Anaheim, CA Drone Rules: Commercial Drones (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- AMC § 6.43.020.0211
- Requirement
- City business license before commercial UAS flights
- Adopted
- Ordinance 6442, August 14, 2018
- Penalty
- misdemeanor, up to $1,000/6 months jail
- Also applies
- 400 ft altitude cap, daylight-only, line-of-sight rules
Summary
Anaheim requires anyone flying a Civil UAS for commercial purposes in the city to first obtain a City business license for that commercial flight operation. Flying commercially without one is a misdemeanor under the general nuisance-drone chapter.
.0211 It is unlawful to operate a Civil UAS for Commercial Purposes in the City unless the operator has first obtained a City business license for such commercial flight operation purposes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-28: Code: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 6627, passed 8-11-2026 | Zoning: Local legislation current through Ord. 6627, passed 8-11-2026).
Full Breakdown
0208) on every operator, commercial or hobbyist. A commercial operator must therefore clear two separate layers: the FAA's Part 107 certification for the pilot and aircraft, and Anaheim's own business license for the entity conducting the paid flight work within city limits, obtained through the City's standard business license process under Title 3 of the Municipal Code. 43: a licensed commercial operator is still barred from flying within 1,000 feet of Angel Stadium, the Honda Center, or Disneyland during large gatherings, within controlled airport airspace without tower authorization, or beyond visual line of sight. 040, but that federal carve-out addresses airspace authority, not the separate municipal business-license requirement.
Violations & Fines
Operating a Civil UAS commercially without the required City business license is a misdemeanor under Section 6.43.020.030, punishable under the citywide penalty provision Section 1.01.370: up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day of continued unlicensed operation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to fly a drone commercially in Anaheim?
Does an FAA Part 107 certificate satisfy Anaheim's commercial drone requirement?
What is the penalty for flying commercially without an Anaheim business license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anaheim
California rules heatmap·Compare Anaheim to another location·View the California drone rules overview
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