Monterey County, CA Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Monterey County Code § 14.12.050(A)(19)
- Permit type
- One-time, case-by-case authorization only
- Applies to
- County-operated parks, not incorporated city parks
- Enforcement
- Rangers, Sheriff's Office administrative citation
- Appeal window
- 10 days to Board of Supervisors
Summary
Monterey County bans flying or landing drones and model airplanes in any County park without a permit under Monterey County Code § 14.12.050(A)(19). The Parks Director issues approval only on a one-time, case-by-case basis, so recreational pilots cannot obtain a standing pass to fly repeatedly at the same park. This rule covers County-operated parks such as Toro, Jacks Peak and Laguna Seca, not incorporated cities' own parks.
A.No person within a County park shall:...17.Engage in any riotous, boisterous, threatening, or incendiary conduct, or use obscene language, or operate a remote-controlled aircraft system (drone), model airplane, radio or musical instrument in such a manner as to disturb other persons....19.Operate or land remote-controlled aircraft systems (drones) or model airplanes of any size without a permit. Approval may only be provided on a one-time use, case by case basis.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).
Full Breakdown
G as land and facilities the Board of Supervisors owns, operates or manages for recreation, habitat management or open space. Item 19 bars operating or landing a drone or model airplane of any size in a County park without a permit, and approval is capped at a one-time, case-by-case authorization, so there is no annual or season drone pass. A separate clause, item 17, prohibits operating a drone, model airplane, radio or musical instrument in a manner that disturbs other persons, reaching noisy or intrusive flying even where a permit has been issued.
The rule sits inside the County's general park-use guidelines chapter, alongside a ban on unpermitted motor-driven model airplanes except in Director-designated areas (item 18). Because 'County park' means land the Board of Supervisors governs, the ban applies at County-run parks such as Toro Park, Jacks Peak, Laguna Seca Recreation Area and the Lake San Antonio and Lake Nacimiento recreation areas; it does not reach parks operated by incorporated cities such as Salinas, Monterey or Carmel-by-the-Sea, which set their own park rules. F. O.
Violations & Fines
Flying or landing a drone or model airplane in a County park without the Director's one-time permit violates Monterey County Code § 14.12.050(A)(19), enforced through the administrative citation process in Chapters 1.20 and 1.22 (§ 14.12.130.H). Rangers and Sheriff's Office safety employees can also expel a violator from the park and bar re-entry for up to six months under § 14.12.130.F, and a person expelled and returning within that period can be arrested.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a recreational drone in a Monterey County park?
Does this drone ban apply inside Salinas or Monterey city parks?
What happens if I fly a drone in a County park without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monterey County
California rules heatmap·Compare Monterey County to another location·View the California drone rules overview
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