Irving, TX Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed parks
- Mountain Creek Preserve, Running Bear, Sam Houston Trail
- Restriction
- Only within each park's designated area
- Hours
- Only during posted park operating hours
- Requirement
- Operator must keep drone in eyesight
- Penalty
- Up to $500 under § 25-14
Summary
Irving confines recreational drone flying to three parks: Mountain Creek Preserve, Running Bear Park, and Sam Houston Trail Park, and only within each park's specifically designated flying area. Code § 25-4 also bars flying outside posted park hours, requires the operator to keep the drone in eyesight, and demands a safe distance from other park users.
(a) No person shall operate a drone [Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle (UAV), Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), or other motorized model aircraft including radio-controlled devices] in a park or preserve owned or operated by the city except in specifically designated areas at the following parks. (1) Mountain Creek Preserve. (2) Running Bear Park. (3) Sam Houston Trail Park. (b) No person shall operate a drone or model aircraft outside the hours when the park is open or in an unsafe manner, and it must be operated within the eyesight of the operator and at a safe distance away from other park users. (c) Drone or model aircraft operators shall adhere to all federal and state laws/regulations regarding operations of drones and model aircraft.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4988517; v32 updated 2026-07-30).
Full Breakdown
Section 25-4(a) bans operating a drone, defined broadly to cover Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and other motorized or radio-controlled model aircraft, in any park or preserve owned or operated by the city, except in specifically designated areas at three named parks: Mountain Creek Preserve, Running Bear Park, and Sam Houston Trail Park. Every other Irving park and preserve is off-limits to drones entirely. Subsection (b) layers on operating rules even at the three approved parks: no flying outside the hours the park is open, no unsafe operation, the operator must keep the aircraft within eyesight at all times, and it must stay a safe distance from other park users.
Subsection (c) makes clear the local rule is additive, not a substitute, requiring operators to also comply with all federal and state laws and regulations governing drones and model aircraft, including FAA airspace rules. The chapter was adopted by Ordinance 2022-10641 on September 15, 2022, and a violation of § 25-4 is enforced as any other park chapter offense under § 25-14, carrying a fine up to $500 as a strict liability matter.
Violations & Fines
Flying a drone outside the three designated parks, outside a park's designated flying area, outside posted hours, or out of the operator's eyesight is an offense under § 25-14: a fine up to $500, applied as strict liability with no need to show intent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly my drone in any Irving park?
Do I need to keep my drone in sight while flying it in an Irving park?
Does Irving's park drone rule replace FAA rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Irving
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Irving to another location·View the Texas drone rules overview
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