West Covina, CA Drone Rules: Event Drone Restrictions (2026)

West Covina's drone ordinance, Sec. 15-20, defines an unmanned aircraft as any drone or similar craft flown without a pilot aboard at an elevation below 400 feet, and it covers both hobbyist "model aircraft" and commercial or media "civil UAS" under the same restricted-places list in subsection (e). One of those restricted places is airspace over a publicly advertised, city-sponsored event held on city property; a drone operator cannot fly there at all unless the police chief or an authorized delegate has given written approval in advance (Sec.

15-20(e)(5)). The same subsection separately bars flying over any public or private school during school hours, the West Covina Civic Center, any West Covina fire station, or within 100 feet of a public safety radio site, without singling out city parks. Beyond the places list, Sec. 13. The ordinance carves out an exception for public agency drones used under a warrant, for emergency response, or during a declared state of emergency (Sec. 15-20(f)). Because Sec. 15-20 does not appear among Sec. 1's enumerated infractions, flying a drone over a city event without the police chief's written approval defaults to a misdemeanor under Sec. 1-37(a): a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both.