Los Angeles, CA Drone Rules: Commercial Drones (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered use
- Business, commercial, or media drone flights
- Code term
- "Civil UAS" under LAMC § 56.31(a)(5)
- Core rule
- No FAA violation, TFR breach, or reckless flying
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine and/or 6 months jail
- Enacted
- Ord. No. 183,912, eff. 12/2/2015
Summary
Los Angeles regulates commercial drone use under LAMC § 56.31, which defines any drone flown for business, commercial, or media purposes as a "Civil UAS." Civil UAS operators must follow FAA regulations, honor temporary flight restrictions and NOTAMs, and never fly carelessly or recklessly: the standard the city borrows from federal aeronautics law to police business drone flights citywide.
5. "Civil UAS" shall mean an Uncrewed Aircraft or Uncrewed Aircraft System operated by any Person for any purposes other than strictly hobby or recreational purposes, including, but not limited to, commercial purposes or in furtherance of, or incidental to, any business or media service or agency. ... (c) The following shall apply to the operation of any Model Aircraft or Civil UAS within the City of Los Angeles: 1. No Person shall operate any Model Aircraft or Civil UAS within the City of Los Angeles in a manner that is prohibited by any federal statute or regulation governing aeronautics. 2. No Person shall operate any Model Aircraft or Civil UAS within the City of Los Angeles in violation of any temporary flight restriction (TFR) or notice to air missions (NOTAM) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. 3. No Person shall operate any Model Aircraft or Civil UAS within the City of Los Angeles in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.
Full Breakdown
31(a)(5), added by Ordinance No. 183,912 effective December 2, 2015, defines "Civil UAS" as an Uncrewed Aircraft or Uncrewed Aircraft System operated by any person for any purpose other than strictly hobby or recreational purposes, including, but not limited to, commercial purposes or in furtherance of, or incidental to, any business or media service or agency. That definition sweeps in real-estate photography drones, film and TV production aircraft, delivery testing, and any other for-profit flight, distinguishing it from the "Model Aircraft" category that covers hobbyists.
13. Unlike the recreational-only limits in subsection (b), the 400-foot ceiling, daylight-only window, and 25-foot bystander buffer, subsection (c)'s three conditions are the ones that bind commercial operators, layering city enforcement on top of whatever FAA Part 107 commercial-pilot certification and airspace authorization already applies. 00(m): a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both. Public-agency drones operating under valid FAA authorization are exempt under subsection (e).
Violations & Fines
A commercial (Civil UAS) drone flight that breaks any FAA regulation, violates a temporary flight restriction or NOTAM, or is operated carelessly or recklessly is a misdemeanor under LAMC § 56.31(c)-(d). The citywide default penalty in LAMC § 11.00(m) applies: up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in county jail, or both, prosecuted by the City Attorney's Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Los Angeles have separate rules for commercial drone operators?
Do the 400-foot ceiling and 25-foot bystander rules apply to commercial drones?
What happens if a commercial drone operator violates the ordinance in Los Angeles?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles
California rules heatmap·Compare Los Angeles to another location·View the California drone rules overview
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Commercial Drones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle commercial drones.