Rules and regulations for drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

To fly a drone or UAV you must comply with:

• Civil Aviation rules and regulations
• the Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw 2013
• the Privacy Act 2020 and Crimes Act 1961.

Weight limits for drones and UAVs

• Drones and UAVs must not weigh more than 25kg.
• You must not fly drones heavier than 2.5kg without permission from Auckland Council on any council-managed land.

Civil Aviation rules and regulations

• You must not fly a drone higher than 120m (400 feet) above ground level.
• You must not fly within 4km of an airport, airfield or helipad unless you have a valid Part 101 pilot certificate and receive clearance from:
  • the air traffic controller for controlled airports, airfields or helipads, or
  • the aerodrome operator for uncontrolled airports, airfields or helipads.
• You must give way to any aircraft carrying people, like planes, helicopters, hang gliders and paragliders. Land your aircraft immediately if another aircraft approaches.
• You must be able to see your drone at all times – this means with your own eyes.
• You must only fly your drone during daylight, unless you are flying as a ‘shielded operation’.
• You must check for any airspace restrictions in your area before you fly. There are many areas with air traffic and other activities where you cannot fly a drone or UAV. Visit Airshare for more information.
• You must have permission from the landowner or manager of the land you want to fly a drone or UAV over.

Visit Part 101 Civil Aviation Rules for more information.

Flying a drone on council-managed land

To fly a drone on council-managed land, you must:

• log your planned flight on Airshare
• fly no closer than 30m to other park users including dogs and horses - unless you have permission
• keep 20m away from all buildings
• keep 50m away from all infrastructure, like power lines and mobile phone towers
• not fly over, or within 30m of:
  • livestock in parks
  • threatened or rare wildlife like shorebirds and wetland bird species and their habitats, including wetlands, Shallow pond that supports a natural ecosystem of plants and animals that are adapted to wet conditions. estuaries, dunes and beaches
  • nesting or roosting birds
• take off no closer than 100 metres to threatened or rare wildlife
• not fly over a sports field that is in use, or large groups of people - unless you have permission
• not fly over public roads on park land
• not fly above or within 50 metres of a playground that it is in use
• keep within park boundaries and not fly over nearby private property
• stop using your drone if Auckland Council staff ask you to
• make sure you comply with the Privacy Act 2020 and Crimes Act 1961 if you collect data with your drone
• make sure you do not disturb any public works or businesses operations and activities on public land
• not fly over sites of significance to mana whenua Hapū and iwi with ancestral relationships to certain areas in Tāmaki Makaurau where they exercise customary authority. without permission
• not fly if you have taken drugs or drunk alcohol.

Visit Where you can fly a drone or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to find out where you can fly a drone or UAV on council-owned land.

Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw 2013

You must not use your drone or UAV anywhere in a way which may scare, harm or cause danger or a nuisance to anyone. Visit Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw 2013 to find out more.

Our advice

We advise all drone and UAV users to:

• complete Part 101 or Part 102 training from a CAA Part 141 organisation
• create a ‘mission plan’ before flying. This plan should show how you will minimise risks to people, property, aircraft, cultural sites and ecosystems when you fly a drone or UAV
• use signage to advise the public you are flying a drone in the area
• have a dedicated ‘observer’ present to identify risks
• stay alert and be ready to lower or land the drone or UAV quickly if an aircraft with passengers enters the same airspace. Drones must always give way to aircraft with people onboard. This includes planes, helicopters, hot air balloons and hang gliders
• connect the drone or UAV controller to the internet (via 5G ‘hot-spotting’). Some controllers can provide pilot location, speed and height information of nearby aircraft
• fly no higher than 75m above ground level within 4km of a controlled or uncontrolled airport, airfield or helipad. You must also have permission and be certified to fly a drone or UAV in these areas.