Santa Barbara County, CA Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- no drones/kites/balloons/gliders west of the pier (Sec. 26-85)
- Location
- Goleta Beach County Park only
- Exception
- none stated for this zone
- Penalty
- infraction or misdemeanor (Sec. 26-6)
- Related rule
- countywide model-aircraft permit (Sec. 26-22.1)
Summary
Flying a drone, kite, balloon, model plane or glider is banned within Goleta Beach County Park west of the pier under Sec. 26-85, one of the county's most specific park-use rules and part of the broader countywide restriction on aircraft in county recreation areas.
Sec. 26-85. - Flying kites prohibited in Goleta Beach County Park. No person shall fly any kite, balloon, model plane, drone or glider within the Goleta Beach County Park in any area west of the pier.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. ' The rule sits in the Division covering Goleta Beach Park facilities in Chapter 26, alongside other pier-specific rules like the ban on large vessels at the pier (Sec. 26-80, 26-81) and the no-diving/no-swimming buffer around it (Sec. 26-82). Unlike the countywide model-aircraft rule in Sec. 1, which allows model aircraft in 'posted designated areas' with the director's written permission, Sec. 26-85 draws no exception for the west-of-the-pier zone at Goleta Beach; it is a flat prohibition tied to that specific park geography, likely aimed at protecting swimmers, sunbathers and pier users in the park's most crowded stretch of sand.
Because it is a Chapter 26 recreation-area rule, it applies only to Goleta Beach County Park, which the county operates in unincorporated territory near, but separate from, the City of Goleta; it does not reach beaches or parks the City of Goleta itself runs.
Violations & Fines
Flying a drone or other aircraft west of the pier at Goleta Beach County Park is a crime under Sec. 26-6, chargeable as an infraction or misdemeanor at the district attorney's discretion, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense; violators can be ejected from the park under Sec. 26-7 and barred from returning for at least 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a drone at Goleta Beach County Park?
Is this drone ban specific to one park or countywide?
Does this rule apply if the City of Goleta owns the beach?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Barbara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Barbara County to another location·View the California drone rules overview
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