Portland, OR Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Portland City Code § 20.12.180
- Covers
- drones, RC aircraft, RC watercraft
- Exceptions
- City work, emergencies, designated/permitted areas
- Enforcement
- civil penalty citation, park exclusion
- Applies to
- every Portland Parks & Recreation park
Summary
Portland bans flying drones, remote-controlled aircraft, and RC watercraft in any city park, except for permitted City work, emergency operations, or areas the City designates for that use under a Chapter 20.08 permit.
A. No person may operate any remote-controlled internal combustion powered vehicle, or any remote-controlled watercraft or unmanned aerial system (UAS), in a park.
B. This section does not apply to:
1. Permitted work done by, for, or on behalf of the City;
2. Emergency operations undertaken by a public body;
3. Emergency landings of a UAS executed in a park in the absence of an equally safe alternative; or
4. Use in approved areas designated by the City or under a permit issued under Chapter 20.08.
Full Breakdown
Portland City Code § 20.12.180 prohibits operating any remote-controlled internal combustion vehicle, remote-controlled watercraft, or unmanned aerial system (UAS), the code's term for a drone, in a park. The ban applies across the entire Portland Parks & Recreation system. Narrow exceptions exist: permitted work done for the City, emergency operations by a public body, emergency UAS landings when there's no equally safe alternative, and use in areas the City specifically designates or under a Chapter 20.08 permit. Absent one of those, launching, landing, or flying a drone over any Portland park violates the section.
Violations & Fines
The City Administrator can stop violators and issue a civil penalty citation under § 20.12.260, and park officers may eject or exclude a drone operator from any park under § 20.12.265.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a drone in a Portland park?
What happens if I fly a drone in a Portland park anyway?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Portland
Compare Portland to another location·View the Oregon drone rules overview
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