Park Drone Restrictions: Daly City vs South San Francisco
How do park drone restrictions rules compare between Daly City, CA and South San Francisco, CA?
Daly City, CA
San Mateo County
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.
View full Daly City rules →South San Francisco, CA
San Mateo County
No data available yet for South San Francisco.
Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | South San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| FAA overlay | SFO Class B - LAANC required for any park operation | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Daly City FAQ
Can I launch my drone from Lincoln Park or Westlake Park?
No municipal ordinance flatly prohibits it, but Daly City Parks and Recreation rules give staff discretion to prohibit activities that interfere with park use; the safer practice is to ask the Parks and Recreation Department in advance. You must also clear SFO Class B airspace with LAANC.
Can I fly at Fort Funston?
No. Fort Funston is administered by the National Park Service as part of GGNRA. NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 closes all NPS lands to launching, landing, or operating drones - violation is a federal misdemeanor under 36 CFR Section 1.5.
What about Thornton State Beach?
California State Parks require a permit for any aircraft operation under 14 CCR Section 4322; recreational drone flight without that permit is prohibited.
South San Francisco FAQ
No FAQs available.
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