The Drone Weather Forecast zone map has 1,273 drone zones in Switzerland, from FOCA. 1,272 of them close the airspace from the ground up. Another 1 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 | 1,193 | 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 | 79 | You may fly only with an authorization from the aviation authority or the airspace manager, for example around airports and in controlled airspace. |
| 🟪 Height limit | 1 | You may fly below the height of the zone without asking; above it you need an authorization. Typical of the outer steps around airports. |
Largest restricted zones
| Zone | Strictest part |
|---|---|
| Swiss National Park | 🟥 Prohibited |
| LSZH Zürich | 🟧 Authorization required |
| GE - Cantonal Police of Geneva | 🟥 Prohibited |
| LSMP Payerne Ziv | 🟧 Authorization required |
| LSMD Dübendorf | 🟧 Authorization required |
| LSME Emmen | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Cantonal wildlife reserve Grimsel | 🟥 Prohibited |
| LSMM Meiringen | 🟧 Authorization required |
| LSGS Sion Ziv | 🟧 Authorization required |
| LSZC Buochs | 🟧 Authorization required |
| LSZS Samedan | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Federal Game Reserve Kärpf | 🟥 Prohibited |
| LSMA Alpnach | 🟧 Authorization required |
| LSGG Genève | 🟧 Authorization required |
| LSZB Bern-Belp 1 | 🟧 Authorization required |
Drone rules in Switzerland at a glance
- Aviation authority: Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA)
- Maximum height: 120 m (400 ft) above the ground, unless an authorization allows more.
- Registration: Everyone flying a drone of 250 g or more, or any drone with a camera or microphone, must register as an operator in FOCA's dLIS portal (minimum age 12). Official page
- Official map: map.geo.admin.ch – drone restrictions
- Remote ID must be on in flight, except for C0, legacy and home-built drones.
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 (FOCA) before you fly.
- Check the drone map before every flight; restricted areas include aerodrome control zones (CTR) and aerodrome perimeters. Official page
- Click the restricted area on the map to see its conditions and the competent authority, and ask that authority for permission (not FOCA). Official page
- On the day, check the Daily Airspace Bulletin (DABS) for temporary restrictions. 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 Switzerland?
Around airports, military bases and other restricted areas. The app's map has 1,272 zones in Switzerland where you cannot fly from the ground up without an authorization; the official map is map.geo.admin.ch – drone restrictions. Temporary restrictions can appear at any time, so check before every flight.
Do I need permission to fly a drone near an airport in Switzerland?
Yes. Flying inside an airport zone or other restricted airspace needs an authorization. Responsible authority: Federal Office of Civil Aviation. The official steps and links are on this page.
How high can you fly a drone in Switzerland?
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.
Where does this zone data come from?
From FOCA: 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, Federal Office of Civil Aviation (official map: map.geo.admin.ch – drone restrictions).
Zone counts and names: FOCA, 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.