Drone Laws in Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada

Atlantic Canada is a dream for aerial photography: lighthouses, sea cliffs, fishing villages and some of the highest tides in the world. It is also a region where many of the best-known spots sit inside national parks, provincial parks or protected coastal areas, and where wildlife rules reach out over the water. Before you fly in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador, you need to combine Transport Canada’s federal rules with the rules of whoever manages the land below you.

The short version: federal rules apply everywhere, recreational drones are banned in every national park and in Nova Scotia’s and New Brunswick’s provincial parks, and much of the Halifax area is affected by controlled airspace and heliports. Here is what to check in each part of the region.

The federal rules that apply in every Atlantic province

Part IX of the Canadian Aviation Regulations is the starting point. Our guide to drone laws in Canada covers it in depth. Key points:

• Drones from 250 g to 25 kg must be registered and flown by a certified pilot.
• Basic pilots must stay in uncontrolled airspace, more than 30 metres horizontally from bystanders, more than 5.6 km from a certified airport and more than 1.9 km from a heliport (Transport Canada basic operations).
• Within 5.6 km of a military aerodrome, you need permission from the Department of National Defence.
• Microdrones under 250 g need no certificate or registration but must stay in sight, below 400 feet and clear of people and airports (Transport Canada microdrones).

Transport Canada updated several drone rules in November 2025. If your plans go beyond recreational flying, check the current federal pages first.

Halifax: heliports, Shearwater and YHZ

Halifax is harder to fly in than its size suggests. According to the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 12 Wing drone page, much of the Halifax Regional Municipality is a no-drone zone for Basic pilots because of the number of heliports, plus the Shearwater control zone around 12 Wing Shearwater in Dartmouth:

• The Shearwater control zone is a circle with a 9.3 km (5 nautical mile) radius covering parts of Dartmouth, Lawrencetown, the harbour approaches and surrounding areas.
• Only Advanced operations are allowed in it, and 12 Wing says flights within 5.6 km (3 nautical miles) of the airfield require an SFOC.
• Pilots start the approval process by contacting 12 Wing Operations.

That page was last updated in 2022, so confirm current requirements with 12 Wing and Transport Canada. Halifax Stanfield International (YHZ) in Enfield has its own controlled airspace, which requires an Advanced certificate and an RPAS flight authorization from NAV CANADA through NAV Drone. Our article on controlled airspace and NAV Drone authorization explains how to request access. Hospital helipads in downtown Halifax also trigger the 1.9 km heliport distance.

For Halifax Regional Municipality parks, we could not confirm a current published drone rule. Check with HRM (311) before launching from a municipal park, beach or the waterfront, and expect the busy boardwalk to be difficult under the 30-metre bystander rule.

Provincial parks in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI and Newfoundland

Provincial rules differ, and not every province publishes its drone policy clearly:

• Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia Provincial Parks states that recreational use of drones is prohibited within provincial parks. Film production requires a provincial permit, and other non-recreational uses need a permit from the local Natural Resources office. The province also cites the safety of its helicopter crews.
• New Brunswick: NB Parks states that recreational drone flying is prohibited at all New Brunswick provincial park locations, and commercial use is subject to approval by park managers.
• Prince Edward Island: we could not confirm a current published drone policy for PEI provincial parks. Contact PEI’s provincial parks office before flying.
• Newfoundland and Labrador: we could not confirm a current published policy for provincial parks and ecological reserves. Check with the provincial parks division before flying, especially near seabird reserves.

National parks and historic sites: a firm no

Parks Canada states that all Parks Canada places are no-drone zones for recreational use, and that flying without approval can lead to a fine of up to $25,000 (Parks Canada drone page). In Atlantic Canada that includes:

The ban applies to sub-250 g drones as well. On PEI, Parks Canada notes that drones are treated as aircraft under the National Parks Aircraft Access Regulations, and that limited permits are only considered for park management, public safety or law enforcement purposes (see the PEI National Park drone page). That means driving the Cabot Trail through Cape Breton Highlands or visiting Cavendish Beach is a no-fly experience. Our guide to flying drones in Canadian parks explains park rules nationwide.

