Drone use in Delta Coves – A note from your board
Residents have expressed concern about the approved proposed revision to the Resident Agreement — allowing drone use to survey for compliance with design standards and other bylaws. Your board would like to address concerns associated with cost and privacy.
We have a fiduciary duty to enforce the governing documents of the Association. In the past, we accomplished lagoon compliance tours by borrowing and sharing costs of the developers pontoon boat. Our share of the insurance cost was more than $3000 every year. After DMB sold the boat — due to the cost of maintaining it — we looked at options for conducting lagoon compliance tours.
The cost of replacing the boat would be in the mid-five figure range. Routine maintenance was expected to cost more than $1000 annually, and DCMC would be holding the entire insurance cost — instead of just a portion. We needed to find a solution that would not be a financial burden to the association.
Drone operation costs
The Association purchased a DJI Mavic Air 2 drone and additional batteries and memory cards two years ago. A Community Life team member trained for and received a drone pilot’s license to use the drone for event photography. The total cost to the association for both was less than $2000. Using an existing asset seemed like a clear choice.
Even if we did not already own the drone, this would be a cost-effective means to verify compliance. The total cost of purchasing the drone and licensing the pilot is less than we were paying for boat insurance annually. With a licensed employee on staff, we will not be paying consultant’s fees for conducting the surveys.
Maintaining privacy
No one likes the vision of a camera hovering high above their home. The proposed rule change places explicit limits on drone use:
“Drones will not be used to observe or record areas that are not visible from the Common Area. Drone use will comply with all applicable state and local laws.”
The drone will be maintained at a level where it can only see and record what could be seen by a person traveling through the lagoon in a boat — not aerial surveillance.
The proposed rule change also states, “Drone surveillance …may only be reviewed and used by Management and/or the police department to address Governing Document violations, behavior concerns, or illegal activity.”
Like other records of rule compliance, drone recordings will be kept confidential.
Addressing other concerns
While we do rely on residents to report violations to some extent through community concerns, there are consistency challenges solely relying on that method. We need an objective observer to monitor compliance, and we believe that we have such a plan.
Noise levels should not exceed that of local fishermen and our neighbors boating through the lagoon. The drone we own has a typical volume akin to normal conversation and a pitch near 1000 Hz. It will be similar to the conversations off our docks that we have all become accustomed to.
In short, your board of directors considered concerns about privacy, cost, and noise when devising the proposed rule change.
We welcome additional plans or questions and have left the member comment period post rule approval open through the January board meeting.
Drone FAQs
Are you following commercial drone use regulations?
Yes, the association's drone has the required remote ID installed and the pilot has the required license and will comply with all stated rules.
What happens if the drone damages private or community property?
The association has the proper insurance coverage in place.
How much will this drone cost?
Delta Coves Maintenance Corporation purchased the drone for event photography and other uses in 2024 for approximately $1700. Annual insurance is expected to cost less than $700. The FAA-required flight tracker costs $25 and pilot certification costs $125 every two years.
Where will the drone operate?
Resembling current lagoon compliance tours by water, the drone will operate only over open water. It may also fly over empty lots when needed to reach its destination. It will always be in the operator's line-of-sight. While wind does have an impact on drone flying, we expect the drone to remain at a reasonably low height with a viewpoint similar to someone standing in a boat on the water.
Why don't you need my permission to fly over my property?
The drone will not fly over private property — only over public waterways. Per California law, this is similar to a drone flying down a street.
Will you record me inside my home?
No — drone use is only to complete required rear-yard compliance tours. You can expect the same level of privacy in your home as you would with neighbors boating, fishing, paddleboarding, and kayaking in the lagoon behind your home.
How often will the drone be deployed?
Your board of directors would like for compliance tours to occur monthly. Most likely they will occur Monday through Friday.
Will we know when the drone is out and about?
Yes — unlike front-yard compliance tours, Delta Coves residents will receive advance notice of drone use for compliance reasons. These will be posted on the resident website and within the Delta Coves News emails. Please check these spots regularly.
Why can't boat tours continue?
Delta Coves Maintenance Corporation does not own a boat. Currently, we borrow a boat and must coordinate at least two team members to complete compliance tours — one to drive and one to take photos.
Purchasing a boat, maintaining insurance, and completing required maintenance is cost prohibitive. Your board of directors would like to delay incurring this expense for as long as possible.
What costs are associating with hiring a drone operator?
Delta Coves Maintenance Corporation is not hiring a drone operator or contracting one from another company. At the board's direction, a member of Community Life completed required training and obtained a drone operator's license. This person will operate the drone for both event photography and compliance tours.
Will you save recordings and imagery from compliance tours?
Images associated with compliance violations will only be stored when related to a specific issue of non-compliance and then only within that member's specific account tied with sent notices. Any other imagery taken from compliance tours will be deleted.
Who will be able to see drone footage?
The drone operator will view footage captured during the compliance tour, save specific compliance violations for record keeping, and delete the rest of the footage.
Images associated with compliance violations may be viewed by the drone operator, the homeowner, Community Life, and your board of directors.
What other options are available for compliance tours?
Your board of directors reviewed the costs associated with purchasing and maintaining a boat compared to a drone and believe this is the best path forward at this time. Residents may provide alternate suggestions for completing lagoon compliance tours by submitting a proposed rule change comment by Jan. 14.