Drone Ban Along Majority of Oregon Coast: A Deeper Dive and Strong Reactions

Published 05/04/26 at 6:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Depoe Bay, Oregon) – As May began, a whole new set of rules hit the books regarding drones in Oregon State Parks, which essentially banned them from most beaches and any state park properties. There's still much that is – well, up in the air – about the rules, as they're going to shift and adapt in coming months. Photo Manuela Durson Fine Arts 

For now, however, it comes down to you cannot take off or operate UAS (unmanned aerial systems) from state park lands, especially from and over campgrounds. The result seemed like it would satisfy most – and it has for members of the general public. Invasion of privacy in campgrounds is one hot button issue everyone agrees on.

One small group (but an important one for tourism marketing) may be seriously impacted by the new rules set up by Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). And this may mean a few less lovely photos from the coastline.

Effective May 1, the rules in summary:

Drone take-off and landings are prohibited in all state parks, including state parks along the coast.

There are definitely areas of the coast that are not part of state parks, but they are sometimes few and far between.

Jaklyn Larsen caught these amazing shots and video by drone of orcas attacking gray whales off Depoe Bay

Some areas will have allowances, marked "designated UAS operation areas."

Permits will be needed for scientific research (which has always been the case for marine wildlife), commercial filming, etc.

There is a loophole in all this: state parks doesn't regulate the skies. FAA does.

“As we have shared in the past, the new rules only guide the use of drones on park properties,” OPRD told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. “Only the FAA may regulate drone operations when in flight. Park staff also do not have the authority to regulate drones operating outside park property.”

There's still quite a few moving parts here as rules will be changing and shifting.

“Over the next few months, staff will select 1–2 day-use parks per region (3-6 parks statewide) to open to drone use,” OPRD said. “The remaining parks are closed to drone use without a permit.”

OPRD said permits will be available for research, commercial activities and special uses on a case-by-case basis at parks that are otherwise closed to drone use.

You can read more about drone operations in state parks here: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=v.page&id=97

Drone Pilot Reaction

To many drone pilots and online creators – especially on the coast – it's almost the drone version of the Hindenburg. For quite a few of them, it's been a source of rants. Some have even filmed commentary of themselves going over the public comments given to OPRD during their input period, and pointed out a host of odd statements that helped lead to what they say is an over-reaching ban.

Among those worried are Bandon's Manuela Durson and the central coast's Jaklyn Larsen, two of the region's ace drone pilots. It's a matter of making a living. They're bracing to get hit rather hard, and both talk of a fair amount of uncertainty now.

Both agree there has to be regulations, and both acknowledge not everyone is following those rules that were in place.

Off Arizona Beach, Manuela Durson Fine Arts

Yet the overall statement from drone pilots is that it's an outright ban for the beaches.

"They don’t need to control the airspace, they just remove places you can legally stand,” Durson said. “That’s why this feels like a de facto ban."

Larsen echoed other pilots who have played by the rules.

“We don’t need more regulations than what already exist,” Larsen told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. “What we need is to better educate pilots on why we should not be flying in certain areas, especially during certain times of the year. Drones are not just the nuisance factor to the public. Flying in areas around our coast can impact wildlife, adding undue stress, and causing harm. This especially applies to birds and their nesting season.“

Durson called it an “overcorrection,” and brought up a few technical aspects that make this more problematic for content creators.

“In many coastal areas, tree cover makes it difficult to maintain signal if you have to fly in from outside park boundaries,” she said. “In places like Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, which stretches for 12 miles of continuous state-managed land, finding a legal place to stand that isn’t park property, a highway hazard, or private land is extremely difficult.”

On the flipside, there's definitely been talk online among some drone folk who intend to ignore the rules. It's likely some of those guys that created horror stories of campers encroached upon by flying menaces, and it's those that officials still has to look out for. It's those that Larsen and Durson say created the need in the first place.

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