Can you fly a drone in Brussels? Rules and permits in 2026

Looking for aerial footage of your property, construction site or event in Brussels? It's possible, but the Belgian capital has some of the most tightly controlled airspace in the country. Here's what a pilot has to check before every flight, and why hiring a professional saves you fines and unpleasant surprises.

1. Every drone with a camera must be registered

In Belgium, the operator of any camera-equipped drone must register with the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority (DGTA) via droneportal.be, even if the aircraft weighs less than 250 g. The operator number must be displayed on the drone. Above 250 g, a pilot certificate is also required.

2. 120 metres maximum height

That's the limit in the open category. For real estate photography, 30 to 80 metres is almost always enough, well below that limit.

3. Brussels is controlled airspace (CTR)

A large part of the Brussels-Capital Region lies within the control zone (CTR) of Brussels Airport, with additional geographical zones around sensitive sites. Grand-Place, the European Quarter, government buildings: taking off there without authorisation is not an option. Before every project, the geographical zones map of the Federal Mobility Department or the skeyes Droneguide app has to be checked.

4. The skeyes authorisation, step by step

Requests are made through the skeyes DAA Planner: the pilot and drone are registered, then the operation is declared (location, height, time). Depending on the zone, the request must be submitted between 3 hours and 15 days in advance. On the day of the shoot, the flight must be confirmed, air traffic control sometimes contacted just before take-off, and both take-off and landing reported.

Our advice: for a city-centre shoot, allow 2 to 3 weeks between your quote request and the shooting date.

5. People, privacy and GDPR

Flying over crowds is not allowed. Filming identifiable people or the inside of private properties also raises privacy questions. That's why we often shoot early in the morning, framing shots to avoid faces and number plates.

6. The risks of an unauthorised flight

Fines ranging from several hundred to several thousand euros, and possible confiscation of the drone. For a business publishing that footage, it's also a reputational risk.

At Skydrone, we handle everything

As a DGTA-registered, A2-certified pilot, Skydrone checks the airspace before every quote and takes care of the authorisation process with skeyes. You get the footage, we handle the rest.

Planning an aerial shoot in Brussels? Request your free quote, reply within 24 hours.

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📍 Brussels – Belgium

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