Riverside County, CA Drone Rules: Commercial Drones (2026)

Under Part 107 commercial pilots must be 16 or older, pass the Aeronautical Knowledge Test, register the drone, keep it under 400 feet, maintain visual line of sight (unless a BVLOS waiver is held), and avoid controlled airspace without LAANC authorization. Flights over people require compliance with the Operations Over People rule (categories 1 through 4) or a Part 107.39 waiver, and night operations require anti-collision lighting. Riverside County does not regulate airspace directly but controls ground-level takeoff and landing on county-owned parcels: a Film Permit from the Riverside County Film Commission is required for commercial filming on county roads, parks, or unincorporated parcels, typically including proof of 1 million dollars liability insurance and a certificate of FAA compliance. Real-estate and surveying flights over private property require property-owner consent. Wildfires, TFRs, and the Camp Pendleton boundary in the southwest county create additional no-fly zones. Remote ID broadcasting is now required on all Part 107 aircraft. Violations risk FAA civil penalties up to 75,000 dollars per incident plus local trespass enforcement.