Chicago, IL Drone Rules: Recreational Drones (2026)
Key Facts
- Max altitude
- 400 feet above ground
- Airport buffer
- 5 miles
- Flight hours
- Dawn to dusk only
- Fine range
- $500 to $5,000 per offense
- Jail exposure
- Up to 180 days
Summary
Chicago caps hobby drone flights at 400 feet, daylight-only, and 5+ miles from any airport under MCC 10-36-400.
no person shall operate any small unmanned aircraft in city airspace: (1) except for hobby or recreational purposes only...; (4) at an altitude higher than 400 feet above ground level; ... (6) within five miles of any airport; ... (8) between dusk and dawn... Any person who violates this section...shall be fined not less than $500.00 nor more than $5,000.00 for each offense, or may be incarcerated for a term not to exceed 180 days, or both.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-74: Current through Council Journal of June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Chicago Municipal Code 10-36-400 lets you fly a small unmanned aircraft (under 55 lbs) in city airspace only for hobby or recreational purposes, and only within a long list of limits: below 400 feet, within your own visual line of sight (no goggles or FPV devices), between dawn and dusk, more than five miles from any airport, and never directly over uninvolved people or property you don't own without consent. Flights are also barred over schools, hospitals, places of worship, parks assemblies, prisons and police stations without the property owner's sign-off, within 500 feet of the Chicago Waterworks System, and near electric transmission or distribution equipment. Surveillance flights, armed drones, and reckless operation are flatly prohibited. Operators authorized under an FAA Part 107 license or similar federal waiver are exempted from the local restrictions but must still follow FAA rules.
Violations & Fines
Fine of $500 to $5,000 per offense, up to 180 days incarceration, or both; each day of a continuing violation is a separate offense; the drone itself can be seized by police, Aviation, or Fire officials pending an administrative hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly my drone at night in Chicago?
Do FAA Part 107 pilots have to follow this ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chicago
Compare Chicago to another location·View the Illinois drone rules overview
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Recreational Drones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle recreational drones.