The Drone Weather Forecast zone map has 4,771 drone zones in Canada, from DJI FlySafe. 2,259 of them close the airspace from the ground up. Below are the zone types, the largest zones, the rules at a glance and the official links to request permission when you need to fly inside a zone.
Zone types
| Zone | Count | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 🟥 Prohibited | 2 | No flying from the ground up without a special permission: the area closest to airport runways, prisons, military sites, capital-city no-fly areas. |
| 🟧 Authorization required | 2,257 | You may fly only with an authorization from the aviation authority or the airspace manager, for example around airports and in controlled airspace. |
| 🟨 Warning | 2,512 | Not closed, but fly with care and follow the local rules: heliports, small airfields, military training areas, stadiums, nature reserves. |
Largest restricted zones
| Zone | Strictest part |
|---|---|
| Bagotville | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Goose Bay | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Vanderhoof | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Vernon | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Chilliwack | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Southport | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Lethbridge | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Foremost | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Williams Lake | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Penticton | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Nanaimo | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Terrace | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Calgary International Airport | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Toronto Pearson International Airport | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Prince George | 🟧 Authorization required |
Drone rules in Canada at a glance
- Aviation authority: Transport Canada
- Airspace authorization: NAV CANADA
- Maximum height: 122 m (400 ft) above the ground, unless an authorization allows more.
- Registration: Drones of 250 g or more must be registered and marked in Transport Canada's Drone Management Portal, and the pilot needs a Basic or Advanced drone pilot certificate. Official page
- Official map: NAV Drone (NAV CANADA)
- Basic operations must stay in uncontrolled airspace, more than 5.6 km from certified airports and 1.9 km from certified heliports.
- Taking off or landing in a national park needs permission from Parks Canada.
How to get authorization to fly in a restricted zone
Steps and links from official sources, checked in September 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official website (Transport Canada) before you fly.
- Get a Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations in the Drone Management Portal: Basic pilots may not fly in controlled airspace. Official page
- Request permission to fly in NAV CANADA controlled airspace through the NAV Drone app. Official page
- In military controlled airspace or within 3 NM of a military aerodrome, ask the military aerodrome authority shown in the NRC Drone Site Selection Tool. Official page
- For flights outside the standard rules (for example above 122 m or at advertised events), apply for a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC-RPAS). Official page
- Flying a DJI drone? With the authorization in hand, request an unlock on DJI FlySafe. DJI's unlock does not replace the authority's permission.
Check zones and weather before you fly
The Drone Weather Forecast app shows these zones on a map with their real shapes and height limits, next to the hourly wind, gusts, rain, KP index and satellites for your drone model.
Frequently asked questions
Where can't you fly a drone in Canada?
Around airports, military bases and other restricted areas. The app's map has 2,259 zones in Canada where you cannot fly from the ground up without an authorization; the official map is NAV Drone (NAV CANADA). Temporary restrictions can appear at any time, so check before every flight.
Do I need permission to fly a drone near an airport in Canada?
Yes. Flying inside an airport zone or other restricted airspace needs an authorization. Responsible authority: NAV CANADA. The official steps and links are on this page.
How high can you fly a drone in Canada?
Up to 122 m (400 ft) above the ground under the general rules, unless an authorization allows more. Near airports the limit can be lower, or zero.
Where does this zone data come from?
From DJI FlySafe's GEO zones: no official zone dataset in Canada can be used in the app yet. DJI's GEO zones are a safety layer built into DJI drones, not the official airspace: the binding zones and rules are the ones published by the aviation authority, Transport Canada (official map: NAV Drone (NAV CANADA)).
Zone counts and names: DJI FlySafe, as shipped in the Drone Weather Forecast app on October 14, 2026. A safety guide, not the official airspace: the aviation authority publishes the binding zones and temporary restrictions.