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Editorial aerial scene: a drone hovers above a city skyline with old-town rooftops and modern buildings in dusk light, as city lights begin to switch on, no text.

2026-07-09

Can I fly a drone over a city in Latvia?

Flying over a city in Latvia is possible only when the exact operation fits the Open-category rules and the airspace for that point. "City" is not a legal category by itself; the real checks are the UAS geographical zone, people on the ground and your drone subcategory.

Open airspace.lv/drones first. If the route sits in a UAS geographical zone, submit the required notification or authorisation request in UASIS before the flight. Manufacturer maps are useful warnings, not the official answer.

Then check the subcategory. A1 is the practical route for many city shots with a C0 or eligible sub-250 g drone, but it still cannot overfly assemblies of people. A2 requires horizontal distance from uninvolved people. A3 is usually a poor fit for cities because it requires 150 m from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas.

CAA Latvia's local conditions also say flights over people, moving vehicles, animals, buildings and civil engineering structures should be avoided where possible. That matters in a city: a legal height limit does not make a route over traffic, balconies and pavements a good plan.

Use the Latvia where-can-I-fly hub, check the address in can I fly here, and review the category logic in the A1/A3 course.

Frequently asked questions

+Can I fly Open category in a city?

Yes, but only if the exact place, drone class and distance from people meet the Open-category rules and the UAS-zone conditions.

+Why is A3 usually not useful in a city?

A3 requires 150 m from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas, which usually makes it impractical in dense urban areas.

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