Pasadena, CA Drone Rules: Recreational Drones (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Municipal Code Chapter 9.45, Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- Adopted
- Ordinance No. 7303, May 22, 2017
- Banned zones
- Reckless flight over streets; 7 listed sensitive facility types
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under Section 9.45.050
- Exemptions
- Law enforcement and city-contracted operators on city business
Summary
Pasadena's drone ordinance, Chapter 9.45 of the Municipal Code, bars flying a drone recklessly over public streets and sidewalks and bans drone takeoff, operation, or landing over Glenarm Power Plant, police and fire stations, city hall, the city yards, water and electric facilities, transit operations sites, and light rail lines. Violators face a misdemeanor charge.
Unless otherwise permitted under this chapter, persons are prohibited from taking off, operating, or landing a drone in any airspace or area within or over the following areas of the city: A.Flights over public streets and sidewalks, where a drone is operated in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another, as these terms may be used by applicable Federal Aviation Administration regulations, including, but not limited to, 14 CFR Sections 91.13 and/or 107.23; ... C.Glenarm Power Plant, police and fire stations, city hall, the city yards, water storage and electric transmission facilities, transit operations facilities, and light rail lines, facilities, and stations.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 79 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
A defines a "drone" as any unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system flown under a remote pilot's control or by GPS-guided autopilot. 23, keeping the local rule inside the takeoff/landing-site and reckless-operation authority the FAA leaves to municipalities rather than regulating navigable airspace. C separately bans drone flights over a named list of sensitive city sites: the Glenarm Power Plant, police and fire stations, city hall, the city yards, water storage and electric transmission facilities, transit operations facilities, and light rail lines, facilities, and stations.
040 exempts drone use by any law enforcement agency acting lawfully and by the city or a city-contracted agent conducting city business, including surveying and mapping property, inspecting infrastructure, monitoring traffic, and recording local events; those exemptions do not extend to private recreational or commercial flights. The chapter, known as "the drone ordinance," was adopted by Ordinance No. 24 of the Pasadena Municipal Code.
Violations & Fines
Any person who takes off, operates, or lands a drone over a banned site, or flies it in a careless or reckless manner over a public street or sidewalk as measured against FAA rules 14 CFR 91.13 and 107.23, is guilty of a misdemeanor under Section 9.45.050 and is punished as provided in Chapter 1.24 of the Pasadena Municipal Code. The Section 9.45.040 exemptions for law enforcement and city-contracted operators on city business do not cover private recreational or commercial flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly my recreational drone anywhere in Pasadena?
Does FAA registration exempt me from Pasadena's drone ordinance?
What happens if I violate the drone ordinance?
Are there any exceptions to the drone ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pasadena
California rules heatmap·Compare Pasadena to another location·View the California drone rules overview
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