Flying drones in parks

Overview

City parks seem like convenient places to fly drones — open space, people expect to see activity. However, many parks fall within geo-zones, CTR zones or municipal restricted areas.

Always check utm.ans.lt before flying in a park — even if it looks like open space. Urban parks frequently fall within urban zones where additional restrictions apply.

Rules

Municipalities can ban or restrict drone flights in specific parks through local by-laws — this is separate from EASA regulation. Geo-zone checks alone do not guarantee that municipal rules permit a flight.

National parks and nature reserves typically have additional restrictions — for noise and wildlife protection. Some fall within R (restricted) or P (prohibited) zones.

Licence

Flying in parks requires the same basic certificate as anywhere else — A1/A3 (if MTOM ≥250 g). Additional municipal bans apply regardless of your certificate level.

Filming people in a park — GDPR applies. If photos or videos identify individuals without consent, this can be a personal data processing issue.

Next step

Before flying in a park: 1) check utm.ans.lt, 2) look for municipal bans, 3) notify park management if conducting a commercial operation. Communication prevents most conflicts.

For where to fly in Lithuania and which zones are most favourable, see /blog/where-to-fly-drone-eu.

Frequently asked questions

Can I fly in Bernardinai Garden in Vilnius?

Bernardinai Garden is in Vilnius Old Town's UNESCO zone and likely near CTR airspace. Check utm.ans.lt and Vilnius municipality restrictions before any flight.

Do I need a permit for commercial drone photography in a park?

Yes — commercial flights require operator registration and insurance. Additionally, check municipal permit requirements for commercial photography in public spaces.