Lake Tahoe, CA Live Event and Concert Drones

Live event drones at Lake Tahoe

This page is for event producers, promoters and venues planning a live event in Lake Tahoe. We fly concerts, festivals, parades, arena shows, races and brand activations, with drone feeds sent live to screens, the stream or a broadcast truck, plus fast edits for social. For homes, tourism and general aerials see our Lake Tahoe, CA drone videographer page.

Events at the lake

Our crew flew a one-take micro-drone fly-through of the Camp EDC campground in 2024. We fly lakefront real estate, weddings, resorts, lodges and events around South Lake Tahoe, Truckee and the basin. For events at the lake we film recaps, and for larger shows we send live drone feeds to the stream or screens. See Live drone feeds for video boards and Concert and festival FPV drones across the US.

Forest Service land and state parks

Much of the basin is national forest. Commercial drone filming on Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit land needs a Forest Service special use authorization. Desolation Wilderness and the other wilderness areas around the lake are designated wilderness, where the Forest Service does not allow drones to take off or land. Basin land is a patchwork of federal, state, local and private parcels, so we confirm the land manager for every launch point. California State Parks allow drones unless a park has posted an order banning them, and commercial filming in a state park needs a State Parks permit through the California Film Commission, with drone paperwork filed ahead of the shoot. On the California side that covers Emerald Bay and D.L. Bliss. Nevada State Parks do not allow drones unless the park supervisor has designated an area or issued a special use permit. On the Nevada side that covers Sand Harbor, which needs the park supervisor's approval. Flying directly over an open crowd is only allowed when the drone and the operation meet FAA rules for flying over people, so otherwise we keep flight paths over the stage, closed areas and open lanes. Fully enclosed indoor flights are generally outside FAA airspace rules, so we fly one-take fly-throughs with the owner's approval; see indoor fly-through tours.

Ski resorts, airports and fire season

Nevada law bars flying within 500 feet sideways or 250 feet above a critical facility, such as a power substation, water plant or prison, without the owner's written consent, and within 5 miles of an airport without the airport's consent or FAA authorization. Heavenly and Palisades Tahoe do not allow drones over their property without the resort's written permission, so resort shoots are arranged with the resort. Lake Tahoe Airport in South Lake Tahoe has FAA drone altitude limits around it, and Truckee Tahoe Airport has its own control tower. Wildfire temporary flight restrictions can close large areas in summer and fall, and flying into one is illegal. We check every Lake Tahoe location on the FAA sectional, B4UFLY and NOTAMs before quoting, and file LAANC or FAA authorization for any address that needs it.

Credits

a micro-drone fly-through of Camp EDC, Charleston hotel fly-throughs for Vive Media and the Outside Lands aerial livestream in Golden Gate Park.

Related

Lake Tahoe, CA drone videographer | Reno, NV live event drones | Sacramento, CA live event drones | San Francisco, CA live event drones | Live drone feeds for video boards | Concert and festival FPV drones across the US | Augusta drone videography (headquarters) | Lynchburg, VA drone videography (second location) | Live broadcast drones | Concert and festival drones | All locations

Nearby cities we fly

San Jose, CA live event drones | Fresno, CA live event drones | Monterey, CA live event drones | Santa Barbara, CA live event drones | Los Angeles, CA live event drones | Palm Springs, CA live event drones

FAQs

Can you fly in Desolation Wilderness?

No. Drones may not take off or land in designated wilderness, so we film from approved launch points outside it.

Can you fly at Heavenly or Palisades Tahoe?

Only with the resort's written permission. Both resorts ban drones over their property without it, so we arrange resort shoots with the resort.

Do you need a permit to film at the lake?

Often. Forest Service land needs a special use authorization for commercial filming, and state parks on both shores have their own permit rules.

Can you send a live drone feed to screens or a stream?

Yes. We send live drone video to LED screens, the livestream or a broadcast truck, and agree the format and cue points with your production team before show day.

What insurance do you carry?

Our standard policy is $10M liability, with optional coverage up to $25M when a venue, league or network requires it. Certificates naming your venue or production are issued before the shoot.

Request a Quote

Tell us the date, location and what you need filmed. Request a Quote or call 706-284-8364.