Recreational drone flying over Yakima County is governed mainly by federal law under 49 U.S.C. 44809. Fly below 400 feet, keep the drone in sight, register any aircraft over 0.55 lbs, and avoid McAllister Field's airspace.
Airspace is federal, so recreational pilots in Yakima County follow the FAA's recreational exception (49 U.S.C. 44809): fly strictly for fun, within visual line of sight, under 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace, and obtain LAANC authorization near Yakima Air Terminal (McAllister Field). Drones over 0.55 lbs must be FAA-registered, and every flyer must carry proof of passing the free TRUST test. Washington has not broadly preempted local drone rules, so Yakima County and City parks may restrict launching and landing on their property. Privacy and voyeurism are handled by state criminal law, not the airspace rules.
FAA penalties for unsafe or unauthorized flight can reach tens of thousands of dollars per incident. Local park launch violations draw citations, and reckless flight near the airport risks criminal charges.
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