Information on Drones

An unmanned aircraft system, commonly called a drone, is an aircraft without a pilot onboard controlled by an operator on the ground. The drone operator must understand and abide by the rules established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

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

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

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

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

• Sergeant Chris Bees – (949) 724-7015 x4304 (cbees@cityofirvine.org)
• Sergeant Steve Meyer – (949) 724-7167 (snmeyer@cityofirvine.org)

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