Drone Laws in Montreal and Quebec: Airspace, Parks and Privacy

Montreal and Quebec follow the same federal drone rules as the rest of Canada, but local factors make planning essential: extensive controlled airspace, strong privacy and image rights, and park rules at the municipal, provincial and federal levels.

Airspace over Montreal

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and other aerodromes, including Montréal–Saint-Hubert on the South Shore and several heliports, place much of the Montreal area in controlled airspace or close to aerodromes.

• Basic certificate: you can’t fly in controlled airspace.
• Advanced certificate: you can, with NAV CANADA authorization through NAV Drone — see controlled airspace.
• A drone app’s geofence warning isn’t permission and isn’t the same as the legal airspace boundaries; use official tools.

Privacy and image rights in Quebec

Quebec’s Civil Code protects a person’s right to their image and private life, and Quebec has its own private-sector privacy law. Publishing images in which people can be identified without consent can lead to civil claims. For drone pilots, that means:

• avoid filming people in private spaces (yards, balconies, pools);
• get consent from identifiable people in published or commercial footage;
• blur faces and licence plates when consent isn’t possible.

See our full guide to drone privacy in Canada and the Government of Quebec website for provincial rules.

Parks

See flying in Canadian parks.

Events and festivals

Montreal’s festivals, fireworks competitions and sporting events are advertised events: flying requires an SFOC, whatever the drone’s weight — see advertised events.

Practical tips

1. Check airspace before choosing a location on or near the island.
2. Take off from private land with permission.
3. Respect privacy — it’s especially important in Quebec.
4. Winter flying? Read our winter flying guide.