Drones in nature reserves – and the other protected areas
Much of Germany’s finest countryside is protected – but not every protected area is closed to drones. What counts is the kind of area. In short:
| Area | Hobby FPV |
|---|---|
| National park (Nationalpark) | banned (unless the nature conservation authority consents or state law says otherwise) |
| Nature reserve (Naturschutzgebiet) | banned (likewise) |
| Natura 2000: FFH and bird protection areas | banned (likewise) |
| Landscape protection area (Landschaftsschutzgebiet) | not banned across the board – the area’s ordinance decides |
| Nature park, biosphere reserve (outside the core zone) | not banned across the board; parts are often nature or landscape protection areas |
As of October 2026. Not legal advice. State law can differ – check every spot on dipul.de.
Nature reserves, national parks, Natura 2000
§ 21h (3) no. 6 of the German Air Traffic Order allows operation over nature reserves, national parks and Natura 2000 sites (FFH and bird protection areas) only in exceptional cases:
- when the competent nature conservation authority has expressly consented,
- when state law regulates drone operation there differently,
- or – not in national parks – when all of the following hold: not a sport or leisure flight, above 100 m, the remote pilot knows and respects the purpose of protection, and flying over the area is unavoidable for the purpose of the flight.
The third option is out for hobby FPV, since it expressly excludes leisure flights. In practice: you do not fly over these areas. And it is about the airspace above the area – taking off outside and flying in is just as much a breach.
Landscape protection areas
Landscape protection areas are not listed in § 21h. That does not mean anything goes: each one has its own ordinance, and some expressly ban model flying, launching aircraft or noise. You usually find the ordinance on the district’s website or the environmental portal of your state.
Landscape protection areas are often huge and cover whole stretches of land around cities, so many good spots lie inside them – the FPV Spot Finder flags them with a note rather than blocking them.
Nature parks and biosphere reserves
A nature park is mainly a recreation and tourism label, not a flight ban. Nature parks do contain nature and landscape protection areas, for which the rules above apply. In biosphere reserves, the core zones are usually nature reserves.
Outside, too: don’t disturb wildlife
The Federal Nature Conservation Act bans significantly disturbing wild animals of strictly protected species and European birds during breeding, rearing, hibernation and migration – inside a protected area or not. A quad circling low over a lapwing’s nest or a heron colony is exactly that. When birds take off or call in alarm: back off or fly elsewhere.
How do I recognise a protected area?
- dipul map: shows nature reserves, national parks, FFH and bird protection areas as geozones. Landscape protection areas are not geozones under § 21h – for them only the ordinance helps.
- Signs on site: nature and landscape protection areas are usually signed along paths and boundaries.
- FPV Spot Finder: points in nature reserves, national parks and Natura 2000 sites are blocked; landscape protection areas get a warning. Under “Expert” you can include nature and bird protection areas, for instance if you hold a permit – such spots then always carry a red note naming the kind of area. The data comes from OpenStreetMap and is not complete – dipul is authoritative.
Frequently asked questions
May I fly at the edge of a nature reserve? Yes, as long as you do not fly over it. Keep a safety margin – an FPV quad crosses the boundary quickly.
Does the ban apply to drones under 250 g? Yes. § 21h (3) no. 6 makes no exception for weight.
Can I apply for an exemption? With the competent lower nature conservation authority, yes – but it is rarely granted for leisure flights.
More on the other geozones in Where can I fly FPV in Germany?.