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CA – California

Flag courtesy of Wikipedia

This iconic view of Yosemite Falls, a major attraction in Yosemite National Park in California, shows both the upper and lower falls. The falls come from Yosemite Creek, rushing in the spring from snow melt.

Photo courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

California government website just for reference.

California Legislature in case more laws were written since this book was published.

Map courtesy of Wikipedia

Google Earth

Last updated on February 28, 2025

Airspace

In addition to checking the FAA UAS Facility Map or B4UFLY or SkyVector or Google Maps one should consider also FAA JO 7400.10F – Special Use Airspace which is an order, published yearly, providing a listing of all regulatory and non-regulatory special use airspace areas, as well as issued but not yet implemented amendments to those areas established by the FAA.

Special Use Airspace consists of airspace of defined dimensions identified by an area on the surface of the earth wherein activities must be confined because of their nature, or wherein limitations are imposed upon aircraft operations that are not a part of those activities, or both. The vertical limits of special use airspace are measured by designated altitude floors and ceilings expressed as flight levels or as feet above MSL. Unless otherwise specified, the word “to” (an altitude or flight level) means “to and including” (that altitude or flight level). The horizontal limits of special use airspace are measured by boundaries described by geographic coordinates or other appropriate references that clearly define their perimeter. The period of time during which a designation of special use airspace is in effect is stated in the designation. All bearings and radials in this part are true from point of origin. Unless otherwise specified, all mileages in this part are stated as statute miles.

Restricted Areas: No person may operate an aircraft within a restricted area between the designated altitudes and during the time of designation, unless they have the advance permission of:

(a) The using agency described in § 73.15; or

(b) The controlling agency described in § 73.17.

These using agencies may be the agency, organization, or military command whose activity within a restricted area necessitated the area being so designated. Upon the request of the FAA, the using agency shall execute a letter establishing procedures for joint use of a restricted area by the using agency and the controlling agency, under which the using agency would notify the controlling agency whenever the controlling agency may grant permission for transit through the restricted area in accordance with the terms of the letter. The using agency shall:

(1) Schedule activities within the restricted area;

(2) Authorize transit through, or flight within, the restricted area as feasible; and

(3) Contain within the restricted area all activities conducted therein in accordance with the purpose for which it was designated.

For the purposes of this part, the controlling agency is the FAA facility that may authorize transit through or flight within a restricted area in accordance with a joint-use letter issued under § 73.15.

Prohibited Areas: No person may operate an aircraft within a prohibited area unless authorization has been granted by the using agency. For the purpose of this subpart, the using agency is the agency, organization or military command that established the requirements for the prohibited area.

Military Operations Areas: A Military Operations Area (MOA) is airspace established outside of Class A airspace to separate/segregate certain nonhazardous military activities from IFR traffic and to identify for VFR traffic where these activities are conducted. Activities. MOA’s are established to contain certain military activities such as air combat maneuvers, air intercepts, acrobatics, etc.

Alert Areas:  Airspace which may contain a high volume of pilot training activities or an unusual type of aerial activity, neither of which is hazardous to aircraft.

Warning Areas: A non regulatory warning area is airspace of defined dimensions designated over international waters that contains activity which may be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft. The purpose of such warning areas is to warn nonparticipating pilots of the potential danger. Activities may be hazardous.

National Security Areas: A national security area (NSA) consists of airspace of defined vertical and lateral dimensions established at locations where there is a requirement for increased security of ground facilities. The purpose of such national security areas is to request pilot cooperation by voluntarily avoiding flight through the NSA. When circumstances dictate a need for a greater level of security, flight in an NSA may be temporarily prohibited by regulation under the provisions of 14 CFR Section 99.7, Special Security Instructions. Such prohibitions will be issued by FAA Headquarters and disseminated via the US NOTAM System.

 

Crewed Aircraft in your Airspace

CREWED AIRCRAFT

If you want to be informed about crewed aircraft flying in the vicinity of your drone operation, you can always check with apps like FlightAware or ADS-B Exchange

 

CADOT

CADOT

Start by checking

CADOT UAS

 

California State Drone Statutes

Civil Code – 43.101 Division 1 – Persons Part 2 – Personal Rights

 

Food and Agricultural Code – 11901 Division 6 – Pest Control Operations Chapter 5 – Aircraft Operation Regulation

 

Government Code – 853 Title 1 – General Division 3.6 – Claims and actions against public entities and public employees

Part 2 – Liability of public entities and public employees Chapter 4.5 – Unmanned Aircraft

Government Code – 853.5 Title 1 – General Division 3.6 – Claims and actions against public entities and public employees Part 2 – Liability of public entities and public employees Chapter 4.5 – Unmanned Aircraft

 

