Byelaw
A local byelaw may restrict model aircraft or drone activity in named parks, open spaces or council-managed land. Read the council note before assuming the whole authority area is affected.
Free council rule checker
UK Drone Council Rules Map
Search UK local authorities to see whether their public FOI responses mention drone byelaws, policies, PSPOs, council notes, no-restriction confirmations or awaiting responses.
What The Council Rule Labels Mean
Council rules are separate from CAA airspace. A council restriction usually concerns take-off, landing or use of council-owned land, parks or public spaces.
Policy
A policy is usually a council process, land-use rule or permission route. It may not be criminal law, but it still matters if you plan to take off or land from council land.
PSPO
A Public Space Protection Order can ban or limit specific behaviour in a defined area. If a PSPO is listed, open the public FOI source and check the affected locations.
No Restrictions
The council response did not identify byelaws, policies or PSPOs restricting recreational drone use. You still need to check airspace, signage and landowner permission.
Council Note
No current rule was found, but the FOI response mentions something adjacent such as filming permission, event limits, park signage or draft rules.
Awaiting
The FOI record was still awaiting a clear council response when the dataset was prepared. Treat it as unknown and make your own checks before flying.
How To Use The Map
The embedded map is designed for fast checking. Use it as a starting point, then open the public FOI response for the detail behind a council result.
1. Search a council or place
Type a council name, town, postcode or place. Exact council matches zoom to the authority. Press Enter to search for general places.
2. Filter by rule type
Use the rule tiles to show all byelaws, policies, PSPOs, no-restriction councils, council notes or awaiting records at once.
3. Click a boundary
Selecting a council opens a short explanation, the status label and a public FOI response link where available.
4. Check before flying
Council data does not replace CAA rules, NOTAM checks, temporary restrictions, landowner permission or on-site signage.
Drone Council Rules
A green council result does not automatically mean you can fly anywhere inside that council boundary. It only means the council data did not show a local council restriction for recreational drone use.
For airspace and fly-zone checks, use the broader drone map with the NATS UAS advisory overlay switched on.
Before You Fly
- Check CAA airspace and the Drone Code.
- Check NOTAMs and temporary restrictions.
- Check site signs, bylaws and landowner permission.
- Keep the flight safe, legal and considerate.
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