Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation prohibits drone takeoff, landing, and operation in nearly all county parks. Limited exceptions exist for designated model-aircraft areas and for permitted commercial filming with advance Parks Department approval.
Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation regulations under Park Ordinance NS-610 ban the launch, landing, and operation of unmanned aircraft systems in county parks unless the activity is at a designated model-aircraft field or has a special-use permit. The ban covers popular parks including Stevens Creek, Sanborn, Mount Madonna, Vasona, Ed R. Levin, Joseph D. Grant, Almaden Quicksilver, and Coyote Lake. Wildlife-protection and visitor-safety concerns drive the rule, especially in raptor-nesting and reservoir areas. Commercial filming may obtain a permit through the Parks Department with proof of Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 certification, liability insurance, and a film-production fee. Federal preemption still controls airspace operations; the county rule covers only land-use authority.
Operating a drone in a closed county park is an infraction citable under Park Ordinance NS-610 with fines up to $500 per occurrence. Rangers may also confiscate equipment and report repeat violations to the Federal Aviation Administration.
See how Santa Clara's park drone restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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