Commercial Drones: Chino vs Victorville
How do commercial drones rules compare between Chino, CA and Victorville, CA?
Chino and Victorville have similar restriction levels.
Chino, CA
San Bernardino County
Chino has no local UAS ordinance, so commercial drone work — real estate photography, construction surveys, agricultural / dairy-preserve inspections, wedding videography — is governed entirely by FAA 14 C.F.R. Part 107. The pilot must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate under §107.61, the aircraft must be registered under §107.13, and operations are capped at 400 ft AGL (§107.51), within visual line of sight (§107.31), and during civil twilight or with proper anti-collision lighting. Operating in Chino Airport (CNO) Class D or Ontario (ONT) Class C airspace requires LAANC authorization. Cal. Civil Code §1708.8 separately governs privacy.
View full Chino rules →Victorville, CA
San Bernardino County
Commercial drone operators in Victorville must hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and comply with 14 CFR Part 107. Flights over people or at night require waivers or subpart D compliance.
View full Victorville rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Chino | Victorville |
|---|---|---|
| Local ordinance | None — Chino Municipal Code has no UAS-specific provisions | - |
| Federal rule | 14 C.F.R. Part 107 (small UAS commercial) | - |
| Pilot credential | Remote Pilot Certificate under 14 C.F.R. §107.61 (initial knowledge test at FAA-approved center) | FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate |
| Registration | Required for ALL commercial drones under 14 C.F.R. §107.13 (no weight exemption) | - |
| Airspace authorization | LAANC required across most of Chino (CNO Class D, ONT Class C shelves) | - |
| Operational limits | ≤ 400 ft AGL, ≤ 100 mph, VLOS, daylight/civil twilight with anti-collision lights | - |
| Business license | Chino Municipal Code Title 5 — required if principal place of business is in Chino | Required for commercial operations |
| Airspace | - | LAANC authorization near SCLA |
| Privacy | - | CA Civil Code 1708.8 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Chino FAQ
Do I need a Part 107 certificate for paid drone work in Chino?
Yes. Any non-recreational flight requires a Remote Pilot Certificate under 14 C.F.R. §107.61 — including real estate photography, construction progress shots, dairy-preserve agricultural surveys, and wedding videography. The recreational exception under 49 U.S.C. §44809 does not apply to any work performed for compensation.
Can I fly a Part 107 mission near Chino Airport?
Only with LAANC airspace authorization. Chino Airport (CNO) is Class D and most of the city lies under the CNO Class D ceiling or surrounding Class E surface area, plus Ontario International (ONT) Class C shelves to the north. Submit a LAANC request through an FAA-approved UAS Service Supplier before each flight.
Does Chino require a separate drone business license?
No drone-specific license, but if the operator's principal place of business is in Chino, a general business license under Chino Municipal Code Title 5 (Business Licenses and Regulations) is required.
Victorville FAQ
Do I need a pilot license for paid drone work?
Yes. All commercial drone operations require an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Hobbyist rules do not apply to paid or business flights.
Can I fly over people for a real estate shoot?
Only if the drone meets Category 1 through 4 requirements under Part 107 subpart D, or if you hold a specific waiver. Otherwise keep people clear of the flight area.
Compare other topics
See how Chino and Victorville compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool