Murrieta, CA Drone Rules: Recreational Drones (2026)

Federal Aviation Administration regulations under 49 USC 44809 govern recreational drone flight nationwide, including in Murrieta. Recreational operators must fly within visual line of sight, below 400 feet above ground level, away from other aircraft, and only in uncontrolled Class G airspace or with LAANC authorization in controlled airspace. Aircraft over 250 grams must be registered with the FAA and display the registration number. All drones subject to registration must also broadcast Remote ID. Recreational pilots must pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) administered by approved test providers. Murrieta airspace interacts closely with French Valley Airport (KF70) just northeast of the city, which has controlled Class E surface areas and recommended traffic patterns; operators in the city's northern and eastern neighborhoods frequently need LAANC authorization. State Civil Code section 1708.8 also makes it a civil trespass to use a drone to capture recordings of a person in a private setting with a reasonable expectation of privacy. Launching from or landing in city parks typically requires city approval.