Avoid Fines: Swiss Drone Rules, 250 g, 120 m, BAZL Checklist
You must register with BAZL if your drone weighs 250 g or more, or if a lighter drone carries a camera or sensor that can capture personal data. Beyond that, three rules govern nearly every flight: keep the drone in visual line of sight, stay at or below 120 meters above ground level, and never fly over crowds. Check the interactive drone map and DABS before takeoff, and register through BAZL’s official portal if you haven’t already.
TL;DR:
Drone registration is mandatory for aircraft weighing 250 g or more, or if they carry sensors capable of capturing personal data, with a CHF 10 fee and a single operator number valid across EASA states.
Open-category flights must be conducted within visual line of sight, below 120 meters altitude, and never over crowds, or they automatically switch into a higher, requiring additional authorization.
Flying BVLOS or over people in Switzerland is strictly in the specific category and demands prior approval based on a detailed risk assessment, with lead times generally exceeding two months.
Operating near airports, heliports, or critical infrastructure requires contacting authorities in advance to avoid violations and potential grounding or fines.
Privacy laws mandate consent and liability insurance of at least CHF 1 million for drones weighing 250 g or more, emphasizing careful data handling and footage retention practices.
Table of Contents
Registration in Switzerland: who, how, and operator number rules
Pilot certificates and training: A1/A3 online, A2 in-person, and STS basics
Open vs specific categories and drone classes (C0–C4): what each allows you to do
Core flight rules: VLOS, altitude limits, separation from people, and Remote ID
Geographic restrictions and the DABS: how to check and what to do if your site is restricted
Privacy, insurance and liability: data protection rules and required insurance limits
Authorizations for specific or higher-risk operations: PDRA, STS and SORA explained
Practical pre-flight checklist (BAZL-aligned) with Tulip Films’ on-set tips
Rules and regulations for drone flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) in Switzerland
Specific regulations for drone use near airports and controlled airspace
Requirements and procedures for drone use in urban areas or near critical infrastructure
Data protection laws specific to drone data storage and transfer
Tulip Films’ perspective: why compliance matters for professional aerial work
Registration in Switzerland: who, how, and operator number rules
Registration in Switzerland follows the EASA framework directly. You need to register as a drone operator if your aircraft weighs 250 g or more, or if it weighs less and still carries a camera, microphone, or other sensor capable of capturing personal data, according to BAZL’s registration guidance. A toy drone under 250 g with no camera is exempt.
Registration happens online through the dLIS platform, accessed via a Swiss eIAM login. The process is quick and the outcome, a UAS operator number, must be displayed on every drone you fly.
Individuals register once and use the same operator number across all their drones.
Organizations register under the entity name, with one number covering the whole fleet.
The fee is CHF 10, and the number stays valid across all EASA member states.
If you live outside the EASA zone but plan to fly in Switzerland, you register with BAZL directly rather than through your home aviation authority. Consider looking into aerial services under drone videography if registration and permit logistics feel like more than you want to manage solo.
Pilot certificates and training: A1/A3 online, A2 in-person, and STS basics
Certificate requirements depend on where and how you fly, not just on drone weight. The BAZL training page breaks the open category into subcategories, each tied to a different qualification level.
A1/A3 certificate: an online course and theory exam, covering basic flight safety and airspace awareness, required for most open-category operations.
A2 certificate: requires passing A1/A3 first, then an additional exam taken in person, needed for flying closer to people with mid-sized drones.
STS (standard scenario) training: adds practical, hands-on elements for specific higher-risk but standardized operations, such as flights over controlled ground areas.
Certificates issued in one EASA state, including Switzerland, are recognized across the others, so a certificate earned locally travels with you.
Pro Tip: Download a digital copy of your certificate before every commercial shoot. Some site managers ask to see it on the spot, and a phone screenshot saves you a scramble.
Open vs specific categories and drone classes (C0–C4): what each allows you to do
Swiss drone law, like the EASA system it follows, sorts operations into three risk tiers: open, specific, and certified. Most hobbyist and small commercial flights sit in the open category, which carries the lightest paperwork burden.
