Rancho Mirage Municipal Code Ch. 8.42 Hot Air Balloons

Hot air balloons shall be allowed to launch from resort hotels in the Resort Hotel (RH) zoning district within the city limits. Only under emergency circumstances shall hot air balloons be allowed to land on property within the boundaries of the city.

(Ord. 562 § 1(Exh. A), 1993)

In order to operate hot air balloons within the city limits, a temporary use permit must first be approved by the community development director. Through the temporary use permit process, specific conditions of approval can be placed upon the balloon operation in order to mitigate any potential impacts associated with the operations.

(Ord. 562 § 1(Exh. A), 1993)

In addition to the normal submittal requirements for a temporary use permit, the following items shall be submitted as part of an application to operate hot air balloons with the city:

A. Certificate of liability insurance from either the hosting resort hotel or the balloon operator, in the amount of one million dollars per claim;

B. An executed indemnification agreement in a form approved by the city attorney;

C. Written clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicating that the location of the hot air balloon operation will not interfere with any flight patterns at the Palm Springs Airport;

D. Proof of a valid license to operate a hot air balloon.

(Ord. 562 § 1(Exh. A), 1993)

All proposed hot air balloon operations must comply with the following standards:

A. Hot air balloons may only launch from resort hotels within the RH (Resort Hotel) zoning district.

B. All aspects of a hot air balloon operation such as set up and parking must occur on a treated surface. Parking must be on a paved surface while balloon set up and launching may occur on grass or any other acceptable surface as determined by the community development director.

C. Balloon set up and departures may not occur before eight a.m. unless otherwise approved by the community development director.

D. The hot air balloon must be operated by a licensed hot air balloon operator.

E. Hot air balloons shall not fly over any residential area within the city limits below an altitude of five hundred feet.

F. Hot air balloons shall not interfere with the flight patterns at the Palm Springs Airport.

G. The ground level noise from hot air balloons shall not exceed sixty-five decibels as measured from residential areas.

(Ord. 562 § 1(Exh. A), 1993)