Changes Made After Meetings With Stakeholders, Including Drone Operators

The city of Laguna Beach, CA has passed a revised drone ordinance that was crafted with the input of residents, law enforcement officials, attorneys, and professional and certified UAS pilots in the community.

The city staff said in its report the the city council that the ordinance "seeks to strike a balance between the rights of drone users to operate responsibly and the rights of the community to privacy and safety. The ordinance allows for the safe and responsible usage of drones within City boundaries in most area subject to certain requirements" and set penalties for violations.

The ordinance says that a UAV may not be operated "in a manner prohibited by any federal statute or regulation" or "in violation of any temporary flight restriction issued by the FAA." It also prohibits operation "in a reckless manner that endangers life or property" or "in a manner that violates a person's reasonable expectation of privacy."

It does prohibit the operation of drones in several city parks or over a city beach, unless it is being flown over the ocean, and over most public buildings. It also carves out an exception for city-owned and public safety aircraft

Real estate agents, media and photographers would need to obtain a city permit to use a drone for their business.

The ordinance would also seem to cover RC airplanes. It defines a "Model Aircraft" as "any unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system operated by any person strictly for hobby or recreational purposes."

The Orange County Register reports that the city council approved the ordinance on a unanimous vote at their meeting May 23. It goes into effect July 13.

(Image from file)

FMI: lagunabeachcity.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=662&meta_id=50065