Coastal wildlife: whales, seals and seabirds

Atlantic waters are full of marine mammals and seabird colonies, and federal law protects them. The federal Marine Mammal Regulations prohibit disturbing marine mammals. They also say that within a half-nautical-mile radius of a marine mammal, an aircraft below 304.8 m (1,000 ft) may not manoeuvre to get closer to it or otherwise disturb it, and they treat approaches closer than 200 m to resting whales, dolphins or porpoises, or those with a calf, as disturbance (Marine Mammal Regulations). Drones are aircraft under federal aviation law, so the safest reading is that these limits apply to you. Some species, particularly at-risk whales, may be subject to additional protections, so check with Fisheries and Oceans Canada before planning a whale-watching flight in the Bay of Fundy or off Newfoundland.

Seabird colonies deserve the same respect. Puffins, gannets and murres nest on cliffs and islands around Cape Breton, the Bay of Fundy and Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula, and a drone can flush adults off their nests. Federal migratory bird rules protect nests, and some colonies sit inside ecological reserves or migratory bird sanctuaries with their own restrictions. Keep high and far away, and never hover over a colony. Our guide to drones, hunting and wildlife laws covers hunting rules and wildlife protection in more detail.

Lighthouses, ferries and bridges

Lighthouses are the region’s most popular drone subjects, and the rules depend on who owns each one:

1. Check the owner. Cape Spear is a Parks Canada site, so it is off-limits. Others are owned by municipalities, community groups or private owners, who decide whether you can launch on their property.
2. Count the people. Peggy’s Cove and other famous lights draw crowds; Basic pilots must stay more than 30 metres horizontally from bystanders.
3. Check the map. Coastal heliports, small aerodromes and restricted areas show up in the NRC Drone Site Selection Tool.
4. Plan for wind. Coastal gusts can exceed your drone’s limits quickly. Read our tips on flying a drone in wind.

Ferries need extra caution. Terminals for routes such as North Sydney to Port aux Basques or Wood Islands to Caribou are busy, controlled areas, and operators typically restrict drone use on board and on their property, so ask the ferry operator before flying. Launching from a moving vessel and keeping visual line of sight over open water are both challenging. Large bridges such as the Confederation Bridge are critical infrastructure; Transport Canada advises pilots to avoid them.

Other airports to know in Atlantic Canada

Beyond YHZ, controlled airspace or the 5.6 km airport distance affects flights around Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John, Charlottetown, Sydney, Gander, Deer Lake and St. John’s, plus many smaller aerodromes and hospital helipads. Gander and Goose Bay also host military activity. Always check the NRC tool rather than guessing distances from memory, and request NAV Drone authorization where needed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I fly a drone on the Cabot Trail?

Not inside Cape Breton Highlands National Park, where Parks Canada prohibits recreational drones. Sections of the trail outside the park are governed by federal rules and local landowners.

Are drones allowed in Nova Scotia provincial parks?

No. Nova Scotia Provincial Parks prohibits recreational drone use; film and other non-recreational uses need a permit.

Can I fly my drone at Peggy’s Cove?

We could not confirm a site-specific rule. Check with the local authority and property owner, keep 30 metres from bystanders as a Basic pilot, and expect crowds to make flying impractical much of the time.

Can I film whales with a drone in the Bay of Fundy?

Be very careful. The Marine Mammal Regulations prohibit disturbing marine mammals and limit aircraft manoeuvres below 304.8 m within half a nautical mile. Check with Fisheries and Oceans Canada first.

Do I need permission to fly near Shearwater in Dartmouth?

Yes. The Shearwater control zone allows Advanced operations only, and 12 Wing requires you to contact its operations centre first.

Fly the Atlantic coast responsibly

Atlantic Canada rewards careful pilots. Skip the national and provincial parks, give wildlife plenty of room, confirm who owns each lighthouse and check the airspace before every flight.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change: always check Transport Canada and local authorities before you fly.