Clearwater, FL Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 22.47
- Covers
- Drones, airplanes, helicopters, gliders, balloons, parachutes
- Exceptions
- Life-threatening emergency or prior written authorization
- Beach rule
- No aircraft takeoff, landing over public beaches
- Maximum penalty
- $500 fine, 60 days jail, or both
- Last amended
- Ordinance No. 9689-23, June 15, 2023
Summary
Clearwater bars drones, along with airplanes, helicopters and other aircraft, from taking off or landing on park land, water or public beach areas without written city authorization. Acrobatic flight over parks and any aircraft operation over beaches is separately prohibited under § 22.47.
(1)No person operating, directing, or responsible for any airplane, helicopter, drone, glider, balloon, dirigible, parachute or other aerial apparatus shall take off from or land in or on any park land, water, or public beach area except when human life is endangered or written authorization is granted.(2)No person operating any aircraft shall engage in acrobatic flight over park property.(3)No person shall take off, land or otherwise operate any aircraft in or over any public beach or in any area described in section 33.114.
Full Breakdown
47, titled 'Aircraft,' folds drones into the same rule that has long covered airplanes, helicopters, gliders, balloons and parachutes at Clearwater's parks and beaches. Subsection (1) bars anyone operating, directing or responsible for a drone or other aerial apparatus from taking off or landing on any park land, water or public beach area, with only two exceptions: a life-threatening emergency, or written authorization obtained in advance. 114, which covers zones near swimming beaches and other sensitive waterway uses. Because 'take off from or land in or on' is the operative language, the section reaches a drone launched from the sand or from park grass even briefly, not just a drone that stays aloft; a pilot who wants to fly recreationally from Clearwater parkland needs the written authorization referenced in subsection (1) before launching.
The rule was last updated by Ordinance No. 9689-23, § 12, on June 15, 2023, as part of the same broad parks-chapter revision that updated the smoking, wildlife and bathing-area sections. 00, up to 60 days in jail, or both, imposed by the Pinellas County Court.
Violations & Fines
Launching or landing a drone anywhere on city park land, park water, or a public beach without prior written city authorization violates § 22.47(1), even for a quick recreational flight; flying acrobatically over park property or operating any aircraft over a beach or the restricted zones in § 33.114 are separate violations under subsections (2) and (3). Penalties reach up to $500.00 and 60 days in jail under § 1.12.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a recreational drone at a Clearwater park?
Are drones banned over Clearwater's public beaches?
How do I get written authorization to fly a drone in a city park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clearwater
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Clearwater to another location·View the Florida drone rules overview
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