Drone Laws Canada [March 2023] [Rules & How to Register]

With more and more people owning drones in Canada, it has become difficult to understand the drone laws Canada. Nowadays, using drones for small businesses is common as it helps gain a strategic advantage over large companies. Considering this, knowing the drone laws in Canada is essential.

You’ll find all you need to know about drone laws in Canada, to get you started with your drone flying adventure. Drone Laws in Canada is a concise and informative guide designed to help drone enthusiasts understand everything they need to know.

Drone laws in Canada are very strict. This means that you need to follow all the rules, or else you will face severe repercussions.

While some numbers are still being worked on, it has been determined that there are currently hundreds of thousands of drones in Canada all owned by recreational enthusiasts, law enforcement agencies, media and private businesses and each one of them needs to be governed by the safe operation requirements set forth by Transport Canada.

Drone laws in Canada are changing. With new rules, regulations, and registration requirements coming into place. Join me on this post to discover what you should know about drone laws in Canada.

Distance From Bystanders

If you are flying your drone a few hundred feet in the air, it’s important to ensure that you maintain an adequate distance from bystanders. Flying a drone less than 5.6 km (3 nautical miles) away from bystanders is likely to be illegal and unsafe. In order to remain safe, do not operate your drone if you cannot see it with your own eyes.

Line Of Sight

• As a drone pilot, you are responsible for ensuring your drone operations comply with the laws outlined in the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
• You must ensure that your drone is operated at least 5.6 kilometers away from aerodromes (any airport, seaplane base, or areas where aircraft take off and land) unless you have received prior authorization from air traffic control to operate closer. See Transport Canada’s list of aerodromes in Canada
• A visual line of sight must be maintained between you and the drone at all times while it is operating; the use of first-person view technology (e.g., video screen or goggles) is prohibited unless authorized by an exemption under section 602.41 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
• When operating a drone that weighs between 250 grams and 25 kilograms within controlled airspace (generally close to or within 5.6 kilometers from an airport), permission must be obtained from NAV CANADA before flying.* Do not fly above 400 feet (120 metres) in uncontrolled airspace.* Do not fly over bystanders.* Do not fly over forest fires or other emergency response situations such as police operations.* Do not fly near moving vehicles.* Do not use drones to hunt animals, fish, birds or other wildlife resources.* Do not transmit recordings made using your drone without first obtaining consent from those who appear in your recordings.

Height Limits

You must fly your drone no higher than 90 meters (300 feet) above the ground or within 30 meters (100 feet) of a building, structure or person.

Prohibition Zones

The law prohibits flying a drone in a forest fire area, as well as any place where you could interfere with first responders. You also may not fly your drone near or over an emergency operation like a car accident, or anything else that creates an obvious risk to human life.

Drone Registration

• Register your drone: If you own a drone weighing between 250 grams and 25 kilograms, you’re required to register it with the Canadian government. A registration fee of $5.00 is charged and your registration is valid for three years.
• You must be 14 or older to register a drone, and after that you can legally fly your drone wherever you like (as long as it’s not in a restricted area).

Make Sure You Follow The Laws To Fly Safely.

Personal use drones (also known as “UAVs” or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are a popular hobby, with many people buying them and flying them in their backyards or near their homes. UAVs are not toys, however, and it’s important to understand the Canadian law when you purchase one.

Here is what you need to know:

• You can only fly your personal drone for recreational use. You can’t sell it or share it with anyone else—even if someone gives you one for free. It has to be used on your own property, so even if you have friends over for a barbecue and someone wants to fly theirs over, don’t let them get away with it!
• All flight must be done by line of sight . That means no flying over crowds of people (or any other area that would endanger lives). Flying too high may also cause damage to property and other aircraft below (which could affect people on the ground).
• Never fly near airports . No commercial flights are permitted unless you have permission from the operator of that airport. If you’re flying near an airport, only do so in its designated airspace (usually restricted to keep away from other aircraft), or under a Special Flight Operations Certificate that allows UAVs in controlled areas around airports. Note: If there is not enough space above an airport where drones can safely operate safely , then the UAV must not be flown at all at that location!

How To Register Drone In Canada

Canada’s New Drone Rules Are In Effect.

If you haven’t registered your drone yet, do so now. Canada’s new drone rules are in effect and a failure to register your drone could result in significant fines.

New rules for flying small drones are now mandatory in Canada. Drones between 250 grams (0.55 pounds) and 35 kilograms (77 pounds) must be registered with Transport Canada or the agency will fine you $3,000 Canadian dollars ($2,300 USD).

The new rules also require operators to pass a test to obtain a pilot certificate with basic knowledge on how to safely operate their drones; it costs $10 USD and can be taken online at the

Here’s How To Register Your Drone.

