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Rules in SF

ollyglenn

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Just saw this about Golden Gate Park:

DRONES

Park Code Section 3.09, prohibits “apparatus of aviation” without a permit or permission from the Recreation & Park Department. At this point there is a moratorium on the flying of drones in our parks and we are not issuing permits. There are significant safety concerns and impacts on other park users.

FAQ’s | San Francisco Recreation and Park




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I believe that most drones are OK to fly in most California state parks (as long as the drones are flown properly and safely). Just need to get out of San Francisco.
 
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Section 3.09 is here: Full text of "San Francisco Park Code" and it states the following word for word:

SEC. 3.09. AIRPLANES, HELICOPTERS,
HOT AIR BALLOONS, ETC. PROHIBITED.

No person shall launch nor land any air-
plane, helicopter, parachute, hang glider, hot air
balloon, nor any other machine or apparatus of
aviation in any park, nor shall any person bring
into any park any balloon with a diameter of
more than six feet or a gas capacity of more than
115 cubic feet, without permission of the Recre-
ation and Park Department. This Section shall
not be applicable to a helicopter being used to
transport persons or supplies because of an emer-
gency situation. (Added by Ord. 603-81, App.
12/18/81)


A. At first I was thinking that drones fall into the "apparatus of aviation," however if you look at the examples (helicopter, plane, parachute, ect), those are all vehicles or apparatus that are attached to a person. It doesn't specify model aircraft. If the code is going to be consistent with those of other cities (and I've seen quite a few as I've been researching this like a crazy person), it would have its own category which include model aircraft, meaning something that is small scale and operated by an individual who is NOT physically attached to the apparatus.

This section was from 1981. Back then we didn't have RC helicopters, at least not being offered on the consumer level to a degree that would warrant it's own section of the code. Like cities have admitted, the code hasn't caught up to the technology. However, if iron man came by, he would be prohibited from Golden Gate Park if he wore his suit since he's attached to the apparatus.

3.09 doesn't apply to model aircraft or small scale aircraft as far as it appears.

B. Notice it also only says that we can't launch nor land. Again, if this code was going to be stay consistent with how other city codes are presented, it would say "in" or "through". So technically speaking, we can fly above Golden Gate Park if we don't take of or land there.

C. FAA regulations still apply in that we need to stay under 400' of our takeoff point and can't fly over people nor within 25' of a person (whether above or to the side of).

D. Another reason why I don't see that Section 3.09 applies to us is the absent mention of "motorized". Other city codes that prohibit drone use will specifically indicate whether the restriction is on "motorized" apparatus, "non-motorized," either or both. There's no mention of it in Section 3.09 at all one way or the other.
 
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I read the words:
"nor any other machine or apparatus of aviation in any park"
Have fun with the Judge with that if you get ticketed/cited........
 
Be careful in the People's Socialist Republic of San Francisco. You could end up ordered to drone sensitivy training.
 
There's already a startup company in SF called Dedrone that develops software to detect drones nearby to prevent it from taking off.
 
That
There's already a startup company in SF called Dedrone that develops software to detect drones nearby to prevent it from taking off.
That would require jamming frequencies, which is illegal. Then again they could be seeking a government contract.
 
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Just got a citation flying in Huntington park, SF.
I know that it's not allowed to operate a drone in Golden Gate park, but there is no any drone restrictions found for Huntington park.
Will see how much I have to pay, suppose it's $125 + fee.
 
The regulations quoted above is for all San Francisco owned parks, state parks have a strict ban (and include presidio and ocean beach) golden gate park is also city owned and therefore the restriction actually doesn't apply to golden gate park

One thing to point out, 3.09 and the referenced 7.04 (a) (1) only prohibits take off and landing in city parks... so /technically/ taking off from the street/parking lot, and flying in the park is perfectly fine under that regulation

furthermore, the regulation is clearly intended to prevent manned aircraft from landing/taking off from the park, section 3.09 even goes on to clarify that no permit is required for emergency services like a medical air lift etc.
 
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Just got a citation flying in Huntington park, SF.
I know that it's not allowed to operate a drone in Golden Gate park, but there is no any drone restrictions found for Huntington park.
Will see how much I have to pay, suppose it's $125 + fee.
what happened with this citation, did you just pay it or did you fight it?
 
"No person shall launch or land..."

So it's legal to launch and land somewhere else and fly over the park. I'd do it just to flip the bird at those morons. :D
 
"No person shall launch or land..."

So it's legal to launch and land somewhere else and fly over the park. I'd do it just to flip the bird at those morons. :D

well, since I live right next to one of their parks I'll potentially be doing a lot of it... lol
 
I think your only choice is to fly above and through the parks in the City.

Being in Marin myself, I want to know if it's legal to fly at Marin Headlands?
 
I think your only choice is to fly above and through the parks in the City.

Being in Marin myself, I want to know if it's legal to fly at Marin Headlands?

The Marin Headlands is a "Golden Gate National Park" (these guys: www.parksconservancy.org), They have formally (and correctly) imposed a ban on all drones, no exceptions, so you're out of luck as far as that's concerned...

The AIRMAP app is a pretty good resource for this, but that shows Golden Gate Park as a safe zone to fly (as well as all other San Francisco Municipal parks)
 
So are there any good (legal-ish) places to fly in SF? I'm going to be there in a few weeks.

I've seen people fly around cupids span near the ferry building, not a municipal or state park and you should have the water open to you as well, that's on my list of places right now
 
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"No person shall launch or land..."

So it's legal to launch and land somewhere else and fly over the park. I'd do it just to flip the bird at those morons. :D
As it was explained to me, the FAA only regulates the air space - and no one else can regulate the air space. However, they deliberately do not control the land - so the park's dept has the right to regulate the use of their land. Therefore, they can stop you from taking off or landing, but not from flying over their land....as I understand it.
 
Just saw this about Golden Gate Park:

DRONES

Park Code Section 3.09, prohibits “apparatus of aviation” without a permit or permission from the Recreation & Park Department. At this point there is a moratorium on the flying of drones in our parks and we are not issuing permits. There are significant safety concerns and impacts on other park users.

FAQ’s | San Francisco Recreation and Park




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Thank for the info, headed to San Francisco in October. apricate the heads up.
 
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