The Drone Weather Forecast zone map has 22,219 drone zones in France, from DGAC / IGN – Géoplateforme. 6,953 of them close the airspace from the ground up. Another 15,266 set a height limit: you may fly below it without asking. 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 | 6,953 | No flying from the ground up without a special permission: the area closest to airport runways, prisons, military sites, capital-city no-fly areas. |
| 🟪 Height limit | 15,266 | You may fly below the height of the zone without asking; above it you need an authorization. Typical of the outer steps around airports. |
Drone rules in France at a glance
- Aviation authority: Direction générale de l'Aviation civile (DGAC)
- Maximum height: 120 m (400 ft) above the ground, unless an authorization allows more. Lower near aerodromes, heliports and ULM strips, as shown on Géoportail.
- Registration: Operators of drones over 250 g, or of any drone with a camera or other sensor that is not a toy, must register on AlphaTango. Official page
- Official map: Géoportail – restrictions UAS
- Leisure flights over public space in built-up areas are prohibited in the open category.
- The DGAC guide notes that permission to fly in prohibited zones is almost never granted for leisure.
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 (DGAC) before you fly.
- Check the Géoportail restriction layer for the maximum height at your spot; near aerodromes it can be 0 m (no flight) several kilometres out. Official page
- To fly above the published height near an aerodrome, get prior agreement from its air traffic control unit (or its AFIS, or failing that the aerodrome operator). There is no online portal: contact them directly. Official page
- Check the SIA website for temporary restrictions and NOTAMs, which Géoportail does not show. Official page
- Operations outside the open-category rules (for example professional work in restricted areas) need the specific category with the DGAC. 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 France?
Around airports, military bases and other restricted areas. The app's map has 6,953 zones in France where you cannot fly from the ground up without an authorization; the official map is Géoportail – restrictions UAS. Temporary restrictions can appear at any time, so check before every flight.
Do I need permission to fly a drone near an airport in France?
Yes. Flying inside an airport zone or other restricted airspace needs an authorization. Responsible authority: Direction générale de l'Aviation civile. The official steps and links are on this page.
How high can you fly a drone in France?
Up to 120 m (400 ft) above the ground under the general rules, unless an authorization allows more. Near airports the limit can be lower, or zero. Lower near aerodromes, heliports and ULM strips, as shown on Géoportail.
Where does this zone data come from?
From DGAC / IGN – Géoplateforme: data published by the authorities, or drawn from the national rules, as shipped in the Drone Weather Forecast app. It is a guide, not an authorization: the binding zones and temporary restrictions are the ones published by the aviation authority, Direction générale de l'Aviation civile (official map: Géoportail – restrictions UAS).
Zone counts and names: DGAC / IGN – Géoplateforme, 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.