Recreational drone pilots must follow FAA rules including Remote ID and TRUST test. Sacramento County bans launch and landing in Regional Parks without permit. SMF Class C airspace requires LAANC.
Recreational drone operators in unincorporated Sacramento County must follow FAA 14 CFR Part 49 and Section 44809 rules: register drones over 250 grams, pass the TRUST safety test, maintain visual line of sight, fly below 400 feet, and equip Remote ID. Sacramento County Regional Parks ordinances prohibit launching or landing drones in regional parks (including the American River Parkway) without a Special Use Permit. Large portions of the county sit under Sacramento International (SMF) Class C, Sacramento Mather, and McClellan Airfield airspace, requiring LAANC authorization before flight. Flights over people, moving vehicles, or at night require additional Part 107 authorization.
FAA can assess civil penalties up to 27,500 dollars plus criminal penalties up to 250,000 dollars for interference with aircraft. County park citations start at 100 dollars.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Sacramento County.
See how other cities in Sacramento County handle recreational drones.
See how Herald's recreational drones rules stack up against other locations.
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