Drone Rules in Santa Barbara County, CA (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Santa Barbara County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Recreational Drones

Launching, landing or operating a drone anywhere in a Santa Barbara County recreation area, meaning any county park, beach, trail or open space in the unincorporated county, requires the community services director's prior written permission under Sec. 26-22, absent an emergency.

Santa Barbara County Recreational Drone Rules

Significant Restrictions

Santa Barbara County Code Sec. 26-22

Sec. 26-22. - Landing aircraft. No person shall land, launch or operate any aircraft, including, without limitation, any balloon designed to carry passengers, airplane, hang glider, ultralight airplane, glider, drone or flying apparatus on or within any county recreation area except in case of emergency or with the prior written permission of the director of community services or deputy.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Park Drone Restrictions

Flying a drone, kite, balloon, model plane or glider is banned within Goleta Beach County Park west of the pier under Sec. 26-85, one of the county's most specific park-use rules and part of the broader countywide restriction on aircraft in county recreation areas.

Santa Barbara County Goleta Beach Drone Ban

Significant Restrictions

Santa Barbara County Code Sec. 26-85

Sec. 26-85. - Flying kites prohibited in Goleta Beach County Park. No person shall fly any kite, balloon, model plane, drone or glider within the Goleta Beach County Park in any area west of the pier.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

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