Dublin, CA Drone Rules: Event Drone Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Dublin Municipal Code § 5.116.030(A)(1)-(2)
- Restricted radius
- 1/2 mile of government facilities/events
- Includes
- City parks, Santa Rita Jail, FCI Dublin
- Covers
- Airspace outside navigable airspace too
- Penalty
- Infraction under § 5.116.050
Summary
Dublin bars launching or flying a drone within a half-mile radius of any government facility or city-sponsored event under Section 5.116.030(A)(1)-(2), including in airspace outside the FAA's navigable airspace. Government facilities expressly include city parks, Santa Rita Jail, FCI Dublin, and the Parks Reserve Forces Training Area.
1. Deploy or launch an unmanned aircraft system within one-half (1/2) mile of government facilities and city-sponsored events. 2. Fly or operate an unmanned aircraft system in the airspace outside of the navigable airspace, as defined by federal law, that is within a one-half (1/2) mile radius of government facilities and city-sponsored events. ... 'Government facilities' means property owned and occupied by the United States of America (or any of its agencies), the state of California (or any of its agencies), the county of Alameda, the city of Dublin, the Dublin San Ramon Services District, and the Dublin Unified School District. Government facilities specifically includes parks, as defined in Section 5.100.020, the Santa Rita Jail, the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin, and Parks Reserve Forces Training Area.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2-26, passed March 3, 2026).
Full Breakdown
030(A) of the Dublin Municipal Code sets two location-based drone bans. ' Paragraph 2 separately bars flying a drone 'in the airspace outside of the navigable airspace, as defined by federal law, that is within a one-half (1/2) mile radius' of those same locations, closing the gap for a drone launched elsewhere but flown into the restricted zone. 020 defines 'government facilities' expansively to include property owned by the United States, California, Alameda County, the city of Dublin, the Dublin San Ramon Services District, and the Dublin Unified School District, and specifically names city parks, the Santa Rita Jail, the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin, and the Parks Reserve Forces Training Area.
040. 010 explains the half-mile radius targets 'the activity below the navigable airspace over and within one-half (1/2) mile of government facilities' because that is where people gather in dense proximity and injury risk from a falling drone is highest. 040 exempts the city, DSRSD, DUSD, their designees, and law enforcement agencies operating lawfully.
Violations & Fines
Section 5.116.050 makes any violation of the half-mile restriction an infraction, citable under Section 1.04.030, the code's default misdemeanor-or-infraction penalty section. Because the restricted zone includes airspace outside navigable airspace, a drone operator can violate the ordinance without ever entering FAA-controlled airspace.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close can I fly a drone to a Dublin city-sponsored event?
Does Dublin's drone no-fly zone cover city parks?
Can I fly a drone near the Santa Rita Jail or FCI Dublin?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dublin
California rules heatmap·Compare Dublin to another location·View the California drone rules overview
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