Catawba County, NC Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited act
- Taking off or landing a drone in a park
- Section
- Code § 20-4(h)
- Also covers
- Airplanes, balloons, parachutes, RC aircraft, rockets
- Exceptions
- None stated for recreational drone use
- Enforcement
- Park staff or law enforcement, § 20-9
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under § 1-14
Summary
Catawba County bars taking off, landing or flying any drone in county parks under Code Sec. 20-4(h), which groups drones with airplanes, balloons, parachutes and radio- or battery-controlled aircraft as prohibited apparatus of aviation.
(h)Aviation. It shall be unlawful for any person to take off, land, cause to descend or take off any drone, airplane, flying machine, balloon, parachute, or other apparatus of aviation, including rockets and radio- or battery-controlled mechanisms.
Full Breakdown
Sec. ' Subsection (h), titled 'Aviation,' states it is unlawful for any person to take off, land, cause to descend or take off any drone, airplane, flying machine, balloon, parachute, or other apparatus of aviation, including rockets and radio- or battery-controlled mechanisms. Sec. 20-2 separately defines Drone as any uncrewed aerial vehicle, device, aircraft or ship, that is guided remotely or by onboard computers, a definition broad enough to reach consumer camera drones as well as fixed-wing remote-control aircraft. The prohibition applies to all land the parks article covers, defined in Sec.
20-1 as parks and recreational areas owned or leased by the county. Chapter 20 was rewritten in full by Ord. No. 2025-05, adopted September 2, 2025, which repealed the county's former lakes, waterways and parks chapter and replaced it with the current parks article. Nothing in Sec. 20-4 carves out an exception for recreational or hobbyist drone flying, and the closing-authority provision in Sec. 20-7 lets the county close any part of a park to the public for safety reasons, which can include drone activity park staff determine is unsafe.
Violations & Fines
Flying, launching or landing a drone in a county park violates Sec. 20-4(h) and is enforceable by duly sworn law enforcement officers with jurisdiction in the county or by park staff authorized by the board of commissioners, per Sec. 20-9. Any violation of the parks article is a misdemeanor offense punishable under Sec. 1-14 of the county code, and a parent, guardian or custodian who permits a minor to fly a drone in a park is separately liable under Sec. 20-9(d).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a drone in a Catawba County park?
Does the drone ban only cover commercial drones?
What's the penalty for flying a drone in a county park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Catawba County
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