California Code of Regulations
Title 19 - Public Safety
Division 1 - State Fire Marshal
Chapter 6 - Fireworks
Article 18 - Experimental High Power Rockets and Motors
Section 1037 - Launch Site Standards

(a) The launch site shall consist of a launching area and a recovery area. The launching area shall consist of an area surrounding the launching devices a radial distance from the launching device as specified in Table 18A above. The recovery area shall consist of the launching area and the minimum area necessary to retrieve the rocket, based on the estimated altitude likely to be achieved by the rocket. These calculations shall take into account the weight of the rocket and the specific type of motor used (or combined total impulse). Table 18B shall be used to determine the minimum launch site dimensions for the various classes of experimental high power rockets.

(b) The launch site shall not be located in any grain field, dry grass, brush- or forest-covered lands.

(c) The launch site shall not contain any buildings or structures, unless specifically approved in advance by the authority having jurisdiction, and under no circumstances shall such buildings or structures be less than one thousand five hundred feet (1,500 ft.) from the launch site.

(d) The launch site shall not contain any high voltage electrical lines or major highways.

(e) The launch site shall not contain any natural or artificially constructed obstacle deemed by the authority having jurisdiction to pose a hazard during launching.

(f) The launching area shall be located as near as possible to the center of the launch site but in no case less than seven hundred fifty feet (750 ft.) from the boundary of the launch site.

(g) The launching area shall have appropriate barriers around it such that spectators will be restrained from encroaching upon it. These barriers may be of any type approved by the authority having jurisdiction.

TABLE 18B

MINIMUM EXPERIMENTAL HIGH POWER ROCKET MOTOR LAUNCH SITE STANDARDS