Flying Drones
Central Otago District Council allow drones to fly over parks and other Council land, with some restrictions on the places and manner in which flight is permitted.
Please note that there are several areas where the CAA has restricted drone flight including large portions of Cromwell, Clyde, Alexandra, Roxburgh, and Ranfurly. Please ensure you check their flight maps for these restrictions. Please also note many public spaces in Central Otago are maintained by the Department of Conservation who require a permit.
You can fly your drone or UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) in most parks and public spaces managed by Central Otago District Council without a permit, except where listed below.
If you require written permission from Council to fly over any of its "no go" zones, please complete our online Apply to fly a drone over Council land form.
Where you cannot fly your drone
No drone flight is permitted in the following:
- Any Council-owned or controlled formed roads and footpaths
- Any public cemetery
- Any public land that has been leased for grazing
- Over or within 50m of the following:
- A sports field in use by others
- Playground equipment
- Any outdoor council-owned pool or swim centre
- Council-owned campgrounds
- Any site that is under construction
- In any location or manner that could be considered a safety hazard
- Commercially tenanted Council property, except in the circumstances below
Please note, this applies only to flight up to 120m – any flight over this height is managed by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Code of Conduct
What you must do
- Be courteous of other park users and people walking dogs.
- Operators must be clearly identifiable to other users of the public space.
- Keep your UAV in full view at all times (e.g. not operated through binoculars, video monitor or smartphone, unless an observer is present).
- Fly in daylight hours only.
- Understand and comply with all relevant laws including the Privacy Act 2020 and Civil Aviation Act 1990
- Cease operation if requested by council staff.
What you must not do
- Fly a drone over a sports field if it is in use.
- Operate over parked vehicles or park roads.
- Operate within of 20 metres of or be flown over other users of the park.
- Fly over or within 50 metres of livestock on parks, sensitive wildlife habitats such as wetlands, or nesting or roosting birds.
- Operate within 20 metres of or fly over park buildings and overhead wires.
- Operate over dry flammable vegetation.
- Fly over adjoining private properties.
- Fly in a manner likely to cause a distraction or safety hazard