There are a variety of ways you can register your drone.

To begin, you can access their website and complete the form online.

Additionally, you can download the application from Google Play or Apple Store and use that to register your drone with Transport Canada. You will be required to submit all flight information for the past 30 days if you choose this method of registration.

If neither of these options work for you, do not despair! We offer a phone-based registration option, as well as fax-based registration and mail-in registration options available upon request.

 If none of these methods suit your fancy, please feel free to stop by our office in downtown Ottawa during regular business hours (9 am to 5 pm on weekdays).

We believe it is important that all Canadians have easy access to drone registration services, hence our commitment to offering so many options. Hope we hear from you soon!

What Happens If You Don’t Register?

As a drone pilot, what happens if you don’t register? The penalties for not registering your drone can be quite severe. If you are found to be flying a drone that is not registered, fines can range from $1,000 for minor infractions to as much as $25,000 in cases of reckless endangerment. In addition to monetary fines, jail time and the seizure of your drone are also possible punishments.

In order to avoid these unpleasant consequences and maintain an excellent reputation amongst your fellow pilots and law enforcement personnel alike, it is important that you register your drone immediately after purchasing it.

While there is no specific registration deadline for new drones within Canada at this time, that does not mean that there never will be one in the future—so why risk it?

Register Your Drone From The Website

Registering your drone is easy. You can do it through our website or through the app, which means you don’t even have to get up off the couch to do the right thing. Or, if you’re old-school, you can call us. All three are equally valid options; simply choose the one that best suits your lifestyle and preferences.

If you love convenience and want to register your drone with no more effort than a few clicks of a mouse or taps on a smartphone screen, we recommend using either our website or our app as they are both fast and easy to use. If you prefer talking on the phone or need assistance in picking out the right registration option for yourself, please call us—we’d be happy to help!

We Hope You Register Your Drone As Soon As Possible.

We hope you will register your drone as soon as possible. It is an easy process, and will only take a few minutes of your time. You can register your drone by calling us, or by going to our website and registering online.

If you don’t register your drone within 14 days, you could face fines for each day that we don’t have your registration information.

Are Drones Allowed In Canada

Drones Are Allowed In Canada.

Drones are allowed in Canada, for fun or for work. Drones, also known as unmanned drones, are a popular hobbyist item. For drone hobbyists, drones can be used for photography and videography.

Drone hobbyists can also use their drones for profit. For example, you can charge friends to take aerial photographs at their weddings. Or you could advertise your services on a website or Facebook to attract clients and earn money from your hobby.

But if you want to use your drone commercially (for example, to make money), you’ll need permission from Transport Canada (TC). To get permission,

Record The Serial Number Of Your Drone.

You should also record the serial number and registration information of your drone, as well as a copy of the Transport Canada guidelines. This information could be useful if you lose or misplace your drone, or if it’s stolen.

You Can Register Your Drone Online

This is good news, because you can register your drone without any hassle by following the steps below.

• Visit the Transport Canada website and click on “Register Your Drone.”
• Follow the instructions provided to enter your drone’s make and model, as well as its weight and serial number.
• Pay the $5 registration fee online with a credit card or PayPal account.
• Print out your proof of registration and keep it in a safe place for reference when you’re flying your drone (make sure you don’t lose this document)! You’ll want to check out Transport Canada’s guidelines for operating drones before you get going; these rules will help ensure that you’re compliant with all relevant laws.
• You may find it helpful to take a pre-flight checklist with you when operating a drone so that you can run through it quickly before each flight, making sure that everything is set up exactly as it should be.

All Drones Weighing More Than 250 Grams

If your drone weighs more than 250 grams, you must register it before you fly it outdoors. Registration is just $5 and valid for 3 years. If you don’t register your drone, you could be fined up to $3,000.

To register a drone, you need to be at least 14 years old.

Following Some Basic Rules

If you’re a pilot of a drone—or an aspiring drone pilot—you are required to follow some basic rules, which were put in place by the Canadian government to ensure your safety, as well as the safety of others.

First and foremost: if you want to fly your drone within 9km of a forest fire (even if you’re trying to help!), don’t do it. It’s illegal, since drones could cause significant interference with aerial firefighting operations.

There are several drone exclusion areas that have been designated around forest fires: these perimeters have been set up for the sake of public safety and will be strictly enforced by law enforcement officials or military personnel who are involved with the operations.

Additionally, it is illegal for you to operate your drone within controlled or restricted airspace without specific permission from Nav Canada.

If your flight path goes through an airport’s control zone, you’ll need permission from that airport’s air traffic service unit before flying. It is also illegal for you to fly over people or animals with your drone—so steer clear of those areas!

