Chicago, IL Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- MCC § 10-36-400
- Over park land
- Needs owner's consent
- Max altitude
- 400 feet AGL
- Flight hours
- Dawn to dusk only
- Fine range
- $500-$5,000 per offense
Summary
Flying a drone over Chicago Park District land or any park athletic field, stadium or bandstand requires the property owner's consent under the city's small unmanned aircraft ordinance.
no person shall operate any small unmanned aircraft in city airspace ... (3) over property that the operator does not own, without the property owner's consent, and subject to any restrictions that the property owner may place on such operation ... (10) over any open air assembly unit ... without the property owner's consent, and subject to any restrictions that the property owner may place on such operation
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-74: Current through Council Journal of June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Chicago regulates small unmanned aircraft (drones under 55 lbs) under Municipal Code § 10-36-400, codified in Title 10, Chapter 36, the same chapter that governs parks, playgrounds and airports. The ordinance bars flying over any property the operator doesn't own without the owner's consent, and separately bars flying over any 'open air assembly unit', a term that expressly includes amusement parks, athletic fields, bandstands and grandstands, without that property owner's sign-off. Since city parkland is owned by the Chicago Park District, not the general public, a pilot needs the Park District's consent before flying over park grounds, athletic fields, or park-hosted events. Hobby/recreational use only is permitted even with consent, and flights are capped at 400 feet, must stay within visual line of sight, and can't occur between dusk and dawn.
Violations & Fines
Fine of $500-$5,000 per offense, up to 180 days in jail, or both; each day of continued violation is a separate offense; the drone itself can be seized pending an administrative hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a drone in a Chicago park?
Is Grant Park or Soldier Field treated differently?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chicago
Compare Chicago to another location·View the Illinois drone rules overview
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Park Drone Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle park drone restrictions.