Canadian airspace is regulated by Transport Canada through the Aeronautics Act and the Canadian Aviation Regulations. Remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), commonly known as drones, of any size are able to launch and land from private property with express permission from the property owner and must comply with Transport Canada rules.
The National Research Council of Canada Drone site Selection Tool helps you identify and avoid flying a drone in or near controlled or restricted airspace, or if there are any aerodromes, airports, or heliports in the vicinity of your planning flight.
In Edmonton, the Public Spaces Bylaw 20700, Section 55 regulates launch and landing of drones on City property. The operation of a drone weighing less than 250 grams (microdrone) is permitted within designated areas. However, drone operators must follow safety rules and restrictions outlined below.
Transport Canada requires that any drone, regardless of size, must never be operated in a reckless or negligent manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger aviation safety or the safety of anyone.
All drone operators must:
- Understand the regulations and take appropriate safety precautions before launching a drone
- Request NAV CANADA (Canada’s air navigation service) authorization to fly your drone in controlled airspace
- Check NAV CANADA Drone Viewer for flight restrictions, including temporary restrictions that may be in place
Microdrone operators must always:
- Maintain the drone in direct visual line-of-sight
- Fly the drone below 400 feet in the air
- Keep a safe horizontal distance between the drone and any person
- Stay far away from aerodromes, airports, heliports and water aerodromes
- Avoid flying near critical infrastructure (such as utilities, communication towers, bridges, power lines, cell towers, bridges)
- Stay clear of all aircraft at all times
- Do a pre-flight inspection of your drone
- Keep the drone close enough to maintain the loop connection with the remote controller
Designated Park Areas
The recreational use of microdrones are permitted in most officially named parks. Some exceptions apply. Please ensure you read all restrictions listed on this page.
A drone operator can launch and land a microdrone from cut and groomed turf within most of the officially named parks linked above. Even within these parks the restrictions outlined on this page are applicable.
Restrictions
- Sidewalks, trails, pathways, boulevards, or other groomed park areas that are not within the officially named park list.
- Edmonton Public Transit (ETS) stations (bus stops and LRT stations)
- Over public gatherings or at advertised events
- Sir Winston Churchill Square
- Joe Clarke Athletic Grounds
- Fort Edmonton Park
- Whitemud Equine Learning Centre
Know Before You Fly
The following City of Edmonton restrictions provide detailed information to the public around safe practices and the use of public lands to launch and land their microdrone. The following restrictions do not supersede Transport Canada regulations or provide greater allowances than those established by Transport Canada.
Drone Operators must maintain a safe distance (recommended minimum 10 meters) between their drone and the following:
- Naturalized areas, including areas with trees, brush, long grasses, and other unmaintained or unmowed areas that may contain protected species, including, but not limited to migratory birds as defined by the Federal Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, the Federal Species at Risk Act, and the Alberta Wildlife Act
- Wildlife or domestic animals of any kind, including but not limited to birds, larger mammals or domesticated animals such as dogs
- Roadways or parking lots, even when vehicles are not present
- Public amenities such as playgrounds, picnic sites, splashparks, outdoor pools, golf courses, ice rinks, iceways, or cemeteries
- Private or public facilities within or in close proximity to named parks, such as, but not limited to, Whitemud Equine Learning Centre, Edmonton Valley Zoo or Fort Edmonton Park
- Individuals, or other park users
Drone operators are not allowed to fly within the security perimeter of:
- A police or first responder emergency operation, such as a traffic accident or house fire.
- Sites near disasters (wildfires, floods, earthquakes). A drone must not be within 9.3 kilometers (5 nautical miles) from a wildfire. A drone flying near these areas may interfere with emergency personnel aircraft and the work of emergency personnel.
For the purposes of aviation safety and incident integrity, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) defines the security perimeter as a 30-meter horizontal buffer and a 400-foot vertical cylinder around any active emergency vehicle or incident landmark.
Drone Permits
City Permits are required for:
- All drone operations at advertised festivals and events hosted on City of Edmonton property, including microdrones weighing less than 250 grams
- Any professional production on City property, including parkland, roadways, or sidewalks
Visit the Film and Photography Productions on City of Edmonton property webpage to learn more.
Contact Us
311 Contact Centre
Phone 311 | Outside Edmonton and Video Relay Service (VRS): 780-442-5311 | TTY 711