Ontario
Getting Your Drone Licence in Ontario
The rules are federal, so Ontario follows the same framework as the rest of Canada. Here is what applies.
Drone regulation in Canada is federal. Flying in Toronto, Ottawa or anywhere else in Ontario means the same Transport Canada rules that apply in Vancouver or Halifax — what changes is the airspace you happen to be standing under, and southern Ontario has a great deal of controlled airspace.
To fly a drone weighing 250 grams or more anywhere in Ontario you need a pilot certificate, and the aircraft must be registered and marked.
Three Certificate Levels
Since 4 November 2025 there are three, not two. Basic Operations (age 14 and up) covers uncontrolled airspace away from people. Advanced Operations (16 and up) covers controlled airspace with authorisation, flight near and over people with a properly declared aircraft, and medium drones from 25 kg to 150 kg within visual line of sight. Level 1 Complex Operations (18 and up) covers lower-risk beyond-visual-line-of-sight work and is flown under an RPAS Operator Certificate.
Our guides to the Basic certificate and the Advanced certificate walk through each process step by step.
Why Advanced Matters More in Southern Ontario
With a Basic certificate you must stay in uncontrolled airspace, more than 5.6 km (3 nautical miles) from certified airports and 1.9 km (1 nautical mile) from certified heliports, and at least 30 metres horizontally from bystanders, never over them.
In the Greater Toronto Area those constraints bite hard. Pearson and Billy Bishop between them put controlled airspace over much of the city, and the terminal control area around a busy airport extends well beyond the headline distance. Our Toronto airspace guide maps what is actually left.
An Advanced certificate is what opens that up: with authorisation from NAV CANADA through the NAV Drone app, and an aircraft carrying the right safety declaration, you can operate in controlled airspace and near people.
Check before every flight, not once. The published distances describe a general framework; the real restricted area around a given airport is frequently larger. Use the NAV Drone app or the National Research Council’s site selection tool for the specific launch point.
What the Training Involves
For Basic, our Basic Online Bundle combines ground school with exam preparation. The Small Basic exam is 35 questions in 90 minutes at a 65% pass mark.
For Advanced, our Advanced Pilot Bundle runs about 20 hours of on-demand ground school with exam prep and the in-person flight review included. The Small Advanced exam is 50 questions in 60 minutes at an 80% pass mark, and the flight review follows it — an assessment of your flying, your documentation and your procedures.
We have flight reviewers across Ontario, so the in-person component does not mean travelling to the coast.
Rules That Apply Regardless
Keep the drone in sight at all times, stay below 122 metres (400 feet) above ground level, stay clear of other aircraft and of emergency operations, and carry your certificate and registration proof whenever you fly.
Registration costs $10 and is done through the Drone Management Portal. Flying without a certificate carries a penalty of up to $1,000 for an individual, and flying an unregistered or unmarked drone up to $5,000.
Flying in Ontario?
Start your certification with Coastal Drone and fly the airspace you actually need.