San Francisco is a drone photographer’s dream. It’s got iconic bridges, rolling fog, dramatic coastlines and urban landscapes. But it’s also one of the most regulated airspaces in the country, with layers of federal, state and local rules that can confuse even experienced pilots. So how does one go about flying drones in San Francisco?
I sat down with prolific aerial photographer Eric Thurber (you can find him on Instagram @thurber_shots). He spent years mastering the art of flying legally in San Francisco while building a 120,000-follower Instagram presence and landing commercial clients like the Golden State Warriors, Sky Elements and Waymo. If anyone knows how to navigate SF’s drone regulations, it’s Thurber. And for what it’s worth, Thurber admits that a good chunk of his days are spent filling out waiver requests and dealing with various jurisdictions.
In our complete interview, we talk about all sorts of things: growing your career in drones, maximizing your Instagram presence, equipment and navigating the laws. Read it here. But because I have so many readers in San Francisco, I wanted to break out some San Francisco-specific drone flying tips.
Here’s what he shared about flying drones in San Francisco, what you need to know and how to stay on the right side of the law.
The best legal flying spots in San Francisco
Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island
These two islands just off of San Francisco, Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island, rank among Thurber’s top recommendations for drone pilots.
There’s a new park on Treasure Island worth checking out, and the top of the island where people park offers excellent vantage points.
And in fact, Treasure Island has one of really just a handful of FRIAs (that’s short for FAA-Recognized Identification Areas). That’s SF Drone School located on 13th St and affiliated with the Academy of Model Aeronautics.
However, there’s an important caveat: “Of course, you have a no-fly zone at the top — you’ve got to be careful of that,” Thurber warned. “DJI used to geofence it, but no longer does, so people can go zipping over that even when they shouldn’t.”
Sausalito
Want stunning, legal shots of the Golden Gate Bridge? Head across the bay to Sausalito.
“Sausalito is fantastic if you want shots of the Golden Gate Bridge that are nice and legal,” Thurber said. “You can take off right from the boardwalk. As long as you’re transparent with people walking by, they’re usually really good about it. Go up, keep it below 400 feet — your legal limit — and you get these shots of the Golden Gate Bridge that are wonderful.”
Important note: Sausalito has a city ordinance prohibiting drone flights after dark. This is exactly the kind of local regulation that can trip up even FAA-certified pilots.
He outlines even more spots in his video guide to the top locations to film with a drone in San Francisco.
Understanding San Francisco’s regulatory maze
Flying drones in San Francisco isn’t just about following FAA rules. You’re dealing with multiple layers of jurisdiction, and Thurber has learned to navigate all of them through years of experience (and plenty of conversations with officials). Here’s what you should do before flying drones in San Francisco:
Check for TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions)
“Most responsible pilots are going to open up their airspace app like Airaware and look for a TFR,” Thurber says. “If there’s a TFR, flat out, unless you have a waiver, don’t do it.”
TFRs are non-negotiable. Even Thurber, who has built relationships with the Department of Homeland Security and gets his drones whitelisted for major events, won’t fly if there’s a TFR in place. “If there’s a TFR, even with DHS approval, it doesn’t matter — you don’t do it.”
The SF Parks complication
Here’s where things get tricky: “SF Parks aren’t necessarily labeled on the apps, so you have to be careful,” Thurber said.
San Francisco Parks and Recreation has jurisdiction over city parks, and you need permits to fly from park property. But Thurber shared a fascinating nuance that many pilots don’t know about. Consider a place you’d want to fly drones over, like San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts.
“That’s city property, so you can’t fly in the park without permits from SF Parks and Rec,” he said.
But here’s the nuance: if you take off across the street, down the block, you can fly over. You’re now in the jurisdiction of the FAA and not the parks.
The key distinction? Parks dictate where you take off and land from, but the FAA controls the airspace above.
“Parks legally dictate where you take off and land from. They can say you cannot do that, and legally, you cannot,” Thurber said. “But if you fly from outside and use good judgment — I’m not blatant about it— that’s different. There are nuances.”
Building relationships with local authorities
One of Thurber’s secrets to success has been building relationships with the various agencies that regulate drone flight in San Francisco.
“It’s taken time to build those relationships, and they’re necessary for commercial work,” Thurber said.
His contacts include the FAA’s local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), the Department of Homeland Security, SF Parks and Recreation and even local police (though he notes they “really don’t have anything to do with drones”).
Before flying any major event, Thurber reaches out to his DHS contact, who whitelists his drone. But he emphasizes: if there’s a TFR, even those relationships don’t override it.
“The regulations exist for a reason, and working within them actually opens more doors than it closes,” he said.
Commercial vs. recreational drone flying in SF
Of course, there’s a significant difference between flying for fun and flying for commercial purposes in San Francisco.
“If you are doing commercial work, you absolutely have to be legal,” Thurber said. “Working with the City of San Francisco is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. But for hobbyist purposes, it’s relatively easy to fly in San Francisco. It’s much, much harder for commercial purposes.”
In fact, despite years of experience and $2 million in drone insurance through Skywatch AI, Thurber has yet to personally get a permit approved from the City of San Francisco for his own projects.
“Their requirements are absolutely stringent and unrealistic,” he says, noting that the city demands coverage guarantees that even his insurance company won’t underwrite, such as coverage for every person the drone might fly over.
Thurber’s approach to drone regulations was clear: follow the rules, educate yourself and work with authorities rather than against them.
“The FAA is in the business of educating you, not busting you,” he said. “If you work with them, everything works out.”
He’s learned this lesson firsthand. Early in his drone journey, he flew illegally over the Bay Bridge — a shot that went viral but ultimately taken down from the Internet the FAA’s request. “Subsequently, everything has shifted — I get waivers now, and if I can’t do it legally, I won’t do that type of thing.”
Resources and tips for flying drones in San Francisco
Essential apps and tools:
- Airaware: For checking TFRs and airspace restrictions
- B4UFLY-approved service providers (FAA): Airspace Link, Aloft, AutoPylot, Avision and UASidekick (each have separate mobile and desktop apps)
- Local city websites: SF.gov for commercial drone shoots, Presidio drone laws, SF Rec and Park drone laws
Eric Thurber’s YouTube Channel: Eric Thurber has created several videos specifically addressing these questions about flying in San Francisco. Check out his YouTube channel (Thurber_shots) for location-specific guides and regulation tutorials as well as his Instagram.
Key takeaways:
- Always check for TFRs before flying — they’re non-negotiable.
- Be aware of park boundaries and take off from outside park property when necessary.
- Understand that local ordinances (like Sausalito’s no-night-flying rule) add another layer to FAA regulations.
- Stay below 400 feet when flying recreationally.
- Be transparent with people around you when taking off from public areas.
- Keep away from geofenced areas even if your drone no longer enforces them.
- Commercial work requires significantly more permits and insurance.
- When in doubt, work with authorities rather than against them.
Want even more? Catch a clip of our conversation over at my own YouTube channel or directly below:
And don’t stop with me! Follow Eric too! For more detailed information about specific locations and techniques, follow Eric Thurber on Instagram @thurber_shots or check out his tutorials on YouTube.
The post Your guide to flying drones in San Francisco (legally): tips from Eric Thurber appeared first on The Drone Girl.