Civil Code 1708.8 DIVISION 3. OBLIGATIONS  PART 3. OBLIGATIONS IMPOSED BY LAW

Penal Code – 402 Part 1 – Of crimes and punishments Title 10 – Of crimes against the public health and safety

Penal Code – 647 Part 1 – Of crimes and punishments Title 15 – Miscellaneous crimes Chapter 2 – Of other and miscellaneous offenses

Penal Code – 4577 Title 5 – Offenses relating to prisons and prisoners Chapter 3 – Unauthorized Communications with Prisons and Prisoners

 

Local Ordinances and Policies

Adelanto

17.80.101   Cannabis Transportation.

 

Alhambra

§ 14.04.030 UNLAWFUL ACTS IN PARKS OR PUBLIC GROUNDS.

 

Anaheim

Anaheim Code 6.43

6.43.010   DEFINITIONS.

6.43.020   OPERATION OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT AND UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.

 

Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills Section 5-6-604 Prohibition against using an UA to record or transmit visual or audio recordings

 

Brea City

§ 12.00.050 PROHIBITED CONDUCT GENERALLY.

 

California Department of Parks and Recreation

Unmanned Aircraft System (Drones) in State Parks

 

California Film Commission

California Film Commission

Filming with Drones

 

California State Parks

California State Parks – Santa Cruz District UAS Rules

 

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary UAS Rules

 

Chula Vista

Chula Vista Municipal Code 2.66.180 Operation of Model airplanes and certain other vehicles prohibited

2023 – Chula Vista police address use of drones involving medical facilities

 

City of Calabasas

City of Calabasas Municipal Code 9.10 Drones and UAS

 

City of Los Angeles

City of Los Angeles Municipal Code 56.31 – UAS

 

City of Malibu

City of Malibu Filming Permit issued in accordance with Malibu Municipal Code Chapter 5.20

 

City of Santa Clara

Chapter 8.60 UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS

City of Santa Clara Police Department UAS Deployment Summary

 

Culver City

§ 3.04.400 DEFINITIONS.

§ 9.10.055 PROHIBITIONS.

 

Daly City 

Daly City Municipal Code 12.36.050 – Prohibited acts

 

Danville

13-2.3   Prohibitions.

 

Eureka

§ 104.02 DEFINITIONS.

 

Fullerton

3.80.020   Permits, Applications and exemptions.

 

Greater Farallones Marine Sanctuary

Greater Farallones Marine Sanctuary UAS Rules

 

Hermosa Beach

Hermosa Beach Municipal Code 9.38 – Drones, UA, and Model Aircraft

 

Indio

CHAPTER 105: DRONE REGULATIONS

 

La Mesa

La Mesa Municipal Code 9.08.150 – Model aircraft prohibited

 

Livingston

§ 10-14-4 DEFINITIONS.

 

Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos Municipal Code 8.52 – UAS

 

Los Angeles

SEC. 56.31. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.

 

Marin County

Marin County Code 10.03.060 – Miscellaneous activities.

 

Menifee

§ 11.50.020 DEFINITIONS.

 

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Lands

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Lands – ORDINANCE FOR USE OF MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT LANDS – 409.4 Model Craft

 

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Resource Issues: Aircraft, Model Aircraft, & Drones

 

National Park Service – Golden Gate

National Park Service – Golden Gate – No Drone Zone

 

Orange County Parks

Orange County Parks – Park Rules

 

Oxnard

SEC. 7-301. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES.

 

Palo Alto

2.30.680   Definitions.

 

Pismo Beach

12.20.080 Beach safety zone—Aircraft prohibited.

12.20.110 Beach safety zone—Exceptions.

 

Port of Los Angeles

Port of Los Angeles UAS Permits

 

Rancho Mirage

Rancho Mirage Municipal Code 5.12.270 Prohibited acts.

 

Reedley

5-14-2: DEFINITIONS

 

Sacramento County

Sacramento County Code 9.36.068 Games.

10.34.030   Relevant circumstances to prove a violation.

 

San Benito County

§ 5.03.174 DEFINITIONS.

§ 7.02.130 OPERATING REQUIREMENTS FOR OUT OF COUNTY DELIVERY SERVICES.

§ 25.08.020 UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS SHIPPING/DELIVERY SERVICES.

§ 25.09.002 DEFINITIONS.

 

San Diego County

San Diego County Code 32 CHAPTER 16. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS

San Diego County Code 41 SEC. 41.130. WALKWAYS, BICYCLES, WHEELED AND MOTORIZED DEVICES.

San Diego UAS Integration Pilot Program Guide

 

San Francisco

San Francisco City Code 3.09 – Airplanes, Helicopters, Hot Air Balloons, Etc. Prohibited

SEC. 19B.2. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVAL OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY POLICY.

