Yolo County, CA Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Default rule
- Recreational drones allowed unless posted
- Prohibition method
- Posted order at park entrance/access point
- Absolute limit
- No drone use that is a nuisance
- Governing section
- Sec. 9-3.220, Drones and Unmanned Aircraft
- Violation class
- Infraction under Sec. 9-3.202
Summary
Yolo County allows recreational drone flying in its parks by default under Sec. 9-3.220, but a park can be closed to drones by a posted order at the entrance or nearby access point. Any flight that becomes a nuisance to other visitors or wildlife is banned outright, regardless of posting.
The recreational flying and operation of drones and other unmanned aircraft in County parks is allowed except where prohibited by a posted order at the entrance to a park or nearby parking or access point. ... At no time shall pilots operate a drone that presents a nuisance to others or wildlife.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Supplement 2026 S-21 includes: Local legislation current through Ord. 1584, effective June 25, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 9-3.220 makes county parks the default rule for drones: recreational flying and operation of drones and other unmanned aircraft is allowed in County parks except where prohibited by a posted order at the entrance to a park or a nearby parking or access point. The Director can post that prohibition park-by-park, meaning drone access can differ from one Yolo County park to the next depending on what is posted on-site. The section also imposes an absolute limit that no posting can override: at no time may a pilot operate a drone that presents a nuisance to others or to wildlife. This general framework, adopted by Ord. 1581 effective December 18, 2025, sits in Article 2 of the parks chapter alongside the recreational weight/FAA-compliance rule and the separate commercial-use permit requirement in the same section, and it is enforced the same way as every other park rule in that Article.
Violations & Fines
Flying a drone in a park where a posted order prohibits it, or operating a drone that becomes a nuisance to people or wildlife, violates Sec. 9-3.220 and is an infraction under Sec. 9-3.202, punishable under California Government Code Section 25132. The Yolo County Sheriff's Office and the Director may remove the operator or confiscate the equipment under the Sec. 9-3.201 enforcement authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a drone in a Yolo County park?
How do I know if drones are banned at a specific Yolo County park?
Are there limits even where drones are allowed in Yolo County parks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yolo County
California rules heatmap·Compare Yolo County to another location·View the California drone rules overview
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