Can you fly your drone in Italy?
Whether you can fly depends on your drone, your registration and exactly where you fly. Here is what applies: key rules, no-fly zones and the official sources, in one place.
Regulator
ENAC
Framework
EU 2019/947 (EASA Open Category) + national enforcement framework
Pilot credential
Drone License
BASIC RULES (EASA OPEN CATEGORY)
- In the open category, the maximum height is 120 m, measured as the distance from the closest point of the Earth's surface — not simply straight down, so near a slope the ground beside you can also count. Within 50 m of a tall artificial obstacle (over 105 m), the maximum height may be increased up to 15 m above the height of the obstacle at the request of the entity responsible for the obstacle.
- Registration in Italy via the D-Flight portal (except for the exemptions listed below): Basic subscription €7/year (PRO €28/year) + mandatory QR code on each drone (Base €7/UAS; the first one is included with the initial subscription)
- Exempt: toy drones (Directive 2009/48/EC) do not require registration, a certificate or insurance; drones under 250 g without a camera or microphone do not require registration.
- Foreign pilots: operator registration is valid in all EU countries and in Switzerland. If you are already registered in your own EU country, you do not need to register on D-Flight: just display your operator number on the drone. Residents outside the EU (including the United Kingdom) register in the first EU country they intend to visit.
- In Italy, the minimum age to fly in A1/A3 is 16; minors (aged 16-17) need the consent of a parent or legal guardian to register on the ENAC portal. The online certificate (40 questions) is valid for 5 years.
- Third-party liability insurance is mandatory for all drones (including under 250 g and for recreational use), except toy drones (Dir. 2009/48/EC) — minimum coverage 750,000 SDR, under Art. 27 of the Regolamento UAS-IT and Art. 1015 of the Codice della Navigazione.
- Rome and Vatican City: extensive no-fly zones
- In the open category, you must keep the drone within your direct visual line of sight, with the naked eye (glasses/contact lenses are fine; binoculars or a screen do not count) — or fly with the help of an observer, maintaining clear and effective communication between you at all times so that you can jointly monitor the airspace and avoid collisions. "Follow-me" mode is a separate exception, permitted up to 50 m from the pilot.
- Do not fly over assemblies of people. Rules for uninvolved persons depend on subcategory, class mark and operating conditions; check the official table.
- There is no single distance from airports: aerodrome geographical zones (ENAC Circular ATM-09A) are published on D-Flight. In the open category, flying is prohibited inside these zones, which start at a different height depending on their colour (red 0 m, orange 25 m, yellow 45 m); in the rest of ATZs and CTRs the zone normally starts at 60 m. Below these heights you may fly without an airspace reservation; to fly inside the zones you need the specific category with clearance from ENAC or the Aeronautica Militare.
- Night flight is permitted under the EASA open-category baseline, provided that the required green flashing light is used, unless a national rule or a rule for a specific geographical zone imposes stricter conditions.
- Historic sites and archaeological areas may be subject to additional restrictions
- Nature parks: flying over them is prohibited where the ENAC-approved ban is published on D-Flight; to fly there you need clearance from the park authority (Ente Parco).
- Drones with a C1, C2 or C3 class mark: direct remote identification and geo-awareness must be active and up to date.
No-fly zones and restrictions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence or certificate to fly a drone in Italy?
Two separate things are easily confused here. Registration as a drone operator is required as soon as your drone weighs 250 g or more, or has a camera or sensor able to capture personal data — so it covers many sub-250 g drones too, unless they qualify for the toy exemption. The remote pilot's certificate of competency (Drone License) is something else: you need it once your drone weighs 250 g or more, or carries a C1 or higher class mark. A camera drone under 250 g therefore needs registration, but no exam. You get the certificate by passing an online theory test with ENAC, and it is then valid across the whole EASA area, not just here.
Can I fly a drone as a tourist or foreign visitor in Italy?
Yes — EU drone rules apply to visitors too. If you are already registered as a drone operator in another EASA country, that registration and your A1/A3 certificate (also A2) are valid in Italy as well. Coming from outside the EASA area, you register once — in the first EASA country where you plan to fly, here with ENAC. Italy requires third-party liability insurance for every drone flight, including sub-250 g drones (only toy drones under Directive 2009/48/EC are exempt) — visiting EASA-registered operators keep their home registration but must carry insurance valid in Italy (minimum 750,000 SDR).
What are the most important drone rules in Italy?
The short version: In the open category, the maximum height is 120 m, measured as the distance from the closest point of the Earth's surface — not simply straight down, so near a slope the ground beside you can also count. Within 50 m of a tall artificial obstacle (over 105 m), the maximum height may be increased up to 15 m above the height of the obstacle at the request of the entity responsible for the obstacle. On top of that: Registration in Italy via the D-Flight portal (except for the exemptions listed below): Basic subscription €7/year (PRO €28/year) + mandatory QR code on each drone (Base €7/UAS; the first one is included with the initial subscription). Also: Exempt: toy drones (Directive 2009/48/EC) do not require registration, a certificate or insurance; drones under 250 g without a camera or microphone do not require registration. These are central aviation rules — location-specific airspace, land, nature, privacy and photography requirements can also apply in Italy, so always check the official sources.
Where am I not allowed to fly a drone in Italy?
What you need to avoid are the restricted zones — typically around airports, prisons, military areas and protected nature areas. You'll find the official map for Italy under Sources below, and the DroneKoll app shows current NOTAMs (temporary airspace restrictions) for Italy.
Who regulates drone flying in Italy?
Drone flying in Italy is regulated by ENAC. The airspace itself is managed by ENAV. You will find both organisations' official pages under Sources below — those are the links worth bookmarking.
Good to know
OFFICIAL SOURCES
- ENAC — Drone RegulationsOfficial rules and resources from the Italian Civil Aviation Authority regarding dronesenac.gov.it
- D-Flight — Sign up and flyOperator registration portal and airspace map (maps with a free account; operator registration with a Base subscription of 7 €/year)d-flight.it
- D-Flight — Airspace MapOfficial interactive map showing drone airspace zones and restrictionsd-flight.it
- ENAC — UAS RegulationsDetails of Italian UAS regulations and national additions to EASA rulesenac.gov.it
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Always consult the official sources from ENAC and D-Flight before flying. This page is a guide — not a legal authority. Italy applies EASA regulations with national additions.
The app
The whole picture, up to date — in your pocket
DroneKoll shows weather and current NOTAMs on the map — with a flight log and checklists built in.
More in the app:Interactive zone map · Flight log · Planning & measuring · Pre-flight checklists · Flying abroad