Small Drones Need No Registration

If your drone weighs less than 250 grams, you don’t have to register it. You can fly it as long as you follow the Transport Canada safety guidelines. If your drone weighs more than 250 grams, you need to register it and put the registration number on your drone.

Transport Canada has some tips for how to get started flying drones safely and legally in Canada. You’ll also need a special permit from Transport Canada if you want to use a drone for commercial purposes or if the drone is heavier than 25 kg. The fee for registering a small drone is $5 and it can be done online in about 10 minutes.

You Just Need To Register Them And Follow A Few Basic Rules.

You don’t need a license to fly recreational drones in Canada, but you do need to register them and follow a few basic rules. Drone pilots follow the same laws as manned aircraft pilots, so there’s no need to worry about learning an entirely new set of regulations.

Here are the rules for recreational drone pilots:

• Register your drone with Transport Canada before your first flight. You can also make sure it’s marked with your registration number.
• Stay at least 5.6 km away from aerodromes (any airport, seaplane base or areas where aircraft take-off and land) and 1.9 km away from heliports or aerodromes used by helicopters only
• Fly during daylight and not in clouds
• Keep your drone where you can see it with your own eyes—not through an on-board camera, monitor or smartphone
• Don’t fly higher than 90 m above the ground
• Don’t fly closer than 75 m from vehicles, vessels or the public including sporting events, concerts, firework shows or parades

Frequently Asked Question (drone Laws Canada)

What Is The Difference Between A Uav And A Drone?

The term drone is used to refer to any unmanned aircraft, including UAVs. The word drone is used colloquially to describe any unmanned aircraft, but it’s important to note that the term drone can also be an acronym for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

There are many different types of drones available on the market today. Some are designed for professional use while others have been created with consumerism in mind. Even if you’re not a seasoned pilot and have never flown an RC plane before, it may still be possible for you to fly one as long as it meets certain requirements set out by Transport Canada.

How Far Can I Fly With My Drone?

• Your drone must remain in line of sight at all times. This means you can’t fly your drone if you can’t see it with your own eyes, or through the use of binoculars or other visual aids (e.g., video).
• You may only fly your drone above 400 feet AGL (above ground level) unless you have permission from Transport Canada to do otherwise.

How High Can I Fly With My Drone?

• You can fly your drone up to 400 feet.
• The higher you fly, the more risk you are taking. If a drone gets lost or crashes, it could be difficult for first responders to find it.
• The higher you fly, the more difficult it is to control your drone and avoid other aircraft.
• The higher you fly, the more likely it is that you will lose signal with your drone.

Are There Any Special Requirements To Fly A Drone In Urban Areas?

Yes, you need permission from the landowner.

• You must be able to see your drone at all times.
• You need to have a spotter at all times, who is responsible for watching out for other aircraft and people, as well as making sure that you don’t fly within about 15 metres of buildings or vehicles unless you’re taking off or landing. If there are people nearby who could be hurt by your drone’s flight path, then it’s best not to fly at all! Also remember that if there are any trees close by (close enough that they could cause damage if hit), then you might want to think twice before flying near them anyway!
• Stay away from restricted airspace: In Canada we use airspace classifications defined by Transport Canada (TC) which are published in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).

Can I Fly Over People With My Drone?

You can fly your drone over people if they are involved in an outdoor activity that isn’t in a confined space. For example, you could fly your drone over people at a park or other open area where there is no roof or structure above them.

You must keep your drone at least 30 metres away from people if the activity is taking place in a confined space—like inside or around buildings, on patios and decks, near windows or from balconies and rooftops.

Can I Fly Over Buildings Or Structures With My Drone?

• As long as you’re flying your drone in the vicinity of a building or structure and it’s not beyond the maximum height of 400 feet above ground level, you can continue to fly over buildings.
• However, if you want to fly higher than 400 feet above ground level, you’ll need an SFOC (Special Flight Operations Certificate). This applies even if your drone is within line of sight.

Conclusion

This article is meant to serve as a brief overview of drone laws in Canada. In it, you will find information on where and when you can fly a drone, who is responsible if something goes wrong, and how having a UAV might impact your homeowner/renter insurance coverage.

It is also important to note that Transport Canada created the Model Aeronautical Association of Canada (MAAC) in order to educate drone enthusiasts. In doing so, they have opened up many opportunities for the public to participate in the future of drone development.

There are many things to consider when purchasing a new drone. Like any other complicated, and sometimes technical, item, you have to ensure that you are buying a product that fits your needs before you make your purchase.

Hopefully, this article will give you an overview of the basic laws governing drones in Canada so that there are no surprises come time to take the plunge.