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Drone Rules for California 84
San Jose, California (CA)
• United States
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, CA-84, San Jose, CA 95134, USA
Lat: 37.5001 • Lng: -122.127
Rules Edit History: California 84
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May 30, 2026 8:32 AM
Approved
• Added USFWS drone prohibition for Don Edwards SF Bay NWR with SFO Class B and SJC Class C 0-ft AGL grid, California clapper rail, and least tern ESA nesting context.
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Approved
Confidence: 0.95
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge has been approved. This aligns with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations prohibiting drone operations within national wildlife refuges. The added context regarding the refuge's location within San Francisco International Airport's Class B and San Jose International Airport's Class C airspace, as well as the presence of endangered species such as the California clapper rail and the California least tern, enhances understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | Unknown | NoFly |
| Summary | — | USFWS prohibits drones on Don Edwards SF Bay NWR. The refuge sits inside San Francisco Class B airspace; San Jose Class C also overlaps. The salt marsh habitat protects the California clapper rail (endangered). |
| Mapped shapes | — | b868f9ad-cd10-4062-bd51-1e266fb76a9f |
Before
After
## Drone Rules - Don Edwards SF Bay NWR, California **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; San Francisco International (SFO) Class B and San Jose International (SJC) Class C both overlay the refuge. ### Airspace / Site Context - SFO Class B surface area and SJC Class C both cover portions of the refuge; most LAANC grid squares authorize 0 ft AGL - California clapper rail (endangered) nests in pickleweed marsh; drone noise triggers flush responses and clutch abandonment - California least tern (threatened) nesting colony is present at the Alviso unit; April-August nesting season applies ### Key Rules - Dual Class B/Class C prohibition: LAANC or Part 107 waiver required for any flight near the refuge before even considering the USFWS prohibition - Clapper rail and least tern nesting season (April-August): USFWS enforces physical exclusion zones; drone overflight triggers ESA Section 9 concern - USFWS Special Use Permit required; applications require SFO Class B waiver coordination simultaneously ### Source - USFWS Don Edwards SF Bay NWR: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/don-edwards-san-francisco-bay
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+ ## Drone Rules - Don Edwards SF Bay NWR, California + + **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; San Francisco International (SFO) Class B and San Jose International (SJC) Class C both overlay the refuge. + + ### Airspace / Site Context + - SFO Class B surface area and SJC Class C both cover portions of the refuge; most LAANC grid squares authorize 0 ft AGL + - California clapper rail (endangered) nests in pickleweed marsh; drone noise triggers flush responses and clutch abandonment + - California least tern (threatened) nesting colony is present at the Alviso unit; April-August nesting season applies + + ### Key Rules + - Dual Class B/Class C prohibition: LAANC or Part 107 waiver required for any flight near the refuge before even considering the USFWS prohibition + - Clapper rail and least tern nesting season (April-August): USFWS enforces physical exclusion zones; drone overflight triggers ESA Section 9 concern + - USFWS Special Use Permit required; applications require SFO Class B waiver coordination simultaneously + + ### Source + - USFWS Don Edwards SF Bay NWR: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/don-edwards-san-francisco-bay +