Santa Barbara County, CA Drone Rules: Recreational Drones (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- drones need director's prior written permission (Sec. 26-22)
- Exception
- emergency use, no permission required
- Applies to
- all county recreation areas in unincorporated county
- Related rule
- model-aircraft permit rule (Sec. 26-22.1)
- Penalty
- infraction or misdemeanor, DA's discretion (Sec. 26-6)
Summary
Launching, landing or operating a drone anywhere in a Santa Barbara County recreation area, meaning any county park, beach, trail or open space in the unincorporated county, requires the community services director's prior written permission under Sec. 26-22, absent an emergency.
Sec. 26-22. - Landing aircraft. No person shall land, launch or operate any aircraft, including, without limitation, any balloon designed to carry passengers, airplane, hang glider, ultralight airplane, glider, drone or flying apparatus on or within any county recreation area except in case of emergency or with the prior written permission of the director of community services or deputy.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. ' A companion rule, Sec. ' The county regulates drone takeoff and landing on the county-owned recreation land it manages, not the airspace itself, which remains under FAA jurisdiction; the county's authority here rests on its role as landowner and operator of county parks, beaches and trails in the unincorporated area, the same basis it uses to require permits for model aircraft, tents, guy wires, excavation and other physical uses of park property elsewhere in Chapter 26 Article I. Because the rule is tied to 'county recreation area,' it does not reach private property, other public agencies' land, or the separate park systems of Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Goleta, Carpinteria or Buellton.
Violations & Fines
Operating a drone in a county recreation area without the director's prior written permission, or outside an emergency, violates Sec. 26-22 and is prosecuted under the Chapter 26 general penalty at Sec. 26-6: an infraction or misdemeanor at the district attorney's discretion, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense, plus possible ejection from the park under Sec. 26-7 and confiscation of the drone under Sec. 26-8.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to fly a recreational drone in a Santa Barbara County park?
Doesn't federal law preempt local drone rules?
What happens if I fly a drone in a county park without permission?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Barbara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Barbara County to another location·View the California drone rules overview
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