Drone regulations in Canada: a plain-language guide for operators
Who needs a certificate, how to register your drone, where you can fly, and how Transport Canada's RPAS rules work — including what changed in 2025–2026. Written for commercial operators who need the practical version.
Aerosyne is an independent commercial product. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Transport Canada, NAV CANADA, or the Government of Canada. This guide is general information, not legal or regulatory advice — always confirm current requirements with Transport Canada before you fly.
Do the rules apply to you?
In Canada, drones are regulated as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) under Part IX of the Canadian Aviation Regulations. The core rules apply to most drones that weigh between 250 grams and 25 kilograms and are flown within visual line-of-sight. The same rules apply whether you fly for fun or for commercial work — Transport Canada draws the line by aircraft weight and operating conditions, not by whether money changes hands.
Drones under 250 grams are exempt from registration and certification requirements, but operators are still expected to fly safely and stay clear of other aircraft, people, and restricted areas. Drones over 25 kilograms, and some advanced operations, fall outside the standard rules and require a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC).
Under 250 g (micro)
No registration or pilot certificate required, but you must still fly safely and avoid aircraft, people, and restricted airspace.
250 g – 25 kg
Register the aircraft and hold a Pilot Certificate (Basic or Advanced). This is where most commercial drone work sits.
Over 25 kg or special operations
Generally requires a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) from Transport Canada before you fly.
Register your drone with Transport Canada
Every drone between 250 grams and 25 kilograms must be registered with Transport Canada before it flies, and you must mark the aircraft with its registration number so it is visible. Registration is done online through the Drone Management Portal and carries a small per-aircraft fee. You register each drone you operate, not just yourself.
For commercial operators running more than one aircraft, registration is the first record that has to stay accurate over time. As fleets grow, knowing which registration number maps to which airframe — and keeping that tied to maintenance and flight history — becomes part of staying audit-ready.
Get a drone pilot certificate
To fly a drone in the 250 g – 25 kg range you need a Pilot Certificate from Transport Canada, at one of two levels. A Pilot Certificate — Basic Operations covers flying in uncontrolled airspace, away from bystanders, and away from controlled airspace and aerodromes. A Pilot Certificate — Advanced Operations is required to fly in controlled airspace, near or over bystanders, or close to aerodromes.
The Basic certificate is earned by passing an online exam. The Advanced certificate requires a harder online exam plus an in-person flight review with an approved flight reviewer, and the drone itself must meet the safety assurance declared by its manufacturer for the operation you intend to fly. Certificates also carry a recency requirement: you must complete a recurrency activity within a set period to keep the certificate valid.
Where and how you can fly
Standard RPAS rules cap most operations at 122 metres (400 feet) above ground level and require you to keep the drone within visual line-of-sight at all times. You must stay clear of other aircraft, emergency operations, and advertised events, and maintain horizontal distance from bystanders that matches your certificate level.
Controlled airspace and the zones around aerodromes need extra care. Advanced operators can request airspace authorization — in many controlled zones this is handled digitally through the NAV Drone application, which provides RPAS flight authorization where it is available. Checking airspace before each flight is not optional: a job that looks routine on a map can sit inside a control zone or a restricted area.
Advanced operations, SFOC, and BVLOS
Some operations go beyond what a Basic or Advanced certificate covers on its own — flying beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS), operating heavier aircraft, flying at special events, or other higher-risk profiles. Historically these required a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC), where you submit an application describing the operation and the safety case, and Transport Canada issues conditions you must meet.
As programs mature from Basic into Advanced, SFOC-style, and BVLOS work, the burden shifts from passing an exam to producing evidence: who flew, what aircraft was used, what maintenance and authorizations applied, and what the operating area history looks like. Building that record discipline early is what makes advanced approvals defensible later.
What changed in 2025–2026
Transport Canada has been expanding the RPAS framework beyond basic visual-line-of-sight flying. Recent amendments introduced a lower-complexity pathway for certain beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations and signalled a category for medium-sized RPAS above 25 kilograms — changes designed to let routine BVLOS and larger operations happen under defined rules rather than one-off certificates.
For commercial operators, the direction of travel is clear: more operations become possible under standing rules, but each comes with record-keeping and competency expectations. Teams that already keep clean pilot, aircraft, and operating-area records are best positioned to adopt the new pathways as they come into force.
Keeping your compliance records audit-ready
Canadian drone compliance is not a single form — it is the ongoing relationship between pilots, certificates, registered aircraft, maintenance, authorizations, flight logs, and operating sites. When those records live in scattered spreadsheets and folders, answering a simple regulator or client question becomes an archaeology project.
Aerosyne keeps registration numbers, pilot certificates and recency, maintenance, flight logs, and NAV CANADA-aware airspace context connected to the jobs they support, so the evidence behind every flight stays one search away. That is the difference between hoping your paperwork is in order and knowing it is.
Turn Canadian RPAS requirements into an audit-ready operating record
Aerosyne keeps pilot certificates, drone registration, maintenance, flight logs, and NAV CANADA-aware airspace context connected to the jobs they support — so compliance evidence is always one search away.
Common questions about drone regulations in Canada
Short, practical answers. Always confirm current requirements with Transport Canada before you fly.
Are drones legal in Canada?
Yes. Drones are legal in Canada and regulated by Transport Canada as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems. Most drones between 250 g and 25 kg must be registered and flown by a certified pilot, within visual line-of-sight and below 122 m, away from aircraft and restricted areas.
Do I need a licence to fly a drone in Canada?
If your drone weighs between 250 g and 25 kg, you need a Pilot Certificate — Basic or Advanced operations — from Transport Canada. Drones under 250 g do not require a certificate, but you must still fly safely and avoid other aircraft and restricted airspace.
Can you fly a drone over private property in Canada?
There is no general drone-specific rule that bans flying over private property, but you must still follow RPAS rules (altitude, distance from bystanders, airspace) and respect other laws such as privacy, trespass, and provincial or municipal rules. Flying responsibly and avoiding capturing people without reason is the safe approach.
How high can I fly a drone in Canada?
Standard RPAS operations are limited to 122 metres (400 feet) above ground level, within visual line-of-sight. Higher operations require specific authorization or fall under more advanced rules.
Do I need to register my drone in Canada?
Yes — drones between 250 g and 25 kg must be registered with Transport Canada and marked with their registration number before flying. Drones under 250 g do not need to be registered.
Can I fly a drone in a city or a national park?
You can fly in many urban areas if you follow the rules and have any required airspace authorization, but controlled airspace and aerodrome zones need extra steps. National and provincial parks often have their own restrictions or bans, so always check the specific park and airspace before you fly.
Go deeper on Canadian RPAS
Step-by-step guides for the parts of Canadian drone compliance most operators ask about — and the platform that keeps the records straight.
Canada · Registration
How to register a drone in Canada
Step-by-step Transport Canada drone registration for aircraft 250 g–25 kg, including marking, fees, and keeping registration records audit-ready.
Canada · Certification
Drone pilot certificate in Canada
How the Pilot Certificate — Basic and Advanced operations work: the exams, the flight review, recency, and what each level lets you do.
Canada · SFOC
What is an SFOC in Canada?
When a Special Flight Operations Certificate is required, how it relates to advanced and BVLOS operations, and the records reviewers expect to see.
Canada
Canadian drone operations software
Canadian-made drone business management software for Transport Canada workflows, NAV CANADA context, and audit-ready records.