Drone laws in Australia (2026)
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
In short: A drone flown for sport or recreation is a model aircraft under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, so no registration, accreditation or remote pilot licence is required for it. Other rules for model aircraft, such as keeping it in sight and 30 m from people, apply; height, insurance and Remote ID are not verified.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Operator registrationRecreational flying (open category) | No registration is required for a drone flown for sport or recreation. Such a drone is a model aircraft, not a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), and registration under Division 47.C.2 applies to RPA. [1] |
| Pilot competencyRecreational flying (open category) | No accreditation or remote pilot licence is required to fly a drone for sport or recreation. The accreditation requirement applies to excluded RPA and micro RPA, and does not apply to model aircraft. [1] |
| Liability insuranceRecreational flying (open category) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Maximum heightRecreational flying (open category) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Remote IDRecreational flying (open category) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| EU class-marked dronesRecreational flying (open category) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
Notes
- This applies to drones operated for sport or recreation that weigh not more than 150 kg. A drone flown for other purposes, such as work, is an RPA with different registration and accreditation rules that are not covered here. Model aircraft weighing more than 250 g must be kept in sight, kept at least 30 m from people not involved in the flying and kept clear of populous areas (regs 101.385, 101.395). State, territory and local laws, for example for parks or privacy, are not covered.
- The regulations set 400 ft above ground level as a limit outside approved areas, but a model aircraft kept in sight and clear of populous areas may be flown above it outside controlled airspace (regs 101.085, 101.400). In controlled airspace, flight above 400 ft needs an approval and air traffic clearance (reg 101.070). The regulations do not set one fixed national height for recreational drones, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority guidance could not be read, so no value is shown.
Sources
- Office of Parliamentary Counsel (Federal Register of Legislation): Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (compilation of 30 June 2026) (consulted 13 October 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.