This page is a general reference summary, not legal advice. Always check the relevant country's official authority for the latest rules before flying.
In Australia, drones are regulated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and CASA's drone safety rules simplify the regulations in Part 101 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations. Flying for fun does not require drone registration, a licence or operator accreditation, including for micro drones.
Flying for work or business is different: it requires drone registration, operator accreditation or a remote pilot licence, and compliance with the rules for that type of operation. CASA groups drones by weight into micro (250 g or less), very small (over 250 g to 2 kg), small (over 2 kg to 25 kg) and medium (over 25 kg to 150 kg), and a qualification or accreditation may be needed depending on the weight. Drones over 25 kg need approval even for recreational flying.
Before each flight, CASA recommends checking a CASA-verified drone safety app, which shows airspace restrictions and local rules. Approval may be needed in national parks, wildlife zones or on some private property, and rules vary by state and territory.
Key rules at a glance
- Recreational flying does not require registration, a licence or operator accreditation, including for micro drones. Flying for work or business requires drone registration plus operator accreditation or a remote pilot licence.
- Fly at or below 120 m above ground level, and keep the drone in view with your own eyes, not through a screen, device or goggles. Do not fly through cloud, fog or smoke. Fly only in daylight and only one drone at a time.
- Keep at least 30 m from other people and never fly over anyone. Do not fly in populated areas such as beaches, parks, events or sports ovals during games.
- Near airports with a control tower, drones over 250 g must not fly within 5.5 km. Drones of 250 g or less may fly up to 45 m within 5.5 km, but not inside the airport boundary or in approach and departure paths. Near smaller airports without a control tower, flying within 5.5 km is permitted, but if you become aware of a crewed aircraft, do not launch, or move clear and land as soon as possible. The same applies within 1.4 km of helicopter landing sites.
- Stay away from areas affecting public safety or emergency operations, such as police, search and rescue or firefighting, and respect other people's privacy. Approval may be needed in national parks, wildlife zones or on some private property.
Before you fly
- Check your location in a CASA-verified drone safety app before every flight, and note the local rules it shows.
- Check whether the place needs approval, such as national parks, wildlife zones and some private property, because rules vary by state and territory.
- If the flight is for work or business, check CASA's pages on registration and on operator accreditation or a remote pilot licence before you fly.
- Check the distance to airports (5.5 km) and helicopter landing sites (1.4 km), and keep clear of emergency operations.
This site doesn't yet have map-based airspace data for this country. Please check the official links below.
Official links
Sources
Summary checked against the official pages below on October 23, 2026. Rules change — confirm with the authority before flying.
Related guides
- A Beginner's Drone Pre-Flight ChecklistA simple, repeatable pre-flight checklist for new pilots, covering what to do before you leave home, at the flight location, before takeoff, and after landing.
- Do You Need Drone Insurance? A Checklist Before You BuyWhat drone insurance covers, when it is worth it, what the law requires depending on your country, and the questions to ask before you sign a policy.