Open category: low-risk flights under 120 meters, within visual line of sight, using drones classed C0 through C4.
Specific category: higher-risk operations, such as flying beyond visual line of sight or over people, that require a formal authorization.
Certified category: reserved for operations resembling manned aviation, such as passenger-carrying drones, rare for typical Swiss operators.
A class marking on the drone (C0, C1, C2, and so on) determines which subcategory and pilot certificate apply. A toy drone under 250 g with no camera needs no class marking and almost no paperwork. A C2-marked camera drone used for real estate shoots or aerial video and photography work typically falls under A2, requiring the in-person exam. The moment a flight plan calls for beyond visual line of sight or overflight of uninvolved people, the operation moves out of open and into specific, triggering a separate authorization step.
Core flight rules: VLOS, altitude limits, separation from people, and Remote ID
The operational rules in the open category are consistent and non-negotiable, according to BAZL’s flight rules page.
Maintain visual line of sight with the drone at all times, no screen-only flying in the open category.
Stay at or below 120 meters above ground level.
Keep a safe horizontal distance from uninvolved people, with the exact distance depending on your subcategory and certificate.
Never overfly a crowd or gathering, regardless of drone size or certificate held.
Give way to manned aircraft at all times: if a helicopter or aircraft appears, land or move clear immediately.
Any flight that exceeds these limits, whether in altitude, distance, or crowd proximity, moves into the specific category and needs its own authorization, per BAZL. Remote ID, the broadcast of a drone’s operator number and position, is expected on registered drones and helps authorities match aircraft to operators in real time, reinforcing that the person on the controller, not just the drone, is accountable for every rule on this list.
Geographic restrictions and the DABS: how to check and what to do if your site is restricted
Every flight plan in Switzerland starts with a map check, not a weather check. BAZL’s geographic restrictions page hosts the interactive drone map, and the DABS Daily Airspace Bulletin lists short-notice changes that the static map won’t show.
Open the interactive drone map and search your flight location before you leave home, not once you arrive.
Cross-check the same coordinates against the current DABS bulletin, since restrictions can shift within hours.
Watch for common restricted zones: control zones (CTRs) around airports, heliports and hospital landing pads, military training areas, wildlife and nature reserves, and nuclear or other critical infrastructure sites.
If your site falls inside a restricted zone, contact the authority listed on the map entry directly, and build in processing time before your planned shoot date.
Ignoring a DABS update is one of the more common ways pilots end up grounded mid-project or facing a fine they didn’t see coming.
Privacy, insurance and liability: data protection rules and required insurance limits
A flight permit and a privacy right are two different things. Filming identifiable people counts as processing personal data, and research on drone privacy points out that clearing airspace rules never automatically clears the right to film someone’s face or property. The Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (EDÖB) oversees this separately from BAZL’s airspace rules.
Get consent where practical, especially for close-up or identifiable footage of individuals on private property.
Carry liability insurance of at least CHF 1,000,000 for drones weighing 250 g or more, a minimum confirmed on BAZL’s FAQ page, which also recommends insuring lighter drones even though it isn’t mandatory.
Keep footage retention limited to what the project actually needs, and log flight dates, locations, and purpose.
Inform property owners or site managers in advance when a shoot will capture people or private spaces.
Pro Tip: Build a one-page privacy note into your shoot brief. It takes five minutes and saves a difficult conversation later if someone asks why they’re in your footage.
Breaches of privacy or insurance rules can bring fines on top of any airspace penalty, and disputes are best handled with legal advice rather than guesswork.
Authorizations for specific or higher-risk operations: PDRA, STS and SORA explained
Operations that exceed open-category limits, flying beyond visual line of sight, over people, at greater altitude, or in dense urban areas, need a specific-category authorization before takeoff.
PDRA (Predefined Risk Assessment): a standardized route for common commercial scenarios, described on BAZL’s PDRA guidance, letting operators confirm they meet preset conditions instead of building a case from scratch.
STS (standard scenarios): similar in spirit to PDRA, tied to specific, pre-approved operational profiles with defined training requirements.
SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment): a bespoke, document-heavy process for operations that don’t fit a predefined scenario, generally slower and more demanding.
PDRA approvals are non-transferable between operators, so each business or individual needs its own.
For complex or bespoke operations, BAZL suggests submitting applications at least two months ahead of the planned date. PDRA and STS routes move faster precisely because the risk work is already done.
Practical pre-flight checklist (BAZL-aligned) with Tulip Films’ on-set tips
A short routine before every flight catches most compliance problems before they become expensive ones.
Confirm your registration is current and the operator number is visibly displayed on the drone.
Verify insurance coverage and pilot certificate validity for the specific operation planned.
Check the interactive drone map and the current DABS bulletin, and cross-reference both against your flight coordinates.
Secure landowner permission and inform any people likely to appear in the footage.
For commercial shoots, look for an applicable PDRA before assuming a full SORA is necessary, and keep all documentation accessible on-site.
Pro Tip: Keep printed or offline copies of your registration, insurance certificate, and map screenshot on set. Rural sites often have no signal when an inspector or landowner asks to see them.
Rules and regulations for drone flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) in Switzerland
BVLOS flight, operating a drone beyond what the pilot can see without visual aids, sits entirely in the specific category under Swiss rules. There is no open-category path to BVLOS, regardless of drone size or camera class, because losing visual contact removes the pilot’s ability to react to manned aircraft or ground hazards in real time.
Authorization for BVLOS work generally follows the SORA process unless a matching PDRA or STS profile exists for the exact operation planned, such as certain infrastructure inspection scenarios. The application needs a detailed risk assessment covering the ground risk (what happens if the drone fails over an area with people or property) and the air risk (the chance of encountering manned traffic in that airspace). Mitigations might include observers along the flight path, geofencing, or a Remote ID system that keeps air traffic control aware of the drone’s position throughout the flight.
Because BVLOS operations carry higher risk by definition, lead times run longer than for a standard PDRA approval, and BAZL’s advice to apply well ahead of a planned date applies here more than anywhere else. Operators considering BVLOS work for inspection, mapping, or long-corridor filming projects should treat the authorization step as part of the project timeline, not an afterthought squeezed in before a deadline. Rushing a SORA submission rarely ends well, since incomplete risk documentation is a common reason applications get sent back for revision.
Specific regulations for drone use near airports and controlled airspace
Airports and their surrounding control zones (CTRs) carry some of the strictest drone restrictions in the country, and for good reason: a drone strike or near-miss with a manned aircraft is a serious safety event. The interactive drone map marks these zones clearly, and in most cases flying inside a CTR without specific coordination is not permitted at all in the open category.
Helipads and hospital landing zones carry similar restrictions, often with smaller radii but equally firm limits, since emergency medical flights need unobstructed approach and departure paths at unpredictable times. A drone hovering near a hospital rooftop pad, even with good intentions, creates a real hazard for a medevac helicopter on final approach.
If a planned shoot sits near an airport, heliport, or any marked controlled airspace, the practical path is to contact the authority listed on the map entry for that zone well before the shoot date. Some airports maintain their own coordination process for occasional drone requests, separate from the general BAZL authorization pathway. Building in a buffer of several weeks avoids the scenario where a location scout has approved a rooftop view that airspace rules simply won’t allow. The priority rule bears repeating here too: manned aircraft always has the right of way, and any drone operator who spots one approaching is expected to land or move clear immediately, whether inside a marked zone or not.
Requirements and procedures for drone use in urban areas or near critical infrastructure
Urban flying in Switzerland means layering several rule sets at once: the standard altitude and distance limits, geographic restrictions from the drone map, and often stricter local considerations tied to population density. A drone that would sit comfortably in the open category over open countryside may need specific-category authorization the moment it operates over a crowded pedestrian street or a dense residential block, since the distance-from-people requirements become harder to satisfy.
Critical infrastructure, power stations, water treatment facilities, government buildings, and similar sites, often carries its own restricted zone marking on the interactive drone map, separate from the general urban density concern. Nuclear facilities in particular sit under some of the tightest restrictions in the country, with no casual overflight permitted regardless of drone class or pilot certificate.
