other public figures.
All drone pilots operating commercially in the state of California are subject to the FAA’s Part 107 rules. Learn more about the FAA’s certification process to obtain a commercial drone license in this free guide.
Know something we don’t about drone laws in California? Send us an email at hello[at]montereybaydart[dot]org. We do our best to keep this list up-to-date, but given the pace of the small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industry and how municipal governments are responding, drone regulations in California are continually evolving. If we missed something, please reach out to let us know.
