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

030, it is unlawful, unless exempt, to deploy or launch an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) within one-half mile of a government facility or city-sponsored event, or to fly a UAS outside navigable airspace within that half-mile radius. 020 defines 'government facilities' as property owned and occupied by the United States, the state of California, Alameda County, the city of Dublin, the Dublin San Ramon Services District, and the Dublin Unified School District, and it expressly states that government facilities 'specifically includes parks,' along with the Santa Rita Jail, the Federal Correctional Institution Dublin, and Parks Reserve Forces Training Area.

Because Dublin's city parks are municipally owned and occupied property, they fall squarely within the government-facilities definition, so any city park in Dublin carries a half-mile drone no-fly buffer. Operators must also be FAA-registered where federal law requires it and may not operate in a manner federal law or regulation prohibits. The chapter, adopted by Ord. 5-18 and amended by Ord. 8-18, states it is not intended to preempt FAA rules but to operate alongside them. 040 exempts the city itself, the Dublin San Ramon Services District, the Dublin Unified School District, their designees, and law enforcement agencies acting for an otherwise lawful purpose in a lawful manner. There is no separate 'city parks' drone chapter; this half-mile government-facilities buffer is the operative Dublin rule for flying over or near a park.