Drones
As of June 17, 2020, the City of Del Mar’s Ordinance Regulating the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the City of Del Mar prohibits:
- Reckless flying and racing;
- Flying above an altitude of 400 feet;
- Commercial flying without City and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) permits;
- Flying recreational drones over beaches (but not the ocean), the San Dieguito Lagoon, City buildings, Seagrove Park, Powerhouse Park, Crest Ridge Park and the Scripps Bluff Preserve;
- Stalking people or violating their reasonable expectations of privacy;
- Attaching weapons to drones; and
- Flying drones within 400 feet of active law enforcement or fire response scenes.
Other restrictions apply
Drones in the City of Del Mar
Introduced to protect public health and welfare, the regulations align with those of nearby jurisdictions and add to guidelines set by the FAA. Flying drones above the Del Mar Fairgrounds requires their permission.
City, public safety and other government drone operators are exempt from the regulations.
Under FAA guidelines, recreational and commercial drone operators must register and mark their aircraft. Commercial operators are required to obtain a remote pilot certificate and an FAA tracking number.
Beyond their use by hobbyists and commercial film makers, drones have become an important tool for City personnel to assess environmental conditions and infrastructure, monitor traffic and support emergency responses. Lifeguards have used drones to support cliff rescues and monitor rip currents and shark movements.