Chino Hills, CA Drone Rules: Recreational Drones (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- No drone takeoff/landing in Open Space (§12.32.110)
- Exception
- City Manager authorization for City purposes only
- Default penalty
- Misdemeanor (§12.32.260), not infraction
- Applies to
- Open space trails, separate from parks
- Max fine
- $1,000 + up to 6 months jail (§1.36.020(A))
Summary
Chino Hills bars anyone from taking off or landing a drone, model aircraft, or remote-controlled car or boat in the City-Owned Open Space unless the City Manager or a designee authorizes the flight for City purposes, under Municipal Code Section 12.32.110. That ban covers the trail system, separate from the City's parks, which carry their own line-of-sight and distance rules under Section 12.40.110.
Unmanned aircraft or vehicles including, but not limited to, drones, model aircrafts, remote-controlled cars, or remote-controlled watercraft toys, are not permitted to take-off or land in any City-Owned Open Space unless authorized by the City Manager or their designee because such activity is for City purposes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 61).
Full Breakdown
010 defines "park" to exclude the City-Owned Open Space and its trails, so the two chapters run on different rules for hobbyist drone flying. 110 is a flat authorization-only ban: unmanned aircraft or vehicles, including drones, model aircraft, and remote-controlled cars or watercraft toys, cannot take off or land anywhere in the City-Owned Open Space unless the City Manager or a designee has authorized the flight because it serves a City purpose. There is no carve-out for personal, hobbyist, or First Amendment drone use the way the parks chapter allows flying at most parks; open space is closed to private drone launches by default.
020, thirty minutes before sunrise to thirty minutes after sunset, and the same chapter separately bans fireworks, motorized vehicles off designated routes, and camping. 260, unless the code specifically labels it an infraction elsewhere.
Violations & Fines
Because Chapter 12.32 defaults every violation to a misdemeanor rather than an infraction, an unauthorized open space drone flight is treated more seriously than a park drone violation. Section 1.36.020(A) allows a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment in county jail for up to six months, or both, and Section 1.36.010 treats each day the violation continues as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly my recreational drone on Chino Hills open space trails?
Is the open space drone ban the same rule as the park drone rule?
What happens if I fly a drone in the open space without authorization?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chino Hills
California rules heatmap·Compare Chino Hills to another location·View the California drone rules overview
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