Sonoma County, CA Drone Rules: Recreational Drones (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Sonoma County Code § 19-63
- Applies to
- small unmanned aircraft (drones) countywide
- Prohibited conduct
- interfering with public safety operations
- Penalty
- misdemeanor or administrative citation
- Exempt
- government-operated drones
Summary
Sonoma County bans flying a drone in ways that impede firefighting, search and rescue, law enforcement, or other public safety operations, with violations charged as a misdemeanor or public nuisance.
It is unlawful for a person to operate a small unmanned aircraft or small unmanned aircraft system in a manner that impedes, obstructs and/or interferes with firefighting, emergency, search and rescue, law enforcement, detention, or other government operations related to a public safety event.(b)Any violation of this article is declared a public nuisance.(c)Violations of this section may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor, a public nuisance, or as an administrative citation for fines and penalties pursuant Chapter 1, Sections 1.-7 through 1.-7.6 of the Sonoma County Code of Ordinances.(d)Any administrative citation issued for a violation of this section shall be administered pursuant to the county of Sonoma's administrative citation program in Chapter 1, Section 1.-7.6 of the Sonoma County Code of Ordinances.(e)This section shall not supersede or limit the remedies provided elsewhere in local, state or federal laws or regulations, including other administrative citation remedies or criminal prosecution. Issuance of an administrative citation may be exercised in place of, but shall not be deemed a waiver of, the use of any other available enforcement remedy. Enforcement remedies under this section are nonexclusive. The use of the remedies under this section is at the sole discretion of the county. However, the Sonoma County District Attorney shall have sole discretion to determine whether a violation will be prosecuted criminally. (Ord. No. 6350, § I, 8-17-2021)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Sonoma County Code § 19-63 makes it unlawful to operate a small unmanned aircraft or system in a manner that impedes, obstructs, or interferes with firefighting, emergency, search and rescue, law enforcement, detention, or other government operations tied to a public safety event such as a fire, crime scene, or natural disaster. The county adopted the rule in 2021 to keep recreational and commercial drones out of the way of first responders. Every violation is declared a public nuisance and can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or handled through the county's administrative citation program under Chapter 1, § 1-7.6. Drones owned or operated by public agencies are exempt.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 19-63 is a public nuisance, prosecutable as a misdemeanor or cited administratively under Chapter 1, § 1-7.6; the Sonoma County District Attorney decides whether to pursue criminal charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a recreational drone in unincorporated Sonoma County?
What happens if my drone interferes with a wildfire response?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma County to another location·View the California drone rules overview
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