York County, PA Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)

D of the York County Code lists recreational activities that are flatly unlawful within the park system unless conducted in a Department-designated area, and paragraph (8) puts drones on that list alongside remote-control vehicles (paragraph 7) and hot-air balloons (paragraph 6). The default in every county park is no drone flights; a pilot needs to find one of the areas the York County Department of Parks and Recreation has designated for drone or remote-control use before launching. A adds a second layer: any activity for which no designated area exists at all requires the flier to first get expressed written permission from the Director, so even in a nominally open field, an operator without a spot on the Department's designated list is expected to apply for written authorization rather than assume the airspace is clear.

B. Park Rangers enforce the section under §§ 75-38 and 75-39 and may confiscate the drone under § 75-39I if it is used in violation of the rules. A conviction is a summary offense carrying a fine of $75 to $800 plus costs and restitution, and up to 30 days in jail.