Upland, CA Drone Rules: Commercial Drones (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- UMC § 12.36.050(C)
- Line-of-sight rule
- Must stay within visual line of sight
- Person buffer
- No takeoff/landing within 25 feet of others
- Event buffer
- No takeoff/landing within 500 feet of permitted events
- Penalty
- Infraction under § 1.16.020
- Commercial exception
- None written into the section
Summary
Upland Municipal Code § 12.36.050(C) permits drones and other unmanned aircraft in every city park but bans takeoff or landing outside the operator's visual line of sight, within 25 feet of another person, or within 500 feet of a city-permitted public event. The section makes no exception for commercial operators: a real estate, wedding, or inspection drone crew filming in a park follows the same buffers as a hobbyist.
C. Unmanned Aircraft and Toy Vehicles. 1. Unmanned aircrafts, including, but not limited to, drones, model or toy airplanes, helicopters, or similar devices are permitted at all parks. When operating unmanned aircraft within parks, no person shall takeoff or land an unmanned aircraft under the following circumstances: a. Outside of the person's visual line of sight. b. Within 25 feet of another individual, except the operator or the operator's designee. c. Within 500 feet of any city-permitted events open to the public. d. With any type of weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance, animate or inanimate, that is used for, or is readily capable of, causing death or serious bodily injury, attached to it. e. In a reckless manner so as to create a substantial risk of serious injury to any person or substantial risk of damage to the property of another.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4480959; v4 updated 2025-09-22).
Full Breakdown
36 (Use of City Park Facilities), which the city rewrote by Ordinance 1988 on May 13, 2024. Subsection C, "Unmanned Aircraft and Toy Vehicles," says drones are permitted at all parks, but bars takeoff or landing outside the pilot's visual line of sight, within 25 feet of another individual besides the operator or their designee, within 500 feet of a city-permitted public event, with any weapon or injury-capable device attached, or in a reckless manner creating substantial risk of injury or property damage. Gas-powered remote-controlled toy vehicles (cars, trucks, watercraft) are banned outright in parks under the same subsection.
Because the section regulates every operator without carving out a commercial exception, a business flying a drone for paid photography, inspection, or delivery testing inside a park must still clear the same line-of-sight and distance buffers as a recreational flyer. 090, which is a Development Services Department process with its own application and findings requirements, distinct from the drone takeoff/landing rule itself. 36 entirely.
Violations & Fines
Any violation of Chapter 12.36, including the drone takeoff/landing restrictions, is punishable as an infraction under Upland Municipal Code § 1.16.020 unless the specific section violated states a different penalty (§ 12.36.100). A violator can also be removed from the park. Filming commercially without the § 17.41.090 film permit is enforced separately through that permit's conditions and revocation authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a business fly a drone in an Upland park?
Do I need a separate permit to film commercially with a drone in a park?
What happens if I violate the park drone rules?
Does Upland regulate drones outside of city parks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Upland
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