Fountain Valley, CA Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)

In the City of Fountain Valley, § 12.08.060(a)(5) puts the flying of model airplanes, drones, helicopters, rockets or any other self-propelled craft, and the launching of any hot air or gas balloon, on the list of park activities that need a permit obtained beforehand from the community services director. The same subsection prohibits any activity that endangers the health, safety or welfare of the participant or any other person, whether or not a permit exists. The chapter applies to every park, which § 12.08.030 defines as all recreational and other public land owned, operated, managed or controlled by the city, including all buildings, parking lots and improvements.

The permit decision follows § 12.08.170. The community services director determines whether a permit should issue by weighing the health, safety and welfare of other park users and the public in general, and the needs of other park users for access to the facilities. A flight approved this way is an authorized activity under § 12.08.020, meaning an activity approved by the community services director or authorized subordinate for a certain place and time within a park.

Other park rules stack on top of the drone permit. No person can be in any city park after its posted closing time or closing event without written approval from the community services department (§ 12.08.120), and no one can operate, drive or ride a motorized or electric conveyance in a park except in designated areas (§ 12.08.100). Discharging fireworks or rockets, lighting a fire outside a stove or grill, golfing and stringing a barrier across a path also need a permit under the same subsection. Drones appear by name only in the park list at § 12.08.060(a)(5); the code text sets no altitude or distance figures.