Yes, it's legal to fly a drone in Los Angeles, but the rules are tight. You follow FAA rules plus the city's own drone ordinance, Los Angeles Municipal Code 56.31. City parks don't allow drone takeoffs or landings, and LAX, Burbank and several other airports put much of the area in controlled airspace.
The LA drone ordinance (LAMC 56.31)
Los Angeles adopted its ordinance in 2015. For recreational pilots it requires you to:
- keep the drone within your own unaided line of sight
- stay below 400 feet
- fly only in daylight
- get permission from the airport's control tower before flying within 5 miles of an airport
- stay at least 25 feet from any person other than you and your helpers, except during takeoff and landing
Commercial operators must follow FAA rules, including TFRs and NOTAMs. Breaking the ordinance can be charged as a misdemeanor. Note that FAA rules now let recreational pilots get airspace approval through LAANC instead of calling a tower, but the city's 25-foot and daylight rules are still local requirements.
Parks and landmarks
- City parks. Los Angeles park rules prohibit launching or landing powered model aircraft in city parks, which includes Griffith Park and the trails to the Hollywood Sign. See can you fly a drone near the Hollywood Sign.
- Santa Monica Mountains. Much of it is National Park Service land, where drones are banned, or state park land, where district orders apply.
- Beaches. City and county beaches have their own rules, and many beach cities restrict drones. Check the city before you launch.
Airspace
LAX Class B airspace covers a big part of the basin, and Burbank and John Wayne airports have Class C airspace. Long Beach, Van Nuys, Santa Monica and others add more controlled airspace, plus hospital helipads and police helicopters. Check B4UFLY or Aloft at your exact launch point every time.
Orange County
Orange County bans remote-controlled models in its parks and beaches outside designated areas (OC code Sec. 2-5-42). Cities such as Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach each have their own rules, and John Wayne Airport's Class C airspace covers much of the central county. For one popular beach city, see Huntington Beach drone laws.
California state law
California has laws on privacy and image capture, and state parks allow drones only where a district superintendent hasn't banned them. See California drone laws and our state park guide.
Your checklist
- Pass the TRUST test or hold a Part 107 certificate for paid work.
- Register drones of 250 g or more.
- Get LAANC approval in controlled airspace.
- Launch from private property with permission, never from a city park.
- Keep 25 feet from people and fly in daylight.
A good LA drone
A quiet, light drone causes the fewest problems around people. The DJI Mini 5 Pro and Mini 4 Pro weigh 249 g with the standard battery, and the DJI Neo is 135 g for short selfie clips on private land.
Rules current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
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