Monterey County, CA Drone Rules: Event Drone Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Drone flights
- No standing permit; one-time case-by-case approval only
- Disturbing use
- Separately barred if it disturbs park visitors
- Aircraft landing
- Barred except emergency or authorized use
- Enforcement
- Parks personnel and Sheriff's Office
- Penalty
- Expulsion, 6-month park ban, or citation
Summary
Monterey County bans flying or landing a drone in any County park without a permit, and even then approval is one-time and case-by-case, under Code § 14.12.050(A)(19). The same section separately bars operating a drone in a way that disturbs other park visitors, so drone use at park events and gatherings is tightly restricted.
17.Engage in any riotous, boisterous, threatening, or incendiary conduct, or use obscene language, or operate a remote-controlled aircraft system (drone), model airplane, radio or musical instrument in such a manner as to disturb other persons... 19.Operate or land remote-controlled aircraft systems (drones) or model airplanes of any size without a permit. Approval may only be provided on a one-time use, case by case basis.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).
Full Breakdown
12 (County Parks), lists conduct barred everywhere in the County park system. Subsection A(19) is the operative drone rule: no person may operate or land remote-controlled aircraft systems (drones) or model airplanes of any size without a permit, and approval may only be provided on a one-time use, case-by-case basis. 040. Subsection A(17) adds an overlapping, disturbance-based restriction, folding drones in with riotous or boisterous conduct: no person may operate a remote-controlled aircraft system, model airplane, radio, or musical instrument in a manner that disturbs other persons.
A separate clause, A(10), bars landing any aircraft in a County park except in an emergency or when authorized, which reinforces the drone restriction for anything approaching an aircraft-style landing. 040. 130, which authorizes citation, expulsion from the park, or arrest for chapter violations.
Violations & Fines
Flying or landing a drone in a County park without the required case-by-case approval is enforceable under § 14.12.130: Parks personnel or Sheriff's Office safety employees may expel the operator from the park immediately, and a person expelled or whose permission is revoked is barred from returning to that County park for six months under § 14.12.130(F)(1). Parks personnel may also issue administrative citations for Chapter 14.12 violations under § 14.12.130(H), with fines set under Monterey County Code Chapters 1.20 and 1.22.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a drone at an event in a Monterey County park?
What happens if I fly a drone without permission in a Monterey County park?
Is there any drone rule beyond the permit requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monterey County
California rules heatmap·Compare Monterey County to another location·View the California drone rules overview
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