Drones were formerly unregulated flying machines you could use anywhere without any consequences. However, after a number of incidents, the Federal government stepped in to regulate drone use across the country.
California also has its selection of laws you need to be aware of. ?Sky High Hobby?, Americas go to RC community, says that hobbyists need to be aware of these laws, as the fines can quickly escalate into thousands of dollars.
So what do you need to know about flying drones in California? The Federal Take on Drone Use
First of all, it’s important to be aware of the? ?Federal rules on using drones?. These are pretty simple to understand.
The main rule is you can’t use your drone to interfere with first responders. First responders are legally immune from damaging and destroying drones that they see as interfering with an emergency response.
The second rule is you can’t use a drone to take images or video of someone engaging in an activity in a private setting. If your drone is using recording equipment, keep it away from private settings.
DO Register Your Drone
If your drone weighs more than 0.55 lbs in California, you must pay the $5 fee to register it. You’ll need to submit various information about your drone, including its serial number.
Although checks are rarely carried out, the penalties are high for getting caught. Yes, it’s a hassle, but it only costs $5 so there’s no excuse not to do it.
DON’T Fly in the Orange Coast District
California law states that no drone or model aircraft may be flown within a park unit in the entire Orange Coast District. This is a complete ban and there are no exceptions for either commercial drone units or hobbyists.
DO Be Aware of Line of Sight Issues
Many towns have strict regulations on the visual line of sight. In general, your drone shouldn’t take off or land when it’s out of your line of sight.
Towns like Yorba Linda explicitly ban takeoffs and landings within 25 feet of any other individual, unless they’re working with the drone pilot.
Different localities in California have different limits on this.
DON’T Violate Private Property Rights
Sky High Hobby says that this is where many hobbyists experience big issues. Flying into private property can cause major issues. This is one of the main reasons why drone rules were created in the first place.
First, you should never perform a take-off or landing on private property when you don’t have permission.
You should also avoid accidentally photographing or videoing any of the activities on that private property. Generally, it’s good practice to remain above 350 feet when flying over private property.
DO Take a Training Class
California has a variety of drone training classes, where you’ll learn all about the rules you must follow. They’ll also provide you with an insight into best practices when flying your drone.
If you’re interested in responsible drone use, or merely have an interest in up to date drone news and models, you can find out? ?more information here?.
Last Word – Ethical Drone Use
Formal laws came into play because many drone users weren’t practicing ethical drone use. Make sure you’re aware of both state and local ordinances on drone use.
Many localities in California have even classified rule breaches as misdemeanors.
