Pasadena's Drone Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles drone rules a little differently. In Pasadena, California, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Event Drone Restrictions

Pasadena's drone ordinance bars flying, launching, or landing a drone over any special event or active filming permit location while the event or permit is underway, unless the property owner, the event or permit applicant, and the police department's air operations section have all given written approval to the city's special events office.

Key details: Governing section: Municipal Code Section 9.45.030(B). Approval needed: Property owner, event/permit applicant, and PD air operations. Where filed: Written approval filed with special events office. Penalty: Misdemeanor under Section 9.45.050. Special event definition: Section 9.45.020.D: parades, Ch. 3.20 permits, ticketed venues.

Flying, launching, or landing a drone over a special event or an active filming permit location without the required triple written sign-off, from the property owner, the event or permit applicant, and the police department's air operations section, filed with the special events office, violates Section 9.45.030.B and is a misdemeanor under Section 9.45.050, punished as set out in Chapter 1.24 of the Pasadena Municipal Code.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Pasadena actively enforces its event drone restrictions requirements.

Recreational Drones

Pasadena's drone ordinance, Chapter 9.45 of the Municipal Code, bars flying a drone recklessly over public streets and sidewalks and bans drone takeoff, operation, or landing over Glenarm Power Plant, police and fire stations, city hall, the city yards, water and electric facilities, transit operations sites, and light rail lines. Violators face a misdemeanor charge.

Key details: Governing chapter: Municipal Code Chapter 9.45, Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Adopted: Ordinance No. 7303, May 22, 2017. Banned zones: Reckless flight over streets; 7 listed sensitive facility types. Penalty: Misdemeanor under Section 9.45.050. Exemptions: Law enforcement and city-contracted operators on city business.

Any person who takes off, operates, or lands a drone over a banned site, or flies it in a careless or reckless manner over a public street or sidewalk as measured against FAA rules 14 CFR 91.13 and 107.23, is guilty of a misdemeanor under Section 9.45.050 and is punished as provided in Chapter 1.24 of the Pasadena Municipal Code. The Section 9.45.040 exemptions for law enforcement and city-contracted operators on city business do not cover private recreational or commercial flights.

The Bottom Line

Pasadena'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 Pasadena is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Pasadena's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.