Cook County, IL Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Fine
- $2,500 per offense
- Covers
- County-owned or leased property
- Enforcement
- Administrative hearing, Ch. 2 Art. IX
- Drone status
- Confiscated, possibly forfeited
- Exception
- Law enforcement under 725 ILCS 167
Summary
Cook County bars flying any drone or UAS on land, buildings, or facilities the County owns or leases, including County parks, unless the managing agency expressly authorizes it, backed by a $2,500-per-offense fine.
No person shall, at any time, fly any form of UAS on County property unless expressly authorized by the Agency that is the custodian of said property. Any person violating the provisions of this Section shall be subject to a fine of $2,500.00 for each offense and shall be adjudicated pursuant to Chapter 2, Administration, Article IX, Administrative Hearings, of this Code.
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 58-48, no one may fly a UAS (defined to include drones) on County property at any time without express authorization from the Agency that is custodian of that property. "Property" covers any land, building, or facility owned or leased by Cook County, which reaches County-owned park land. Violations draw a $2,500 fine per offense, adjudicated through the County's administrative hearing process, and the drone itself is subject to on-the-spot confiscation.
Violations & Fines
First offense is a $2,500 civil fine decided at an administrative hearing (Ch. 2, Art. IX). The UAS is seized on discovery; if the hearing finds no violation the owner can reclaim it free within seven days, otherwise an unclaimed drone is destroyed and a violating one is forfeited to the County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a drone in a Cook County park?
What happens to a confiscated drone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cook County
Compare Cook County to another location·View the Illinois drone rules overview
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