Whitfield County, GA Drone Rules: Park Drone Restrictions (2026)

Section 11-7 of the Whitfield County Code lists prohibited acts inside every park and recreational area the county owns or operates, defined in § 11-1 as covering all parks and recreation facilities under the board of commissioners. Subsection (r) singles out launching "hot air balloons, radio controlled flying devices, drones, hobby rockets, and the like" from a park unless the parks and recreation department approves a written permit beforehand. The same list bars fireworks without a permit under (n), amplified sound that disturbs others under (p), and fundraising or political rallies without board or sheriff approval under (o), showing the drone ban sits among a set of activities the department can authorize case by case rather than forbid outright.

Section 11-2 defines "department" as the Whitfield County parks and recreation department operating under the board of commissioners, the office that fields any written permit request to fly a drone over county park land. Because § 11-1 applies the chapter to "all parks and recreational areas owned and operated by Whitfield County," the drone permit requirement reaches every county-run park, sports field, walking track and lake area. The code sets no separate fee or written application form for this specific permit inside chapter 11, so an applicant contacts the department directly to arrange written approval before flying.