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Drone Rules

How Daly City Handles Drone Rules: A Practical Guide

By CityRuleLookup Editorial Team

Daly City maintains 102 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with drone rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Daly City falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Park Drone Restrictions

Daly City Municipal Code Title 8 (Public Peace, Morals and Welfare) does not enumerate a drone-specific park-takeoff ordinance, but Daly City Parks and Recreation rules prohibit activities that interfere with park use or pose a hazard. Adjacent National Park Service lands (Golden Gate National Recreation Area - Fort Funston, Mussel Rock-adjacent GGNRA parcels, Sweeney Ridge) prohibit launching, landing, or operating drones under 36 CFR Section 1.5 / NPS Director's Policy Memorandum 14-05. California State Parks (Thornton State Beach) similarly prohibit UAS without a permit under 14 CCR Section 4322.

Key details: Daly City parks: No drone-specific city-code ban; rangers/PRCS can prohibit per rules. NPS / GGNRA lands: Drones prohibited (36 CFR 1.5; NPS Memo 14-05). Fort Funston: GGNRA - NPS UAS prohibition applies. Thornton State Beach: Permit required under 14 CCR Section 4322. Mussel Rock Park: San Mateo County / Pacifica jurisdiction - confirm rules.

NPS / GGNRA federal misdemeanor under 36 CFR Section 1.5 - up to 6 months imprisonment and $5,000 fine for launching, landing, or operating UAS on NPS lands. California State Parks 14 CCR Section 4322 infraction. Daly City municipal park-rule violations carry penalties under Daly City Code Title 1 Chapter 1.12 (General Penalty) up to $1,000 per day; FAA penalties stacked on top.

This is one of the stricter rules in Daly City's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Recreational Drones

Daly City has no standalone municipal drone ordinance. Recreational drone (UAS) operation is governed by FAA 14 CFR Part 107 / Section 44809 (Recreational Flyer rule), with California Penal Code Section 402(b) (interference with emergency personnel) and Civil Code Section 1708.8 (physical and constructive invasion of privacy by aerial means) applying statewide. The Daly City Municipal Code (Title 4 Public Safety, Title 8 Public Peace, Morals and Welfare) does not enumerate a drone-specific section in the Municode TOC for code_of_ordinances; operators are bound by federal airspace rules and state privacy/safety statutes.

Key details: Local ordinance: None specific to recreational drones; federal/state preemption. Federal rule: 14 CFR Part 107 / 49 U.S.C. Section 44809 (Recreational Flyer). Max altitude: 400 ft AGL. Airspace constraint: SFO Class B veil overlies Daly City - LAANC required. Registration threshold: More than 0.55 lb / 250 g.

FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation for unregistered or unsafe recreational flight (49 U.S.C. Section 46301); criminal penalties up to $250,000 and 3 years imprisonment for willful violation. Cal. Penal Code Section 402(b) interference with first responders is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in county jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Civil Code Section 1708.8 privacy invasion supports treble damages and injunctive relief. Municipal nuisance enforcement under Daly City Code Title 1, Chapter 1.12 (General Penalty) carries fines up to $1,000 per day for continuing violations.

Commercial Drones

All commercial drone operation in Daly City is governed by FAA 14 CFR Part 107, which requires the remote pilot to hold a current Remote Pilot Certificate. The City of Daly City does not issue a separate commercial-drone permit and the Municipal Code (Title 5 Business Licenses and Regulations) does not enumerate a UAS-specific license category. Operators conducting business in Daly City must hold a Daly City business license under Municipal Code Title 5, Chapter 5.04, even though the drone operation itself is federally regulated.

Key details: Pilot certification: FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate required. City permit: None drone-specific; business license required under Title 5. Airspace authorization: LAANC required (SFO Class B veil). Night operations: Permitted under 14 CFR Section 107.29 with anti-collision lighting. Over-people rule: 14 CFR Section 107.39 / Operations Over People final rule categories.

FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation; certificate suspension or revocation for unsafe operation. Operating without a Daly City business license is an infraction under Daly City Municipal Code Title 5 with penalties under Chapter 1.12 (General Penalty - up to $1,000 per day continuing violation). State privacy violations under Civ. Code Section 1708.8 support treble damages.

The Bottom Line

Daly City's drone rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Daly City is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Daly City's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.