What you need to know when flying commercial drone operations

This page is for those who operate drones professionally in a commercial context. Here, you can get an overview of drone regulations in Denmark and find relevant information tailored to your needs.

Regulations for your drone operations

When flying commercial drone operations, you may encounter operations within both the open category and the specific category. Below, we have provided an overview of what you need to be aware of before flying in the open category and where you can learn more about the specific category.

The open category

Definition of the open category: This category covers drone operations where there is a low risk of harm to third parties, such as photography, land surveying, recreational flying, and similar activities.

Before flying in the open category, you should be aware of the following:

  • Read your drone’s user manual.
  • Obtain the correct drone certificate. for some drones, a certificate is not required. if your drone weighs up to 249 grams, including a camera and mounted equipment, you do not need a drone certificate.
  • Register your organization as a drone operator and mark the operator number on your drone. for some drones, operator registration is not required.
  • Have a valid drone insurance. some drones are exempt from insurance requirements.
  • Familiarize yourself with flight zones to understand where you can and cannot fly.
  • Obtain consent if you plan to fly over residential properties or individuals who are not involved. Read more about consent rules here.
  • Keep a flight log for all drone operations.

Below, we’ve provided an overview of the rules for drone flights in the open category. REMEMBER, this is only an overview, and you are always encouraged to consult the full legislation.

Rules in the open category

  • Maximum flight height: fly no higher than 120 meters above ground level/terrain.
  • Maintain safety distance: keep a 1:1 ratio of flight height to distance (e.g., 50 m height = 50 m distance).
  • Always fly within visual line of sight (vlos).
  • Do not fly over people or crowds.
  • Do not fly over public roads with a speed limit exceeding 70 km/h.
  • Permission required for private property: you must have permission to fly over private property enclosed by fences, hedges, or walls. [read more here.]
  • Distance from unenclosed buildings: if there are no fences, hedges, or walls, you must not fly closer than 2.5 meters to buildings.
  • Distance from airports: maintain 5 km distance from public airports and 8 km distance from military airbases.
  • Distance from helicopter landing pads (hems): keep a 2 km distance from medical helicopter landing sites.
  • Distance from emergency response sites: do not fly closer than 1,000 meters to emergency sites where police or rescue authorities are working.
  • Transport restrictions: do not carry hazardous goods or loose objects.

Special rules may apply depending on your drone type and certificate, so it is recommended to read more under the certificate section.

The specific category

If your flight does not fall under the Open Category, it will be classified as part of the specific category, where special regulations apply.

Your flight will, for example, fall into the specific category if you:

  • Plan to fly your drone higher than 120 meters above ground level.
  • Operate a drone weighing more than 25 kg.
  • Fly your drone beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).

If you wish to operate within the specific category, you must submit an application that must be approved by the Danish Civil Aviation & Railway Authority. Read more about the rules for the Specific Category and the application process here.

The drone guide

Follow this guide to find the relevant information for you and your drone based on your specific situation.

Other relevant pages

Senest opdateret 09-04-2025