so i just got my first drone like two weeks ago, its a mini 3 pro, and i want to take it out to the beach this weekend. i live near santa monica. i dont really know how the whole FAA thing works or if theres separate california rules on top of that. i registered it on the FAA website already so i thought i was good but then i saw something about local ordinances and now im confused again. do beaches have their own rules? does it matter if its a state beach vs a city beach? i really dont want to get a fine or have some ranger come yell at me

yeah this is one of those things that trips everyone up. so the FAA rules are federal and they cover stuff like airspace, staying under 400ft, not flying over people etc. but states and cities can add their own rules on top of that and they totally do. california state parks have a blanket ban on drones unless you get a permit and those are not easy to get. santa monica city beach is almost certainly off limits too, the city of santa monica has had restrictions for years. your best bet honestly is to just look up the specific beach on the city or parks website before you go. also check B4UFLY app, it wont tell you about local ordinances but at least you can see if youre in controlled airspace which near santa monica you probably are because of LAX.

i tried flying near manhattan beach last summer and a lifeguard told me to land immediately. didnt get a fine but it was embarrassing lol. just drive out somewhere less crowded honestly, way less hassle