Italy Drone Laws (2019)

Contents 

1. General Italy Drone Laws 

2. Drone Permits In Italy 

3 Brining Your Drone On Airplanes Guide 

4. Buying Drones In Italy 

5. Drone Travel Guide Articles 

6. Contact Information For Questions 

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Img 1: Aerial Photography In Italy

General Italy Drone Laws

Drone use is allowed in Italy, but it is very strict compared to many countries, and 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 Italy,

  • Do not fly your drone over people or large crowds – This is taken VERY seriously, there are many reports online of individuals being arrested and having their drones seized within minutes of takeoff when trying to fly them around tourist attractions with many people nearby 
  • Respect others privacy when flying your drone 
  • You must fly during daylight hours and only fly in good weather conditions 
  • Do not fly your drone in sensitive areas including government or military facilities. 
  • Use of drones or camera drones in these areas are prohibited 
  • You may not fly your drone higher than 230 feet 
  • You may not fly your drone further than 650 feet horizontally or out of visual line of sight, whichever is first 
  • Do not control your drone using goggles such as the DJI Goggles unless you have someone else next to you visually watching the drone at all times 
  • You may not carry dangerous goods on your drone 
  • You may not fly your drone over beaches (during summertime), national parks, urban areas, infrastructures, railways, highways, or industrial plants without prior permission 
  • You must stay at least 5km away from airports 
  • You must only fly your drone during daylight 
  • Your drone must weigh under 25kg 
  • You must keep your drone 50m away from persons/property not under control of the drone operator 
  • You must carry third-party insurance if you will be using your drone for commercial use

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Permit Needed For Recreational Drone Use?

Permit Needed For Commercial Drone Use?

A drone permit is not required for MOST recreational drone use. Flying over cities, and over buildings will require a permit though. 

Airspace authorization is NOT required if the aircraft model has the following characteristics: 

1) Operating take-off mass less than 25 kg; 

2) Maximum wing area of 500 dm2 

3) Maximum wing loading of 250 g/dm2 

4) Maximum total displacement of piston engine of 250 cm3; or maximum total electric power of 15 kW or maximum total thrust of turbine engines of 25 kg (250 N) or maximum total power of turboprop engines of 15 kW; 

5) Outside active restricted areas and prohibited areas. 

6) Operator shall respect all the provisions issued by the local authority.Please click here for more information on obtaining a permit. (What Is Recreational Drone Use?)

A permit is required for commercial drone use in Italy. The regulation provides two different levels of authorizations to operate Light and Heavy Drones; the required authorization varies based on the weight as well as the actual use of the drone, and the following requirements must be met 
1) Registration of the flying model through the Italian Flight Agency ENAC. 

2) Minimum age of 18 for operators and medical certificate are required. 
3) You must carry drone insurance. 
4) Training and license of the pilot are required. 
5) Aircraft Documentation. 

Every drone must be identified by two identical labels applied to the drone and the operating system respectively with the information of owner and drone. 

Note: A commercial authorization has an application range of 6 to 10 weeksClick here to receive assistance on how to obtain a license, support, or contact the local aviation authority. (What Is Commercial Drone Use?)

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 View From Above when flying a drone in Italy.

Buying Drones In Italy

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

Drone Travel Guide

Italy drone laws are up to date as of May 15th, 2019. Please email [email protected] , or click “leave a message” at the bottom right of the screen if you have any questions or comments.