Is it legal to fly a drone without FAA registration in San Francisco Bay Area?

In the San Francisco Bay Area, as in the rest of the United States, whether you need to register a drone with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) depends primarily on the purpose for which the drone is being used and its weight. For recreational flyers, drones that weigh more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) and less than 55 pounds (approximately 25 kilograms) must be registered with the FAA. This registration helps in ensuring accountability and safety in airspace management. For commercial use, all drones must be registered, regardless of weight, and operators must also obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA. Additionally, there are specific local regulations in the San Francisco Bay Area, such as restrictions on flying drones near airports or in certain parks, which must also be adhered to.

Trivia: San Francisco was one of the first major cities to experience a boom in drone usage for commercial and recreational purposes, highlighting the city’s role in adopting new technologies.