Maximum drone altitude in Denmark

What the rules say

Each line is resolved from published facts of Denmark. "Not resolved" means the corpus does not answer it in a machine-checkable way — never that the law is silent.

• General height limit120 mConditional
• Reference datumabove_nearest_obstacleYes
• Category-specific limitsConditional
• Aerodrome-related limitConditional
• Structure exceptionConditional
• Authorised exceedanceConditional
• Conditional limitsConditional
• ExceptionsConditional

What changes the answer

The published rules distinguish the open category of operation.

• altitude

  Flight altitude at or below 120 m

• altitude

  Flight altitude below 120 m

• altitude

  Flight altitude at or below 100 m

• altitude

  Flight altitude at or below 30 m

The rules behind this answer

• Binding lawNational rule

  BEK nr 527 af 20/05/2025, § 28 - section overview

  This section permits public and emergency authorities to conduct drone operations within restricted geographical zones, at higher altitudes, or closer than standard distance limits, provided they follow procedures agreed with Trafikstyrelsen or make documented on-site agreements with relevant stakeholders.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Deviation permit for VMC airfield restrictions

  The Danish Civil Aviation Authority (Trafikstyrelsen) may grant permission to deviate from the restrictions in stk. 1-3 if the operation has a societal, research, or commercial purpose, meets necessity criteria for commercial tasks, and the pilot holds a competency certificate.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Drone operations by public or emergency authorities in restricted zones via agreed procedures

  Public authorities and emergency services may operate drones in restricted areas, at higher altitudes, or closer than the distance limits specified in § 9 and § 10, in accordance with procedures agreed with Trafikstyrelsen.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Exception for certified pilots near VMC airfields

  If the remote pilot holds a competency certificate, drone operations may take place between 4 km and 2 km horizontal distance from a VMC airfield runway, provided the altitude does not exceed 40 meters (between 4 km and 3 km) or 30 meters (between 3 km and 2 km) above runway height.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Exemption from the IMC and military aerodrome distance rules

  Trafikstyrelsen may permit a derogation from the IMC aerodrome and military air station distance and altitude rules in § 9, stk. 1-3 where the drone operation serves a public-benefit, research or commercial purpose; where the purpose is commercial, the drone operation must be necessary and the task must be substantially frustrated, made more expensive or otherwise impaired if carried out other than by drone; and the remote pilot must hold a competency certificate. The necessity condition does not apply where the publicly approved aerodrome or the military air station itself commissioned the task.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  General prohibition of drone operations near VMC airfields

  Drone operations must not take place closer than 4 km horizontal distance from a runway at a VMC airfield, unless exceptions apply.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Manual Logbook Requirement

  If the drone does not log data automatically, the operator must maintain a logbook containing specific minimum details of each operation.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Maximum altitude in the 1-2 km HEMS airfield buffer zone

  When operating a drone between 1 and 2 km horizontal distance from a HEMS airfield, the flight altitude must not exceed 40 meters above the airfield's runway elevation.

  Open the requirementOfficial source

Official sources

• BEK nr 527 af 21/05/2025 - aendring af dronebekendtgorelsen (amending order) — Trafikstyrelsen (Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority)Open
• BEK nr 1649 af 12/12/2023 - supplerende bestemmelser til (EU) 2019/947 (konsolideret med BEK nr 527 af 21/05/2025) — Trafikstyrelsen (Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority)Open

Other drone rules in Denmark

• Do I need to register my drone in Denmark?Registration in Denmark is governed by a published mass threshold of 0.25 kg, alongside the further conditions cited below. Whether it applies to a given flight depends on those conditions, each cited to its rule.
• Can I fly a drone near an airport in Denmark?Drone flights near aerodromes in Denmark are governed by airspace and aerodrome restrictions: whether permission is needed depends on the airspace, distance or aerodrome type published below.
• When does a drone operation need authorisation in Denmark?Whether an operation in Denmark needs prior authorisation depends on the operational category, risk class or location: the published triggers below decide it.
• What training do I need to fly a drone in Denmark?Remote pilot competency in Denmark scales with the operation: which training, examination or proof of competency applies is set by the published conditions below.
• Do I need drone insurance in Denmark?Drone insurance in Denmark is published with a minimum third-party cover of 0.75 million SDR. Whether cover is required for a given flight depends on the published conditions below.

All drone laws in Denmark