For commercial projects involving city center real estate, event coverage, or infrastructure inspection, the practical sequence is the same every time: check the map, check DABS, confirm whether a PDRA fits the operation, and apply for SORA authorization only when nothing standardized applies. Professional operators working in dense urban settings, such as teams producing event videography coverage over a city festival, typically build permit lead time directly into the production schedule rather than treating it as a same-week formality. A rejected or delayed authorization on shoot day is a costly problem that a few weeks of advance planning usually prevents.
Data protection laws specific to drone data storage and transfer
Footage captured by a drone that shows identifiable people, license plates, or private property falls under the same data protection principles that apply to any other camera system, and the EDÖB, Switzerland’s federal data protection authority, treats it accordingly rather than exempting it because the camera happened to be airborne.
Storage and transfer practices matter as much as the filming decision itself. Retaining raw footage indefinitely, or sending it to a cloud service or collaborator without a clear purpose, extends the scope of personal data processing beyond what the original consent or notice may have covered. A practical approach limits storage to what the project needs, documents who has access, and avoids transferring footage outside Switzerland to services or partners without considering where that data physically lands.
Operators working with identifiable subjects, whether filming a public event, a construction site with visible workers, or a residential neighborhood for a real estate listing, should treat footage review and editing as part of the compliance process, not just a creative step. Blurring faces or license plates during editing is a common practical fix when full identifiability isn’t necessary for the final product. Clients commissioning aerial footage for marketing or property listings often assume the video team is handling this automatically, so confirming it upfront avoids an uncomfortable conversation after delivery. For businesses commissioning real estate video work that includes neighboring properties or people in the frame, asking the production team directly about their data handling practice is a reasonable and increasingly common request.
Tulip Films’ perspective: why compliance matters for professional aerial work
Compliance is what keeps a client’s project on schedule and off a lawyer’s desk. Every shoot we plan folds permit checks, insurance confirmation, and privacy considerations into prep, not into damage control after the fact.
— Pieter
Hire a compliant aerial team for your Swiss shoot
Handling registration, permits, and insurance verification takes real time away from planning the shots that actually matter. Checks for registration, insurance, and airspace clearance are important parts of professional aerial projects, helping clients receive footage without the compliance burden.
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Whether the project is a real estate listing, a corporate event, or a sports feature, our drone video production packages start with the same groundwork: registration, insurance, and airspace clearance handled before the drone leaves the ground. Get in touch to plan a shoot that clears every legal step before it clears the runway.
Official BAZL and Swiss government pages to consult
Rules change, and the DABS bulletin can shift permissions within hours, so bookmark these before your next flight.
This article is general information, not a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer. Consult a qualified legal professional about your own circumstances before acting on anything here.
Sources
FAQ
Welche Regelungen gelten für Drohnen in der Schweiz?
Switzerland follows the EASA-based framework adopted through Fedlex since 2023, sorting flights into open, specific, and certified categories. Core rules require visual line of sight, a 120-meter altitude ceiling, and no flying over crowds, enforced by BAZL.
Welche Drohnen darf man ohne Genehmigung fliegen?
Drones flying in the open category, generally lightweight aircraft flown within visual line of sight, below 120 meters, and away from crowds, need no separate authorization beyond registration and the correct pilot certificate. Anything requiring beyond visual line of sight flight or overflight of people moves into the specific category and needs formal approval.
Muss ich eine Drohne unter 250 g in der Schweiz registrieren?
Registration is not required for a drone under 250 g if it has no camera, microphone, or other sensor able to capture personal data, according to BAZL. If the same lightweight drone carries a camera, registration still applies.
Muss ich meine Drohnen unter 250 Gramm in der Schweiz versichern?
Liability insurance of at least CHF 1 million is mandatory only for drones weighing 250 g or more, per BAZL’s FAQ page. BAZL still recommends insuring lighter drones voluntarily, since liability for any damage caused falls on the operator regardless of weight.
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