General Rules for Flying a Drone in Australia

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Australia.

• You must only fly during the day and keep your drone within visual line-of-sight. This means being able to see the aircraft with your own eyes (rather than through a device) at all times.

• You must not fly your drone higher than 120 meters (400ft) above the ground.

• You must keep your drone at least 30 meters away from other people.

• You must not fly your UAV over or near an area affecting public safety or where emergency operations are underway (without prior approval). This could include situations such as a car crash, police operations, a fire and associated firefighting efforts, and search and rescue.

• You must only fly one UAV at a time.

• You must not fly over or above people. This could include beaches, parks, events, or sport ovals where there is a game in progress.

• If your drone weighs more than 100g, you must keep at least 5.5km away from controlled aerodromes.

• Respect personal privacy. Don’t record or photograph people without their consent—this may breach state laws.

In addition to following these rules, you can download the ‘Can I fly there?’ drone safety app. This official CASA app is an excellent tool for determining where you can and cannot fly a drone in Australia for those flying their drone recreationally or commercially.

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