Santa Clara County, CA Drone Rules: Commercial Drones (2026)
Key Facts
- Penalty type
- Civil/administrative fines, not misdemeanor
- Exemption
- Public agency drones only
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county, all operators
- Private remedy
- Civil suit for damages, fees
Summary
Unincorporated Santa Clara County bans operating any drone, commercial UAS included, in a way that interferes with firefighting, law enforcement, or emergency response; only public-agency drones are exempt.
(a)It is unlawful for a person to operate an Unmanned Aircraft System in a manner that interferes with firefighting, emergency services, law enforcement, or a military operation in response to an Emergency.(b)A violation of this Section is not a misdemeanor. Any person in violation of this Section may be subject to civil and administrative fines and penalties. Any violation of this Chapter is declared a public nuisance.(c)Any person who experiences loss or injury as a direct result of an Unmanned Aircraft System's interference with firefighting, emergency services, law enforcement, or a military operation in response to an Emergency shall have a private right of action in any court of competent jurisdiction against any person who caused the interference in violation of this Section and shall be entitled to recover damages, costs including reasonable attorney fees, and other relief as determined by the court.(d)Public Unmanned Aircraft are exempt from the provisions of this Section. (Ord. No. NS-643, § 3, 6-19-18)
Secs. B13-127—B13-129. - Reserved.
Division B14 - PARKS AND RECREATION Footnotes: --- (1) ---
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Santa Clara County Ordinance Code § B13-126 makes it unlawful for any person, commercial drone operators included, to operate an Unmanned Aircraft System in a manner that interferes with firefighting, emergency services, law enforcement, or a military operation responding to an emergency in the unincorporated county. A violation is not a misdemeanor, but the county can impose civil and administrative fines and it declares the violation a public nuisance. Only Public Unmanned Aircraft, drones flown by a public agency for a governmental purpose, are exempt from the prohibition.
Violations & Fines
Civil and administrative fines; the violation is declared a public nuisance, and anyone harmed by the interference gets a private right of action for damages and attorney fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this ban commercial drone flights in unincorporated Santa Clara County?
What happens if my drone interferes with a wildfire response?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara County to another location·View the California drone rules overview
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