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Rapid City, SD Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Buffer distance: At least 50 feet from bystanders
Outside law: Must follow state and federal rules
Adopted: Ordinance 6113, 2017
Section family: § 12.24.180 remote control vehicles
Enforcement: General penalty, § 1.12.010

Summary

Rapid City requires remote control drones flown in city parks to follow all state and federal aviation rules and to stay at least 50 feet from anyone other than the pilot. The rule sits alongside separate park limits on remote control planes, boats, and cars.

B. Drones. Remote control drones shall abide by all state and federal regulations and shall operate at a minimum safe distance of at least 50 feet from any people other than the pilot. ... Any person violating any provision in this chapter shall be subject to the general penalty provision in § 1.12.010.

View official code

Full Breakdown

h. The chapter was adopted by Ordinance 6113 in 2017 and folds drones into the existing 'remote control vehicles' framework rather than creating a separate drone-specific permit, meaning a park drone operator must satisfy both the city's 50-foot buffer and whatever FAA rules apply to that flight.

Violations & Fines

Operating a drone in a Rapid City park within 50 feet of anyone other than the pilot, or in violation of applicable state or federal aviation regulations, violates § 12.24.180.B and is subject to the general penalty provision at § 1.12.010 through the chapter's penalty clause at § 12.24.200.

Frequently Asked Questions

How close can a drone fly to people in a Rapid City park?

Section 12.24.180.B requires drones to operate at a minimum safe distance of at least 50 feet from any people other than the pilot, the same buffer the code sets for remote control model planes in parks.

Does Rapid City require an extra permit to fly a drone in a park?

The park code does not create a separate drone permit; § 12.24.180.B instead requires the operator to abide by all state and federal regulations and keep the 50-foot buffer from bystanders while in a city park.

What other remote control vehicles does Rapid City regulate in parks?

Section 12.24.180 also covers remote control planes (Park Flyer Class, 2 lbs or less, under 50 m.p.h.), boats (50 m.p.h. cap, combustion engines limited to Memorial Pond), and cars (non-combustion, under 25 m.p.h.).

Sources & Official References

[1]Rapid City Municipal Code § 12.24.180

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Compare Rapid City to another location·View the South Dakota drone rules overview

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