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

  • Drones may not fly above 100 meters (328 feet) without a permit. In controlled airspace, the maximum altitude allowed is 50 meters (164 feet).
  • Drone pilots must maintain a direct line of sight with their drones at all times. According to our research, an exception might be permissible in the case of FPV flights in which the drone flies no higher than 30 meters (98 feet) above the ground and weighs no more than 250 grams (.55 pounds).
  • Drones over 5 kilograms (11 pounds) may not be flown at night without a permit.
  • Drones weighing up to 5 kilograms (11 pounds) may be flown without a permit, but a license is required to fly a drone weighing more than 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds).
  • Drone insurance is required for all drone operations in Germany.
  • Drones may not be flown within 1.5 kilometers (.93 miles) or closer to an airport.
  • All drones weighing 250 grams (.55 pounds) or more must be labeled with a fireproof badge containing the name and address of the drone owner/operator.
  • Drones may not be flown over crowds, industrial areas, disaster areas, prisons, residential areas, certain traffic routes, and several other areas designated as sensitive. See this map for more information on where drones are banned in Germany.
  • Drones may not be flown above and at a lateral distance of 100 meters from federal highways, federal waterways, and railway facilities.
  • Drones may not be flown over nature conservation areas protected under the Federal Nature Conservation Act.
  • Drones that are able to record/transfer optical, acoustic, or radio signals are forbidden over residential areas unless the owners have agreed to the flight.

For more information on Germany’s drone laws, see this FAQ issued by the German Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, as well as this press release issued by the same Ministry.

Know something we don’t about drone laws in Germany? Send us an email at support[at]uavcoach[dot]com. We are not international aviation attorneys and do our best to keep this page up-to-date for drone pilots, but the reality is that given the pace of the small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industry and how governments are responding, drone regulations in Germany can change throughout the year, and those changes can be hard to track. If we missed something, please reach out to let us know.

Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Germany? Here you go:

the source from: https://uavcoach.com/drone-laws-in-germany/