Laws against flying 249 gram drones in Alberta Provincial Parks

Flying any drone, including those under 249 grams, is prohibited for recreational use in Alberta Provincial Parks unless explicit permission is obtained through a special permit for research or commercial activities. This rule applies regardless of drone weight, meaning the sub-250 gram exemption under federal law does not apply in these provincial parks.albertaparks+3

Provincial Park Rules

• Recreational drone use is banned in all Alberta Provincial Parks, regardless of weight or purpose, unless authorized by a permit.albertaparks+2

• Operators must apply for an Alberta Parks Research & Collections Permit or a Filming & Photography Permit to fly any drone, including microdrones, for non-recreational activities such as research or commercial filming.albertaparks+1

• Flying without a permit can result in fines and enforcement action by park rangers.albertaparks

Federal Law Versus Provincial Rules

• Federal regulations do not require registration or certification for drones weighing under 250 grams, but park-specific rules take precedence in provincial parks where all drones are banned without special authorization.flyeye

• Rules about airspace, privacy, and safety from Transport Canada still apply elsewhere, so recreational microdrone operators should check local restrictions outside provincial parks.alberta

Important Details

• Flying outside Alberta Provincial Park boundaries (on Crown land or non-designated public land) is generally permitted as long as other safety, wildlife, and privacy rules are followed.alberta

• These restrictions are stricter for provincial and national parks to protect wildlife and visitor peace.albertaparks+1

Summary: Drones under 249 grams may not be flown in Alberta Provincial Parks for recreational purposes—permit-required exceptions exist only for research or commercial activities.flyeye+2

1. https://www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparks-ca/science-and-research/conducting-research/use-of-unmanned-aerial-vehicles/
2. https://albertaparks.ca/albertaparks-ca/science-and-research/conducting-research/use-of-unmanned-aerial-vehicles/
3. https://www.albertaparks.ca/media/445808/regulations-brochure-web.pdf
4. https://www.flyeye.io/flying-250g-drones-in-canada/
5. https://www.alberta.ca/non-motorized-recreation-on-public-land
6. https://www.calgary.ca/bylaws/drones-in-parks.html
7. https://tc.canada.ca/sites/default/files/2020-06/2019-2020-AA-33_INFOGRAPHIC_EN_V8.pdf
8. https://www.calgarydronegroup.ca/where-to-fly
9. https://sites.google.com/shaw.ca/calgary-drone-group/sub-250-drones
10. https://www.reddit.com/r/Banff/comments/152lrm6/psa_all_drones_are_illegal_in_the_national_parks/