Where can I fly a drone in Norway? Maps and restrictions

What you need to know

Check the exact place, planned height and time against current airspace information, airport restrictions, protected-area rules and sensor restrictions. A clear patch on one map is not permission to fly.

Start with the flight you actually intend to make

Choose the launch point, route, maximum height and planned time before checking the maps. Include a safe return and landing area. A legal launch point does not mean that every part of the route is allowed.

This guide concerns planning in the open category on mainland Norway. Your drone, training and operation must also meet the conditions of A1, A2 or A3. Different permissions may be needed for operations outside the open category.

Source: CAA Norway: no-drone zones

1. Check UAS geographical zones

Start at dronesoner.no, a service from Luftfartstilsynet. Find the precise location and inspect the relevant zones and their conditions. Look at the whole planned flight area, rather than only the take-off point.

The map combines several public datasets. Its downloadable files are snapshots: a freshly generated file does not mean that every underlying fixed-zone dataset has just been updated. Follow the source information and check current notices before flying. A drone manufacturer's geofencing display is not a substitute for these checks.

Open Dronesoner: UAS geographical zones ↗

Source: Dronesoner: data sources and update limitations (Norwegian)

2. Check current aviation notices

Use Avinor's AIS portal for AIP Norway and supplements, and IPPC for NOTAM and briefing information. Read notices for the intended place and time; a restriction may be temporary or active only during particular periods.

Identify the boundaries and height limits that affect your route. If you cannot interpret a notice or establish whether it applies, resolve that uncertainty before take-off. A screenshot saved earlier in the week is not a current briefing.

Source: Avinor AIS portal: AIP Norway, supplements and NOTAM

3. Obtain airport permission where required

Norway's current rule prohibits flying closer than five kilometres to an airport without permission from the local air traffic services unit. Check the airport's published procedure through Avinor's drone information. Do not assume that a quiet runway or a closed tower removes the restriction.

At participating airports, NinoxDrone2 is the current application for requesting permission. Avinor states that the previous Ninox Drone app stopped operating on 12 June 2026. NinoxDrone2 does not show every restricted area in Norway, so it cannot replace the other map checks.

Follow the full approval process. An approved plan is not yet permission to take off: the pilot must request take-off and receive approval. Comply with the approved area, height, time and any further conditions. An airport approval does not override a separate nature or sensor restriction.

Check Avinor airport permission procedures (Norwegian) ↗

Source: Norwegian drone regulations, section 7 (Norwegian)

4. Check protected areas and wildlife

Use the map in the Norwegian Environment Agency's drone guide. Select the protected area, open its fact sheet and follow the link to its individual conservation regulation.

Rules differ between areas. Where drone use is prohibited, taking off outside the boundary does not make flying into it permissible. Obtain any necessary exemption from the responsible management authority before flying.

Consider wildlife outside protected areas too. Avoid disturbing birds and animals, and check seasonal restrictions. The absence of a sign on the ground does not cancel the area's rules.

Open the protected-area map and drone guidance (Norwegian) ↗

Source: Norwegian Environment Agency: drones in nature (Norwegian)

5. Check photography and other sensors separately

Consult NSM's airborne sensor guidance and sensor restriction map. Permission to use airspace and permission to collect information with a camera or another sensor are separate questions.

NSM requires notification for sensors other than ordinary photo/video outside published sensor-prohibited areas. Foreign aircraft visiting Norway must notify NSM when using sensors over Norwegian territory, including photography and video. Follow the applicable notification or permission process; notification is not a blanket exemption from restrictions.

Source: NSM: airborne sensors and notification requirements (Norwegian)

6. Make a final check at the location

Keep the drone within visual line of sight. In normal open-category operations, remain within 120 metres of the closest point of the earth's surface, allowing for the terrain. This is not a general allowance to fly 120 metres above your launch point over a valley.

Check people, obstacles, weather, equipment and your landing options. Stay clear of emergency operations and give way to crewed aircraft. A map cannot show every helicopter or changing condition. If the flight cannot remain safe and compliant, change the plan or do not take off.

Read the Governor of Svalbard’s drone guidance ↗

Source: EASA: open-category terrain and height limits

Common questions

Does a drone under 250 grams avoid no-fly zones?

No. Low weight does not remove geographical restrictions. Check the location and the rules that apply to the intended operation, including the conditions for your drone class.

Is a green NinoxDrone2 plan enough to fly anywhere nearby?

No. Take-off approval applies to the submitted flight and its conditions. Other airspace, nature and sensor restrictions still require separate checks.

Has the five-kilometre rule been replaced by a CTR rule?

The published rules checked on 31 October 2026 still state five kilometres. A consultation proposing a different control-zone arrangement is not an enacted rule. Check current rules before each flight.

Can I use this guide for Svalbard?

Check the Governor of Svalbard's separate guidance before planning. Svalbard has additional environmental restrictions, including a drone ban in protected areas and seasonal protection for bird cliffs.

Sources and regulatory basis

Regulatory information has been checked against the sources below. Study plans and examples are Kurskompis teaching recommendations. Check current information from the authorities before flying or taking an exam.