ACLU Settlement Bars Sonoma County from Warrantless Drone Surveillance of Homes

In a settlement reached with Sonoma County, California, the ACLU resolved a lawsuit concerning a drone surveillance initiative that captured images of residents' homes without obtaining warrants. Initiated in June 2025 by the ACLU Foundation of Northern California on behalf of three residents, the lawsuit contested the deployment of low-flying drones by code enforcement officers to observe properties, including those enclosed by fences. One of the plaintiffs, Nichola Schmitz, found out in 2023 that her home had been monitored by a drone without her consent, leading to fines and a lien on her property. The agreement bans warrantless drone surveillance, requires residents to be informed, mandates footage deletion within 30 days, and enforces transparency, upholding a ruling by the California Supreme Court against such practices.