Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Alhambra, CA Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 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.

View official code

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?
Only with written permission first. Alhambra Municipal Code § 14.04.030(O) bars flying any drone or unmanned aerial vehicle in a park or public ground unless the Director of Parks and Recreation or the City Manager has approved it in writing. Without that approval, launching a drone at Almansor Park, Granada Park or any other city park is a misdemeanor.
Does the ban apply to small hobby drones?
Yes. The ordinance covers "any drone or unmanned aerial vehicle" without carving out hobby, photography or commercial use, so a toy quadcopter flown over a picnic area needs the same written sign-off as a professional aerial rig before it leaves the ground.
What happens if I fly without permission?
You can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor under the city's general penalty section, § 1.12.010: a fine set by City Council resolution, up to six months in county jail, or both. The City Attorney may instead charge it as an infraction, and each day of a continuing violation counts as a separate offense.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Alhambra

All Alhambra rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Alhambra to another location·View the California drone rules overview

Get notified when Park Drone Restrictions in Alhambra, CA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

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.

Downey, CA
Significant Restrictions
Lancaster, CA
Significant Restrictions