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

Lodi Municipal Code Title 12 (Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places), Chapter 12.12 (Recreational Areas) establishes general rules of conduct in city parks under the authority of the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department. The chapter has not been amended to add a city-specific drone prohibition, so drone use in Lodi parks defaults to FAA Part 107 (commercial) and 49 U.S.C. §44809 (recreational) plus the general park-conduct rules in 12.12 — pilots may not interfere with other park users, disturb wildlife at Lodi Lake (a designated wildlife area along the Mokelumne River), or operate in ways that constitute a public nuisance. The Lodi Parks Department requires a Special Event Permit for any organized activity that includes commercial drone filming on park grounds; contact Parks at 209-333-6742. State-park land within the area (Caswell Memorial State Park, Brannan Island State Recreation Area) follows California State Parks' separate UAS policy: drones are allowed except where a District Superintendent has posted an order prohibiting them, and the prohibition signs must be physically posted in the unit. FAA Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) routinely cover wildfire response and certain public events — Lodi Fire incidents at Lodi Lake have triggered TFRs in past seasons. Note that Lodi PD operates its own UAS program (eight FAA-certified remote pilots, three drones) under separate Department policy.