Kirkland, WA Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)

KMC 11.80.222, Remote-Controlled Models: Aircraft, makes it a violation of Chapter 11.80 for any person to operate a motorized model aircraft, drone, rocket, watercraft, or vehicle in any city park except by permit obtained through the department. The only built-in exception covers public law enforcement and authorized parks personnel operating remote-controlled models in the course of their duties; there is no carve-out for hobbyists, photographers, or short flights. The section was renumbered and updated by Ordinance 4945 in 2026 as part of a rewrite of Chapter 11.80.

Because it sits in Article III of the chapter, titled Rules Governing Use of Facilities: Civil Infractions, an unpermitted drone flight in a park is enforced as a civil infraction rather than a criminal charge, the same track used for other Article III park rules such as the ban on unpermitted business activity in KMC 11.80.038 and the ban on posting signs in KMC 11.80.040. The permit authority ties back to KMC 11.80.032, which lets the parks director adopt and post rules governing park operation and use and makes violating a duly posted rule unlawful, and to the general park-permit process in KMC 11.80.034, which lets the department grant, condition, or cancel permits for organized or exclusive park use.

A drone operator wanting to fly over a specific park should apply to the Parks and Community Services Department for a permit before flying, since the code gives park rangers and code enforcement authority to cite anyone flying without one.