legalsafetyphotography
What does the law say about flying drones over splash pads?
Quick answer
FAA Part 107 prohibits flying drones over people not participating in the operation, which makes most splash pad overflight illegal without a waiver. Many cities also ban drones in parks under local ordinance. Flying over children specifically can trigger reckless-endangerment and privacy claims.
The FAA regulates all drone airspace under Part 107 for commercial flights and Part 89 for recreational. Both prohibit flying over people not directly participating in the flight, with limited exceptions for shielded operations or FAA-certified Category 1-4 drones. A splash pad full of children is the worst possible place to fly — if any drone fails or makes contact with a person, the operator faces FAA fines up to $32,666 per violation, civil suits for battery and negligence, and potential criminal reckless-endangerment charges. Many municipalities also pass park-specific drone bans enforceable as trespass. Privacy torts (intrusion upon seclusion) increasingly apply to aerial photography of people in private moments. If you are doing licensed commercial work, get express written permission from the parks department, post warning signs, and clear the pad first.