Snohomish County, WA Drone Rules: Airport Proximity Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SCC 15.08.305(3)
- Rule
- No model aircraft/drones without authorization
- Applies to
- Snohomish County Airport grounds only
- Waiver
- Airport manager may waive for FAA-cleared events
- Penalty basis
- Misdemeanor under SCC 15.08.654(1)
Summary
Flying a drone or any other model aircraft on Snohomish County Airport grounds without the airport manager's authorization is banned outright under SCC 15.08.305(3). The same section lets the manager waive the restriction for sanctioned events, like air shows, that have FAA clearance.
(1) Self-powered aircraft only shall be operated on the airport grounds. Gliders, heli-gliders, ultra-lites and similar aircraft shall not be operated without written authorization by the airport manager. An ultra-lite is an aircraft as defined in federal air regulation part 103. (2) Sky diving shall not be conducted on the airport grounds without the written authorization of the airport manager. (3) Model aircraft of any type shall not be operated on the airport grounds without the authorization of the airport manager. (4) The above restrictions may be waived by the airport manager for special events such as air shows where FAA clearance has been obtained.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through legislation passed August 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
305, part of Article VIII, 'Aircraft Operations,' restricts several categories of activity on the grounds of Snohomish County Airport (Paine Field), the county's public-use airport in unincorporated Snohomish County. ' The phrase 'model aircraft of any type' reaches recreational drones as well as traditional radio-controlled planes, since the code draws no distinction by technology, only by whether the airport manager has authorized the flight. The same section restricts other categories of airport-grounds aviation: self-powered aircraft may operate normally, but gliders, heli-gliders and ultra-lites need written authorization under subsection (1), and sky diving requires the airport manager's written authorization under subsection (2).
Subsection (4) allows the airport manager to waive these restrictions for special events, such as air shows, once FAA clearance for the event has been obtained. 100. 305 is the county's own property-based restriction on its airport grounds, addressed and enforced separately from any FAA authorization a pilot must also obtain.
Violations & Fines
Operating a drone or any other model aircraft on Snohomish County Airport grounds without the airport manager's authorization violates SCC 15.08.305(3). Because the section has no penalty of its own, SCC 15.08.654(1) applies, making the violation a misdemeanor punishable under SCC 1.01.100. The airport manager can also remove or eject a violator from airport property under SCC 15.08.651.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a drone at Snohomish County Airport?
Does this county rule cover flying near the airport, or only on airport property?
Are there exceptions for organized drone or model-aircraft events?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Snohomish County
Compare Snohomish County to another location·View the Washington drone rules overview
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