Can You Fly a Drone in Ontario?

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The east-central province of Ontario is between the Great Lakes and the United States. Its capital is Toronto, a major Canadian city, but the province also features the capital of Canada, Ottawa.

Can you bring a drone to Ontario and safely launch it?

According to Transport Canada rules, you can fly a drone in Ontario, including Ottawa and Toronto. However, pilots cannot fly within five miles of airports or military bases and should use a drone map to check for other restricted airspace.

If you’re eager to learn more about Ontario drone rules, you’ve come to the right place.

We’ll talk further about restricted airspace and recommend some great scenic areas where drones are welcome, so don’t miss it!

Can you fly a drone in Ontario? #

In Canada, the governmental department known as Transport Canada makes the rules about air, marine, rail, and road transport.

Transport Canada’s rules permit drones in Ontario just as they do across greater Canada.

Drones cannot fly near airports and heliports throughout Ontario. Depending on the classification from the Canada Flight Supplement, you can fly within one or three nautical miles.

You’re allowed within 5.6 kilometers or three nautical miles of an airport with a Certified classification and only within 1.9 kilometers or one nautical mile from a heliport with a Certified classification.

Ontario is the second biggest province in Canada at 415,000 square miles. As you might expect, it has a ton of airports. Here’s the full list for your perusal:

Ottawa International Airport in Ottawa
Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga
London International Airport in London, Canada
Thunder Bay International Airport in Thunder Bay
John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport in Hamilton
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport in Toronto
Windsor International Airport in Windsor
Timmins/Victor M. Power Airport in Timmins
Kingston Airport in Kingston
Jack Garland Airport in North Bay
Greater Sudbury Airport in Greater Sudbury
Sault Ste. Marie Airport in Sault Ste. Marie
Muskoka Airport in Bracebridge
Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport in Sarnia
Dryden Regional Airport in Dryden
Kenora Airport in Kenora
Niagara District Airport in Niagara-on-the-Lake
Red Lake Airport in Red Lake
Region of Waterloo International Airport in Woolwich
Wiarton Keppel International Airport in Wiarton
Peterborough Airport in Peterborough
Attawapiskat Airport in Ontario
Peawanuck Airport in Peawanuck
Nakina Airport in Nakina
Oshawa Executive Airport in Oshawa
St. Thomas Municipal Airport in St. Thomas
Sioux Lookout Airport in Sioux Lookout
Fort Frances Municipal Airport in Fort Frances
Pembroke & Area Airport in Pembroke
Lake Simcoe Regional Airport in Oro-Medonte
Wawa Municipal Airport in Wawa
Kingfisher Lake Airport in Kingfisher Lake
Deer Lake Airport in Deer Lake
Bearskin Lake Airport in Bearskin Lake
Big Trout Lake Airport in Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug
Cat Lake Airport in Cat Lake First Nation
Fort Albany Airport in Fort Albany
Fort Hope Airport in Eabametoong
Fort Severn Airport in Fort Severn First Nation
Landsowne House Airport in Neskantaga
Kasabonika Airport in Kasbonika Lake First National Community
Kaskechewan Airport in Kashechewan
Moosonee Airport in Moosonee
North Spirit Lake Airport in North Spirit Lake
Pickle Lake Airport in Pickle Lake
Pikangikum Airport in Pikangikum
Poplar Hill Airport in Poplar Hill
Sachigo Lake Airport in Sachigo Lake
Sandy Lake Airport in Sandy Lake
Summer Beaver Airport in Nibinamik

The best 7 places to fly a drone in Ontario #

You’re in the mood to launch your drone. Fortunately for you, Ontario has many esteemed places where you can do just that.

Here’s a list of places to visit and explore the skies.

» Read More: Can You Fly a Drone in Winnipeg?

1. Downtown Toronto #

One of the most thrilling parts of Toronto is undoubtedly its downtown area. Here, you can find a variety of fun and funky neighborhoods, nightlife, restaurants, and skyscrapers, including the CN Tower.

