Waukegan, IL Drone Rules: Recreational Drones (2026)
Key Facts
- Purpose limit
- Hobby/recreational flight only, no business use
- Altitude cap
- 400 feet above ground level
- Visual line of sight
- Unaided, no binoculars or FPV goggles
- Flight window
- No flying between dusk and dawn
- FAA exemption
- Section 333 or Part 107 waiver holders
- Fine range
- $250.00 to $750.00 per offense
Summary
Waukegan limits small unmanned aircraft, including hobby drones, to recreational use only under City Code Sec. 15-141(b)(1), with a 400-foot altitude ceiling, a visual-line-of-sight requirement, and a dusk-to-dawn flight ban, while carving out an exception for anyone the FAA has specifically authorized to fly under federal rules.
(4)"Hobby or recreational purposes" means a pursuit engaged in for relaxation, and not for business purposes, and not for compensation or hire.(b)Operation regulations. No person shall operate any small unmanned aircraft in city airspace:(1)Except for hobby or recreational purposes only, and in conformity with this chapter; ... (4)At an altitude higher than 400 feet above ground level; ... (c)Exemptions from this chapter.(1)Operations authorized by the FAA. Notwithstanding the prohibitions set forth in this chapter, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit, limit or otherwise restrict any person who is authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to operate a small unmanned aircraft in city airspace, pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 or a certificate of waiver, certificate of authorization or airworthiness certificate under Section 44704 of Title 49 of the United States Code.(d)Penalty. Any person who violates this chapter, or any provision or rule promulgated hereunder shall be fined not less than $250.00 nor more than $750.00 for each offense.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 113).
Full Breakdown
Section 15-141(a)(4) defines 'hobby or recreational purposes' as flying for relaxation and not for business, compensation, or hire, and subsection (b)(1) requires that any small unmanned aircraft operated in city airspace be flown for hobby or recreational purposes only and in conformity with the rest of the chapter. Beyond that, subsection (b) layers on a 400-foot altitude ceiling, a requirement to keep the aircraft within the operator's own unaided visual line of sight without binoculars, night-vision, or first-person-view goggles, a ban on flying between dusk and dawn, a ban on flying when weather impairs safe operation, and a ban on flying under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
S. Code, are not restricted by this local chapter, and neither are drones operated by the city or another public agency for government purposes. The chapter also makes clear it does not authorize anything the FAA itself prohibits, so a hobbyist still has to follow federal temporary flight restrictions and notices to airmen on top of these local limits.
Violations & Fines
A hobby drone flight that isn't purely recreational, exceeds 400 feet, strays beyond the operator's own visual line of sight, or happens between dusk and dawn is fined not less than $250.00 nor more than $750.00 per offense under Sec. 15-141(d), with each day a violation continues counted separately, and the drone itself can be seized after a second offense or one causing injury or damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly my hobby drone at night in Waukegan?
How high can I fly a recreational drone in Waukegan?
Does an FAA drone license override Waukegan's local rules?
What's the penalty for violating Waukegan's drone rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waukegan
Compare Waukegan to another location·View the Illinois drone rules overview
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