Bahamas Drone Laws (2019)

Bahamas Drone Laws

Img 1: Aerial Photography In Bahamas

  1. General Bahamas Drone Laws
  2. Drone Permits In Bahamas
  3. Brining Your Drone On Airplanes Guide
  4. Buying Drones In Bahamas
  5. Drone Travel Guide Articles
  6. Contact Information For Questions

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General Bahamas Drone Laws

Drone use is allowed in the Bahamas, Recreational/ Commercial operations require a permit, to make a formal request you must mention the use and places to fly.

There are several drone laws that need to be followed when flying in the country. Operators must ensure that they follow the following drone laws when flying in Bahamas,

  • Do not operate your drone in a careless or reckless manner
  • Do not fly over property unless you have consent from the property owner.
  • You must keep your drone at least 50 feet from any building, person, or vehicle not associated with the drone
  • You must maintain unobstructed visual line of sight at all times with your drone
  • Do not fly higher than 200 feet
  • Do not operate your drone at night or when there is low visibility
  • Do not operate within 8km (5 miles) of an airport or in any area that aircraft are present
  • Do not fly your drone over military installations, palaces, and parks in the Bahamas
  • Watch for “no drone zone” signs around the Bahamas and do not fly your drone in these areas
  • You must respect the privacy of others and avoid flying over people in crowded areas
  • Even when flying over the ocean, take care to avoid ships (unless you’re familiar with a particular ship it could be military or restricted and you could wind up in jail)
  • Check the drone regulations at the hotel you are staying at – many hotels ban drones due to concerns surrounding guest privacy and noise

Permit Needed For Recreational Drone Use?

A permit is required for recreational drone use in Bahamas. Click here to obtain a permit, or contact the local aviation authority. (What Is Recreational Drone Use?)

Without it, you may be hit with a Duty Tax or have your UAV confiscated, so be sure to have it on hand before you land at the airport!

Permit Needed For Commercial Drone Use?

A permit is required for commercial drone use in Bahamas. Click here to obtain a permit, or contact the local aviation authority. (What Is Commercial Drone Use?)

The commercial license has an extra cost! make sure you have this information before planning your operation.

Bringing Your Drone On Airplanes Guide

For a detailed guide to bringing your drone on airplanes click here. All drones should be brought on carry on luggage if possible. This is because according to the Montreal Convention, airlines are only liable for losses up to ~$1,000 USD. When traveling internationally, theft and lost luggage can be common issues, particularly if your flight has many connections. If your drone is worth more than $1,000 USD and you cannot bring it onto the plane you should consider shipping it with DHL, Fedex, or UPS instead and fully insure the shipment.

You should NOT place drone batteries in your checked baggage. All drone batteries should be placed in a Medium Size Lipo Battery Bag like the one shown here in the link and brought onto the plane in your carry on bag. Lithium-ion batteries are considered “dangerous goods” by airlines and rules surrounding these batteries on planes are EXTREMELY strict due to multiple incidents of these batteries catching fire. Failure to properly pack lithium-ion batteries in a bag such as the one shown in the link above can result in the airline seizing them, you getting fined, or being denied boarding.

Here is some video footage shot by Exploring Filmmaker when flying a drone in Bahamas.

Buying Drones In Bahamas

Read all of our Bahamas Drone Laws, and now looking for drones, parts, accessories, or something else? Read our guide for Buying Drones In Bahamas. It includes information on drones for sale in the Bahamas, import taxes, payment options, and shipping.

Drone Travel Guide

Bahamas drone laws are up to date as of April 02, 2019. Please email [email protected] , or click “leave a message” at the bottom right of the screen if you have any questions or comments.