Downtown Toronto is the home of the Royal Ontario Museum, the shopping area Bloor Street, St. Lawrence Market, and the large mall known as the Eaton Centre.

Although you can’t get too close to structures or crowds with your drone, if you plan your time in Downtown Toronto when the area has fewer crowds, you should be able to take some uninterrupted aerial footage.

2. Erindale Park #

In Mississauga, Erindale Park is 222 acres of greenspace, making it the biggest park in the area. The park features toboggan hills, trails, grills, picnic areas, and a playground. The park also has a photography site.

Open seven days a week, you can get into Erindale Park from dawn until 11 p.m. That gives you plenty of leeway for planning your visit when the park isn’t as crowded.

3. Toronto Harbourfront #

Overlooking the beautiful Lake Ontario shores, the Harbourfront area is sure to inspire your latest drone projects.

This area has mountainous condo towers, a children’s amusement park in Centreville with a carousel from 1907, and nearby Toronto Islands with beaches for swimming and sunbathing.

While you don’t want to fly your drone too close to the water, the Harbourfront has a lot to fall in love with and is an excellent way to spend an afternoon in Ontario.

4. North Maple Regional Park #

In Vaughan, you’ll find a little slice of heaven known as the North Maple Regional Park. Built in 2018, the 900-acre park includes turf soccer fields, a pavilion, hiking and walking trails, a toboggan hill, and picnic areas.

The park’s features are spaced out enough that you can find a nook for flying your drone away from the crowds. North Maple Regional Park is open daily between 8:30 a.m. and 11 p.m.

5. Scarborough Bluffs #

The escarpment in Toronto’s Scarborough District is known as Scarborough Bluffs or The Bluffs for short.

The Bluffs encompasses the waterfront area and includes a number of parks and gardens. Here are your options:

Sylvan Park
South Marine Drive Park
Scarborough Heights Park
Scarboro Crescent Park
Rouge Beach Park
Rosetta McClain Gardens
Port Union Waterfront Park
Harrison Properties
Guild Park and Gardens
Greyabbey Park
Doris McCarthy Trail
East Point Park
Cudia Park
Crescentwood Park
Chesterton Shores
Cathedral Bluffs Park
Bluffer’s Park

6. J. C. Saddington Park #

If you’re still looking for parks to explore in Ontario, head over to Mississauga to J. C. Saddington Park.

The park includes an amphitheater, heritage buildings, a playground, picnic areas, and a looped path system. Even better, it was erected over what was once a landfill.

With so many unique sights, you can spend all day here with your drone. J. C. Saddington Park is open from dawn until 11 p.m. daily.

7. Colonel Samuel Smith Park #

We also recommend enjoying Colonel Samuel Smith Park in the Etobicoke district if you have some time during your Ontario travels.

Once favored by Victorian Torontonians as the ultimate getaway site, Colonel Samuel Smith Park today is still a great reprieve. The park has stunning views of Lake Ontario, perhaps some of the best you’ll get in the region.

Throughout the rest of the park, you’ll see a playground, hiking trails (including scenic trails), boats and yachts on the water, observation decks for viewing wildlife, and picnic areas.

You can use your drone to capture footage of endangered wildlife or more common Canadian creatures like beavers, swans, turtles, and ducks. Just don’t get too close to any animals with your drone.

If you want to shoot some urban sights, areas of the park allow you to take panoramic footage of the city, including CN Tower.

Ontario drone laws to know before you go #

Are you ready to head out for a day of exploration and fun in Ontario? Make sure you stay abreast of these important Transport Canada drone laws.

If your drone weighs more than 250 grams, you must have a license and registration.
When obtaining a drone license in Canada, you can select between a Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations or Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations. If you want the full freedom to do what’s legal with your drone, pursue the advanced license. Just expect a tougher test and a flight review to earn the license.
You can register your drone through Transport Canada. You’ll receive a registration number that you must affix to your drone.
You cannot fly your drone during emergency operations.
Your drone must fly under 400 feet.
If a special event occurs, you cannot use your drone too close.
You must stay 30 meters away from crowds if you have a Basic Operations license.