Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Davis

Davis, CA Drone Rules: Recreational Drones (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing section
Municipal Code Section 27.02.100
Covered devices
Model airplanes, boats, cars, "crafts of any kind"
Where allowed
Designated areas or by permit only
Word "drone"
Never used in the municipal code
Penalty
Infraction, fine up to state maximum
Enforcement
Ejection and confiscation by park staff

Summary

Davis's code never uses the word "drone," but Section 27.02.100 bars flying model airplanes or operating model boats, cars, or "model crafts of any kind or description" on park property except in areas set aside for that activity or under a director-issued permit, language broad enough to reach recreational drones.

No person shall fly model airplanes or operate model boats or model automobiles or model crafts of any kind or description on park facilities except in areas set aside for those specific activities or by authorized permit.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4915048; v22 updated 2026-05-19).

Full Breakdown

02, Parks, sets rules for activity on city park property. 100, titled "Model crafts, rockets, balloons," requires anyone flying a model airplane or operating a model boat, model automobile, or "model crafts of any kind or description" on park facilities to stay within an area the city has set aside for that activity or to first get a permit. The section traces to Ordinance 1011 and Ordinance 1877, predating consumer drones, and does not define "drone" or "unmanned aircraft system"; its reach to today's camera drones rests on the catch-all "of any kind or description" phrase rather than a drone-specific term.

airspace and recreational-flyer rules, including registration and altitude limits, under federal law, Davis's authority is confined to what happens on its own park property, such as where a device may take off, land, or operate, rather than to flight paths or airspace generally. 100's location-based approach: a device is fine in a designated flying area, and everywhere else in a park it needs a permit. 200, described below.

Violations & Fines

Flying a drone or model aircraft in a Davis park outside a designated area, or without a permit from the director, violates Section 27.02.100 and is enforceable under Section 27.02.190, which lets park staff eject the operator and confiscate equipment used in a way that endangers people or property; a conviction for violating any Article 27.02 provision is an infraction under Section 27.02.200, punishable by a fine up to the state maximum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fly my drone in a Davis city park?
Only in an area the city has set aside for that use, or with a permit from the director. Section 27.02.100 bars flying model airplanes and "model crafts of any kind or description," language that predates consumer drones but is written broadly enough to cover them, everywhere else in the park.
Does Davis have a drone-specific law?
No. The municipal code never uses the word "drone"; the closest rule is Section 27.02.100's ban on unauthorized model aircraft and model craft use in parks. Actual drone flight, altitude, and registration rules come from the FAA under federal law, which preempts local control of airspace.
What happens if I fly a drone in a closed part of a Davis park?
Park staff can eject the operator and confiscate the device under Section 27.02.190 if it is being used in a way that endangers people or property, and a conviction under Article 27.02 is an infraction carrying a fine up to the state maximum under Section 27.02.200.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Davis

Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Native PlantsLight Restrictions

All Davis rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Davis to another location·View the California drone rules overview

Get notified when Recreational Drones in Davis, CA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.