Alhambra, CA Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Alhambra Municipal Code § 14.04.030(O)
- Permission required from
- Director of Parks and Recreation or City Manager
- Penalty class
- Misdemeanor, reducible to infraction
- Applies to
- All city parks and public grounds
- Grouped prohibitions
- Firearms, fireworks, air guns, slingshots
- Last amended
- Ordinance 4828, February 26, 2024
Summary
Alhambra bars flying any drone or unmanned aerial vehicle in a city park or public ground without first getting written permission from the Director of Parks and Recreation or the City Manager. The rule sits in Municipal Code § 14.04.030, the same subsection that bars firearms, air guns and slingshots from park grounds, and a violation is a misdemeanor.
(O) To carry or discharge any firearms, fire-crackers, rockets, torpedoes or any other fireworks, air gun or slingshot or to fly any drone or unmanned aerial vehicle without first obtaining the written permission of the Director of Parks and Recreation or the City Manager.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-25: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 4851, passed 10-27-25).
Full Breakdown
Alhambra's park rules chapter treats drones the same way it treats firearms and air guns: banned outright unless the city signs off in writing first. " The subsection groups drones with carrying or discharging firearms, fireworks, rockets, torpedoes, air guns and slingshots, all of which need the same written authorization before use on park property. There is no size or weight exemption in the text, so a small hobby quadcopter is covered exactly like a larger commercial rig. The provision applies citywide across every park and public ground the city operates, including Almansor Park and Granada Park, and was last amended by Ordinance 4828 on February 26, 2024.
010: a fine set by City Council resolution, imprisonment for up to six months, or both, with the City Attorney able to charge the offense as an infraction instead of a misdemeanor. Because the rule requires prior written approval rather than a notice-and-registration system, anyone wanting to fly at a park event, for photography, or for a real-estate shoot needs to contact Parks and Recreation before the drone leaves the ground, not after.
Violations & Fines
Flying a drone in an Alhambra park without written permission from Parks and Recreation or the City Manager is a misdemeanor under § 14.04.030(O), punishable under the citywide general penalty in § 1.12.010: a fine set by City Council resolution, up to six months in jail, or both. The City Attorney may reduce the charge to an infraction, and each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a drone at an Alhambra park?
Does the ban apply to small hobby drones?
What happens if I fly without permission?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alhambra
California rules heatmap·Compare Alhambra to another location·View the California drone rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Park Drone Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle park drone restrictions.