Short answer: yes, you can fly a drone across most of Latvia. But "where exactly" is not something to keep in your head. The answer depends on the specific spot and is checked the same way every time. Here is how to get that answer fast and without mistakes.
Start with the official map
There is one official source for "can I fly here". CAA states plainly that the only official and legally binding map of airspace restrictions in Latvia is:
https://www.airspace.lv/drones/
CAA separately warns that a manufacturer's built-in geo-awareness can be incomplete or out of date. So the map on your controller is a handy hint, not the final answer. You can also open the live map on our airspace map page.
Three things decide "can I fly here"
The answer for any spot comes down to three checks.
1. Which zone you are in. CAA splits the airspace into UAS geographical-zone types — from informational to prohibited. When several zones overlap at one point, their conditions add up and the strictest set applies. The zone types are explained in what a UAS geographical zone is, and the restriction map in the no-fly zones overview.
2. Whether you fit the Open-category limits. Even outside zones, the baseline always applies: a height of up to 120 m above the surface and flight within visual line of sight (VLOS). The distance from people depends on the subcategory: A1 (under 250 g) — never over assemblies of people. A2 — no closer than 30 m horizontally. A3 — no closer than 150 m from residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational areas. If you are unsure which category your flight is, run the category chooser.
3. Whether there is a nature-protection layer. In protected nature areas, environmental rules apply alongside the aviation ones. Before filming in parks and reserves, check whether a separate local permission is required.
Do you need to file a flight
Outside zones, a standard Open-category flight needs no permission. But since 2025-01-01, flights in UAS geographical zones, where this applies, must be filed in BGKIS before the flight or series of flights. Some zones additionally require coordination or notification.
Keep one thing in mind: coordination clears the specific zone restriction but does not waive the baseline — the 120 m height and VLOS.
The fast way to check a spot
So you don't have to reason it out by hand each time, use our can I fly here calculator: it tells you what to check for a given address and sends you to the official map.
The cost of getting it wrong
Breaking airspace and drone rules in Latvia carries administrative penalties — more in the 2026 fines breakdown. Checking the map in advance is almost always easier and cheaper.
Common location questions
Some flights need the same official map check, but the practical risk changes with the place. Use these focused guides when the question is more specific than “can I fly here”:
- over a beach;
- in Jūrmala;
- over a city;
- over water;
- over roads;
- over private property;
- near power lines;
- near an airport;
- in protected nature areas;
- at night;
- over assemblies of people.
To fly legally anywhere
Choosing a legal spot is easier when you also know which certificate, registration, and category rules apply to your drone. If your operation requires A1/A3, online prep lives on the course page, and the whole path from buying a drone to a prepared first flight is laid out in the step-by-step guide. For the capital specifically, see where you can fly a drone in Riga.