SEC. 96I.2. IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

SEC. 1622. DELIVERIES OF CANNABIS AND CANNABIS PRODUCTS TO CUSTOMERS.

SEC. 1626. CANNABIS DISTRIBUTORS.

SEC. 5600. FINDINGS.

 

San Marino

11.08.09: UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS

17.02.03: PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

 

Santa Clara County

CHAPTER X. – UNMANNED AIRCRAFT

 

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority and Drones

Reservations and Permits

Access and Use Regulations see list below

11.01.01 Regulation of Model Aircraft and Drones

11.01.02 Prohibited Conduct

11.01.03 Exceptions

11.01.04 Permits to Land, Launch or Operate UAS

 

Santa Paula

§ 39.02 DEFINITIONS.

 

West Hollywood Film Commission

West Hollywood Film Commission

 

Yorba Linda

Chapter 8.52 – UAS

 

University Drone Policies

California Polytechnic State University

California State University- Northridge

Cal Poly Humboldt

Fresno State University

Loyola Marymount University

Northeastern University

Notre Dame du Lac University

Occidental College

Pacific Lutheran University

Pepperdine University

San Jose University

Sonoma State University

Stanford University

University of California

UC Santa Barbara

University of Redlands

University of San Francisco

University of Southern California

Note: This list is just a sample… many more could be added.

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Regulations & Policies

2023 – Nevada County Transportation Commission – Aviation Reports – AAM

2023 – SB 800 – Advanced Air Mobility and Aviation Electrification Committee – enacted 21208 – to set up an AAM, Zero-Emission, Electrification Aviation advisory panel. The report is due to the Legislature by January 1, 2025.

2023 – Senator Anna M. Caballero Announces Legislation To Advanced Air Mobility And Aviation Electrification

 

2022 – Caltrans AAM Digitization

 

2021 – LA DOT UAM Policygrounded in the values and goals outlined in the LADOT Strategic Plan Update 2021-2023, the Urban Mobility in a Digital Age Strategic Plan, and the Principles of the Urban Sky.

 

 

 

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) News

 

2024 – Supernal aims to launch flying cars at 2028 LA Olympics

2024 – Supernal aiming to be “first to scale” with S-A2 eVTOL

2024 – Archer Aviation Unveils Vision For Air Mobility Network In Los Angeles

2024 – Archer maps out air taxi network around Los Angeles, California

2024 – California grants approval for Archer to expand power-train facilities

2024 – California authority supports Archer’s electric powertrain facility

2024 – Archer, Southwest Airlines to develop air taxi network in California

2024 – Southwest Airlines And Archer Aviation Partner On Electric Air Taxi Service In California

2024 – Joby shares eVTOL air taxi rollout plans

2024 – Archer, Kilroy Building Electric Air Taxi Network in Bay Area

2024 – Supernal researchers investigate UAM route planning in the high-density airspace of Los Angeles

2024 – Clay Lacy Aviation and Overair partner to introduce AAM to Southern California

2024 – Los Angeles Airport issues RFIC to industry for vertiport development in three potential sites

2024 – Atlantic Aviation And Archer Aviation Align To Pursue Development Of Electric Aircraft Infrastructure Across LA, Northern California, South Florida, And NYC Regions

2024 – Joby and Clay Lacy partner to bring first electric air taxi charger to Southern California

 

 

Urban Movement Labs – AAM partnership –  501(c)(3) nonprofit organization – collaboration between the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), and Urban Movement Labs – engaging conversations with residents across the city to ensure community voices are shaping our plans for the future.

 

Short Essay Questions

Question 1

You have been hired by a Drone Startup Company. Your boss has immediately assigned this job to you.

They need you to prepare a one-page memo detailing the legalities of filming a wedding near Yosemite Falls, pictured above.

They need you to mention any state laws and local ordinances.

They specifically want to know what airspace (insert pictures) you will be operating in, and whether or not you need an airspace authorization, with or without LAANC capability.

Lastly, there is a bonus for you if, as you scroll through this chapter, you find any typos or broken links!

Question 2

Do the state drone laws implicate the First Amendment? If so, describe, citing the exact law.

Question 3

Do the state drone laws implicate the Fourth Amendment? Or involve law enforcement officers obtaining warrants? If so, describe, citing the exact law.

Question 4

Do the state drone laws contain a preemption clause? If so, describe, citing the exact law.

Question 5

Does the state have UAM/AAM laws? If so, describe, citing the exact law.

Question 6

Are you aware of any new laws or policies not mentioned above? If so, describe, citing the exact law or policy.

 

 

 

License

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Drones and AAM Across the World Copyright © 2023 by Sarah Nilsson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.