How West Covina Handles Drone Rules: A Practical Guide
West Covina maintains 121 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with drone rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where West Covina falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Event Drone Restrictions
Flying a drone over a publicly advertised, city-sponsored event on city property in West Covina requires advance written approval from the police chief or a delegate under Municipal Code Sec. 15-20(e)(5). The rule applies to any unmanned aircraft, hobby or commercial, operated below 400 feet, alongside a list of other places drones cannot fly without similar clearance.
Key details: Governing section: Municipal Code Sec. 15-20(e)(5). Requires: Written police chief approval in advance. Applies to: Any drone over a city-sponsored event. Also covered: Both hobby and commercial drone operators. Penalty: Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail.
Operating a drone over a city-sponsored event without the police chief's advance written approval is not listed as an infraction under Sec. 1-37.1, so it is prosecuted as a misdemeanor under Sec. 1-37(a): a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both, at the court's discretion, with the West Covina Police Department the agency that issues the required approval and investigates violations.
This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. West Covina actively enforces its event drone restrictions requirements.
Recreational Drones
West Covina limits recreational drone flying under Municipal Code Sec. 15-20(b): model aircraft must stay within the operator's own natural visual line of sight, fly only during daylight between official sunrise and sunset, remain at or below 400 feet, stay at least 25 feet from any bystander outside takeoff and landing, and always give way to manned aircraft.
Key details: Governing section: Municipal Code Sec. 15-20(b). Altitude cap: 400 feet above ground. Flight hours: Daylight only, sunrise to sunset. Bystander distance: 25 feet minimum, except takeoff/landing. Visual line of sight: Operator's own natural vision only.
Violating any of Sec. 15-20(b)'s model-aircraft limits, flying beyond visual line of sight, after dark, above 400 feet, or within 25 feet of a bystander, defaults to a misdemeanor under Sec. 1-37(a) because the section is not listed among Sec. 1-37.1's infractions: a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both.
The Bottom Line
West Covina'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 West Covina is broadly strict or permissive.
Keep in mind that West Covina can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.