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Westminster, CO Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing section
W.M.C. § 13-1-5(A)(7)
UAS defined at
W.M.C. § 13-1-2
Exception
City staff/licensed contractor on duty only
Penalty basis
General penalty, § 1-8-1, W.M.C.
Enforcement
Parks Director and police

Summary

Westminster bans flying drones in any city park unless it is a city staff member or licensed city contractor operating one on official duty. Violations are misdemeanor park-code offenses enforced by the Parks Director or police.

(7)Model crafts and unmanned aircraft systems: Fly an unmanned aircraft system in any park unless it is flown by a City staff member or a licensed contractor of the City as part of the performance of their duties. Fly or operate model craft of any kind or description in any area of a park or in any body of water, except in areas set aside and posted for that purpose.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12).

Full Breakdown

' The same subsection separately bars flying or operating model craft in any park area or body of water except in areas set aside and posted for that purpose. 'Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)' is defined broadly in Section 13-1-2 to mean 'an aircraft operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft,' expressly including drones, model aircraft and rockets. 'Park' is likewise defined broadly under Section 13-1-2 to cover all city parklands, open space properties, recreation facilities, Standley Lake Recreation Area, the publicly owned areas of the Westminster Promenade, and even the City Hall and Public Safety Center grounds, so the drone ban reaches essentially every piece of city-owned recreational or civic property.

The Director of Parks, Recreation and Libraries and any law enforcement officer acting in the line of duty enforce Chapter 13-1 under Section 13-1-3, including ejecting violators from the park and denying future access to repeat violators.

Violations & Fines

A person convicted of violating Section 13-1-5 is punished under the general penalty provision, Section 1-8-1, W.M.C., per Section 13-1-4(B). The Director may eject a violator from the park under Section 13-1-3(B) and may deny future use of parks or community buildings to individuals whose conduct is criminal, repeated, or a threat to public safety.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fly a drone in a Westminster city park?
No. Section 13-1-5(A)(7) makes it unlawful to fly an unmanned aircraft system in any park unless it is flown by a City staff member or a licensed City contractor performing their duties; there is no permit path for private recreational drone flights in parks.
Does the drone ban cover Standley Lake and the Promenade?
Yes. Section 13-1-2 defines 'park' to include Standley Lake Recreation Area, the publicly owned areas of the Westminster Promenade, and the grounds of City Hall and the Public Safety Center, so the drone flying ban in Section 13-1-5(A)(7) applies there too.
What happens if I get caught flying a drone in a park?
The Director of Parks, Recreation and Libraries or a police officer can eject you from the park under Section 13-1-3(B), and conviction of the violation carries the general municipal penalty set out in Section 1-8-1, W.M.C., under Section 13-1-4(B).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Westminster

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