Information on Drones

An Unmanned Aircraft System, commonly referred to as a drone, is an aircraft without a pilot onboard controlled from an operator on the ground. It is the responsibility of the drone operator to understand and abide by the rules established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The City of Irvine does not regulate the operation of drones in the City. Drones are permitted to be flown in City parks, recognizing it is the responsibility of every pilot to understand and abide by FAA regulations. Pilots who operate drones for commercial/work purposes (e.g. photography, inspections, real estate, aerial surveying, etc.) are required to obtain an Irvine Business License.  

For more information, resources and rules associated with flying drones, including whether you are required to register your drone with the FAA, please visit the Federal Aviation Administration’s website at https://www.faa.gov/uas/. 

The FAA also sponsors a free “B4UFLY” (Before You Fly) smartphone app to help drone operators determine whether there are any restrictions or requirements in effect at the location where they want to fly. The app can be found here.

If you have any questions regarding the operation of drones in the City of Irvine, please contact:

To report an emergency related to the operation of a drone, please contact Irvine Police Dispatch at 911 or 949-724-7200.