Indio, CA Drone Rules: Recreational Drones (2026)
Key Facts
- Weight limit
- 0.55 lb (250 g) or less
- Class G altitude cap
- 400 feet above ground
- Test required
- FAA TRUST aeronautical exam
- Controlled airspace
- prior FAA authorization needed
- Citation
- Indio Municipal Code § 105.05(A)
Summary
Indio's drone ordinance exempts recreational flyers from local certification only if they meet the FAA's own sub-250-gram, visual-line-of-sight, and TRUST-test conditions: anything more requires full Chapter 105 compliance.
In accordance with 14 C.F.R. § 48.15 and 49 U.S.C.A. § 44809, a person may operate a drone or unmanned aircraft in the City of Indio without specific certification or operating authority from the Federal Aviation Administration if the operation adheres to all of the following limitations:
(1) The aircraft weighs 0.55 pounds (250 grams) or less on takeoff, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft.
(2) The aircraft is flown strictly for recreational purposes.
(3) The aircraft is operated in accordance with or within the programming of a community-based organization's set of safety guidelines that are developed in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration.
(4) The aircraft is flown within the visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft or a visual observer co-located and in direct communication with the operator.
(5) The aircraft is operated in a manner that does not interfere with and gives way to any manned aircraft.
(6) In Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport, the operator obtains prior authorization from the Administrator or designee before operating and complies with all airspace restrictions and prohibitions.
(7) In Class G airspace, the aircraft is flown from the surface to not more than 400 feet above ground level and complies with all airspace restrictions and prohibitions.
(8)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4796010; v13 updated 2026-02-04; through 02-04-2026).
Full Breakdown
Indio Municipal Code § 105.05(A) lets a person fly a drone in the city without FAA certification only if the aircraft weighs 0.55 pounds (250 grams) or less, is flown strictly for recreation, stays within visual line of sight, yields to manned aircraft, and, under 49 U.S.C. § 44809, the operator has passed the FAA's TRUST aeronautical knowledge test. Class G flights are capped at 400 feet above ground level; controlled (Class B/C/D/E surface) airspace requires prior FAA authorization first. Indio sets no separate local weight or altitude limit of its own, the ordinance simply channels the federal recreational-flyer exception, so operations that don't meet it must satisfy all other FAA and Chapter 105 rules, including registration.
Violations & Fines
Falling outside the § 105.05(A) exemption triggers full Chapter 105 duties, including FAA registration; any Chapter 105 violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail, or a $1,000-per-day administrative fine (§ 105.07).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Indio set its own drone weight or altitude limit?
Do I need a city permit to fly a hobby drone in Indio?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Indio
California rules heatmap·Compare Indio to another location·View the California drone rules overview
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