Riverside, CA Drone Rules: Recreational Drones (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- RMC § 12.04.045
- Covers
- Hobby/recreational drone flight citywide
- Standard
- Must follow FAA Advisory Circular 91-57A
- Near airport
- Notify FAA tower within 5 miles of Riverside airport
- Commercial drones
- Need FAA certification/exemptions, not just AC 91-57A
- Adopted
- Ord. 7362 § 2, 2017
Summary
RMC § 12.04.045 requires anyone flying a hobby drone within Riverside city limits to follow FAA Advisory Circular 91-57A, and to notify the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower first if flying within five miles of Riverside Municipal Airport. Commercial drone use faces a stricter FAA-certification standard.
Flying of model aircraft within Riverside City limits shall conform to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular 91-57A, dated September 15, 2015, or as subsequently amended; and if flown within five miles of the airport, the operator shall first notify the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower. For the purpose of this chapter, Model Aircraft shall mean any unmanned aircraft (1) capable of sustained flight; (2) flown within visual line of sight of the operator; and (3) flown for hobby or recreational purposes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33).
Full Breakdown
090). For hobby flying, the section requires conformance with "the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular 91-57A, dated September 15, 2015, or as subsequently amended," and mandates that anyone flying within five miles of the Riverside Municipal Airport must first notify the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower. The ordinance defines "Model Aircraft" narrowly as an unmanned aircraft that is capable of sustained flight, flown within visual line of sight of the operator, and flown strictly for hobby or recreational purposes: a definition that tracks the federal distinction between hobbyist and commercial operators.
A second paragraph in the same section imposes a materially higher bar on "civil Unmanned Aircraft," defined as any drone flown for a purpose other than hobby or recreation, including commercial work or media services: those operators must meet FAA certification requirements, obtain any appropriate FAA exemptions, and also notify the Air Traffic Control Tower. The section, adopted by Ord. 115.
Violations & Fines
Flying a hobby drone in Riverside without following FAA Advisory Circular 91-57A, or without notifying the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower when operating within five miles of Riverside Municipal Airport, violates § 12.04.045 and is enforceable under the Code's general penalty section, § 1.01.110, as a misdemeanor or infraction. Commercial ("civil UA") operators who skip FAA certification or required exemptions face the same enforcement path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a city permit to fly a drone recreationally in Riverside?
How is a hobby drone different from a 'civil unmanned aircraft' under this code?
Does this rule apply inside Riverside's city parks too?
What happens if I fly near Riverside Municipal Airport without notifying the tower?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside
California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside to another location·View the California drone rules overview
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