Canadian drone rules at a glance
Transport Canada publishes all of this, but it's spread across eight or nine separate pages, so answering a simple question like "how close can I get to that building?" means opening five tabs. This is every number in one place. Bookmark it, or print it for the flight bag.
Weight decides everything
| Class | Operating weight | Certificate | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microdrone | Under 250 g | None | Not required |
| Small RPA | 250 g – 25 kg | Basic or Advanced | Required |
| Medium RPA | Over 25 kg – 150 kg | Advanced or higher | Required |
Operating weight includes everything attached at takeoff — batteries, camera, filters, prop guards, payload. The remote controller doesn't count. This is what catches out owners of drones marketed as "under 250 g".
Distances and altitudes
| Limit | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum altitude AGL | 122 m | 400 ft |
| Alternative near a structure, within 61 m of it | 30 m above the structure | 100 ft above the structure |
| Basic — from any uninvolved person | more than 30 m | more than 100 ft |
| Basic — from a certified airport centre | more than 5.6 km | more than 3 NM |
| Basic — from a heliport centre | more than 1.9 km | more than 1 NM |
| Military aerodrome — DND permission required within this radius | 5.6 km | 3 NM |
| Sheltered ops — max height above the structure | 30 m | 100 ft |
| Sheltered ops — max horizontal distance from the structure | 61 m | 200 ft |
| Sheltered and EVLOS ops — max range from the pilot | 3.7 km | 2 NM |
| Lower-risk BVLOS — from listed aerodromes | more than 9.3 km | more than 5 NM |
How close to people you may fly
This is the part that most often decides which certificate you need. All distances are measured horizontally from people not involved in the operation.
| Operation | Distance from people | What it needs |
|---|---|---|
| Small drone, Basic | More than 30 m, never overhead | Basic certificate |
| Small drone, near people | Less than 30 m but more than 5 m | Advanced + safety declaration |
| Small drone, over people | Less than 5 m, or directly overhead | Advanced + safety declaration |
| Medium drone, away from people | More than 152.4 m (500 ft) | Advanced + declaration |
| Medium drone, near people | Less than 152.4 m but more than 30 m | Advanced + pre-validated declaration |
| Medium drone, over people | Less than 30 m | Advanced + pre-validated declaration |
"Safety assurance declaration" is about the aircraft, not you. The manufacturer declares the model meets a specific RPAS standard for a specific operation. Holding an Advanced certificate isn't enough on its own — the drone has to be on the approved list for what you're doing. Check before you quote a job.
The operation types worth knowing
| Type | What it means | Key limits |
|---|---|---|
| VLOS | Visual line-of-sight. The default. Unaided visual contact at all times. | Binoculars and FPV goggles don't count as unaided |
| Sheltered | Flying around a building or structure without direct sight and without a visual observer. | Small drone only · 30 m above the structure · within 61 m of it · within 3.7 km of the pilot · 30 m from uninvolved people |
| EVLOS | Extended VLOS. Beyond your own sight, using a trained visual observer. | Small drone only · uncontrolled airspace only · at least 30 m from any person · within 3.7 km of pilot, station and observer · the observer needs at least a Basic certificate |
| Lower-risk BVLOS | No crew member maintains visual contact. | Level 1 Complex certificate · RPOC · uncontrolled airspace · at or below 400 ft AGL · more than 9.3 km from listed aerodromes |
Certificates, side by side
| Basic | Advanced | Level 1 Complex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 14 | 16 | 18 |
| Exam | 35 questions, 90 min, 65% | 50 questions, 60 min, 80% | Advanced exam, then the L1C exam |
| Ground school | Not required | Not required | At least 20 hours |
| Flight review | Not required | Required | Required |
| Certificate issuance fee | Included in the exam fee | CA$25 | CA$125 |
| Operator certificate | No | No | RPOC required |
| Retake wait after a failed exam | 24 hours, unlimited attempts, each at the same fee | ||
| Expiry | Certificates don't expire — but a recurrent activity is required every 24 months | ||
Microdrones — the rules that still apply
Under 250 g means no certificate and no registration, but it doesn't mean no rules:
- You must not operate recklessly or negligently so as to endanger aviation safety or any person
- Stay away from emergency sites — house fires, traffic collisions, floods, wildfires
- All drones are aircraft under the Aeronautics Act, so restricted airspace is still off-limits without permission
- Flying any drone at an advertised event requires an SFOC, microdrones included. This surprises people.
- Trespassing and privacy law apply as they would to any other activity
Penalties
| Offence | Individual | Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Flying without a pilot certificate | $1,000 | $5,000 |
| Flying where you're not allowed | $3,000 | $15,000 |
| Putting aircraft or people at risk | $3,000 | $15,000 |
| Unregistered or unmarked drone | $5,000 | $25,000 |
| Missing safety assurance declaration | $1,000 | $5,000 |
| Flying a microdrone at an advertised event | $1,000 | $15,000 |
Break more than one rule and the penalties stack. Note that the largest individual fine attaches to registration and marking — the cheapest thing on this entire page to get right.
Common questions
How high can you fly a drone in Canada?
122 m (400 ft) above ground level. When operating within 61 m (200 ft) horizontally of a building or structure you may instead fly up to 30 m (100 ft) above that structure — whichever of the two permits the greater altitude.
How far must a drone stay from people in Canada?
Basic operations require more than 30 m horizontally from any person not involved in the operation, and never directly overhead. Advanced operations with the appropriate safety assurance declaration permit flight closer than 30 m, and over people, using a small drone. Medium drones have separate thresholds at 152.4 m and 30 m.
How far must a drone stay from an airport in Canada?
Basic operations must remain more than 5.6 km (3 NM) from the centre of a certified airport and more than 1.9 km (1 NM) from the centre of a heliport. Advanced certificate holders may operate closer with the appropriate permission. Flying within 5.6 km of a military aerodrome requires permission from the Department of National Defence.
What are the fines for breaking drone rules in Canada?
For individuals: up to $1,000 for flying without a pilot certificate, up to $3,000 for flying where you're not allowed, up to $3,000 for putting aircraft or people at risk, and up to $5,000 for an unregistered or unmarked drone. Corporate fines are five times higher in each category, and multiple breaches can attract multiple penalties.
What is a sheltered drone operation in Canada?
A sheltered operation permits a small drone to be flown around a building or structure without maintaining direct visual line-of-sight and without a visual observer. It requires an Advanced certificate, and limits flight to 30 m above the structure, within 61 m horizontally of it, within 3.7 km of the pilot and control station, and at least 30 m from any person not involved in the operation.
What to carry on every flight
- Your pilot certificate
- The aircraft's certificate of registration
- Proof of recency completed within the last 24 months
Digital copies on a phone are fine. Being unable to produce them is a separate problem from whether the flight itself was legal.
Always verify against the source. This page is a convenience, written independently and updated when the rules change. Transport Canada is authoritative, and their drone safety pages are the version that counts. If you spot something out of date here, tell us and we'll fix it.
Studying for Advanced? This page is reference, not preparation. The exam tests why these numbers exist — airspace structure, meteorology, theory of flight. Our 44-page operations guide covers the full syllabus for CA$29.