Recreational drone pilots in Berkeley must follow FAA rules under 49 USC 44809, register aircraft over 0.55 lb, pass the TRUST test, and avoid Berkeley parks and UC Berkeley airspace.
Drone operation in Berkeley is governed primarily by federal law. The FAA requires recreational pilots to follow the exception for limited recreational operations (49 USC 44809), pass the TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test), and register any drone weighing 0.55 lb (250 g) or more with the FAA. Operators must fly below 400 feet, within visual line of sight, away from manned aircraft, and not over people or moving vehicles without proper authorization. Berkeley adds local park restrictions: the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department generally prohibits drone launching and landing in City parks absent a permit (BMC Chapter 6.28). UC Berkeley campus has its own policy restricting drones without prior approval. The Cesar Chavez Park waterfront area requires awareness of nearby Oakland International and SFO controlled airspace; pilots should check the B4UFLY app before flights.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle recreational drones.
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