Drones in the UK: the law

The potential for harm has forced the government to tighten up drone laws

Drones are wonderful things, but like most tech, they can be used for nefarious activities. The obvious dangers involved with remotely controlling a large, sky-bound object have predictably encouraged governments around the world to slap down restrictions on UAV owners, and next year significant changes will come into force in UK drone law.

From 30th November 2019, any drone that weighs over 250g will need to be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority and owners need to successfully pass online safety tests; failure to do both of these things will become a criminal offence with a £1,000 fine attached. In addition to this, as of 30th July this year, the existing 400ft (120m) legal maximum height will be applied to any drone weighing between 250g and 7kg – though if your drone is fitted with a first-person view tech (like the Parrot Bebop 2 Power and its optional FPV headset) then the height restriction increases to 1,000 feet.

Furthermore, the law states that drones must remain at least 50 metres away from people and private property, and 150 metres from congested areas and organised open-air assemblies of more than 1,000 people. There will be a 1km exclusion zone around airports, licensed aerodromes and government aerodromes, though this doesn’t apply to unlicensed aerodromes and countrysidebased field strips used by light aircraft. Prisons are deemed to be no-fly zones, as drones can be used to transport contraband. Anyone caught ignoring such exclusion zones could face a fine of up to £2,500 or up to five years in prison. The UK government’s also currently debating whether to apply age limits to drone operators.

If you intend to purchase a drone, fly within the boundaries of the law – as more drones are sold we may well see more complex rules and regulations being implemented, along with harsher penalties for those who choose to wilfully ignore them.