Where can I fly my drone?
Everything on the fly zones in Germany
The German airspace is divided into different zones. You can only fly a drone in free airspace. We use the FlyNex map, which is based on data from the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (Federal Aviation Office) and the Bundesamt für Naturschutz (Federal Agency for Nature Conservation), to explain what the different zones mean. So you know exactly where you're allowed to fly and under what conditions.
- Red zones: no flights
- Yellow zones: restricted flight area
- Blue zones: restricted flight area
- Green zones: no flights in the nature reserve
- Unmarked zones: flying is allowed
Red zone: no-fly zone
The red zones on the map indicate a no-fly zone. That means you're not allowed to fly your drone here. These zones are mainly located in the direct vicinity of airports, ports, above densely populated residential areas, or industrial areas. So if you fly in these zones, there can be safety problems and you may be liable to prosecution.
Yellow zone: restricted area (1)
Low-flying zones and safety areas are marked in yellow on the map. They indicate where the drone could interfere with air traffic, so drone flying is prohibited. In addition, you can't just fly your drone over certain facilities such as wind turbines, to avoid damage and ensure safety on the ground. If you want to record drone footage here, you need a permit.
Blue zone: restricted area (2)
The blue zones indicate a radius of up to 40km around airports. This means that you'll be caught by the airport control center. You're only allowed to fly here if your drone is approved for use in the controlled area. This depends on the model and your insurance. Make sure that your drone is legal in advance.
Green zone: no flights in nature reserves
The green zones show you where nature reserves, national park, and forest areas are. You're not allowed to fly your drone over nature reserves to prevent disturbing the flora and fauna in these zones. That means you're not allowed to take nature photos in these areas without a specific permit.
Unmarked zone: flying is allowed
Can't see a color on the map? Good news! You can fly with your drone here. Unmarked zones take up most of the map. That means there are plenty of ways to explore your surroundings. Unmarked zones are often sparsely populated areas outside of the city.
What about private property?
On the FlyNex map you can also see where residential properties, allotments, campsites and other private properties are located. These are marked in red, which means that flying is prohibited on private property. So you can't fly your drone here without the owner's permission.
