Drone Laws in the Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic Drone Regulations

According to Dominican Republic’s national aviation authority, the Dominican Republic’s Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (IDAC), flying a drone is legal in the Dominican Republic, but we recommend being aware of and compliant with the drone regulations listed below before doing so.

If you’d like to contact  the IDAC directly before you travel with any questions you might have, here is their contact information: aeronautica.c@verizon.net.do / +1 809 221 7909

Why fly a drone in the Dominican Republic? To get great aerial shots like these!

General Rules for Flying a Drone in the Dominican Republic

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in the Dominican Republic.

• Drones weighing more than 4.4 pounds must be registered with Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC) and must have liability insurance. Register your drone here on the IDAC website.
• Drones weighing under 4.4 pounds may be operated without prior registration.
• Drones may not be operated in a manner that can endanger persons or property, and may not be operated in a manner that my violate privacy rights.
• Do not fly your drone in weather that impairs visibility. Visual contact must be maintained with drone.
• Do not switch drone operators while drone is in flight.
• Do not operate drone after sunset unless drone is illuminated enough to provide warning at least one nautical mile away and special authorization has been obtained.
• Do not operate drones in a reckless manner.
• Do not operate drones within five nautical miles of any airport or airfield.
• Do not operate over dangerous or restricted areas unless prior authorization has been obtained by the Air Traffic Control.
• Do not operate more than one drone simultaneously.
• Do not operate drones under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Do not throw objects from drones.
• Do not operate drones in an area where a fire is being fought.
• Drones weighing more than 4.4 pounds may not be operated at a distance greater than 1,650 feet on a slope or 400 feet vertically from the operator. Drones weighing under 4.4 pounds may not exceed a distance greater than 1500 feet on a slope or 400 feet from the operator.
• Drones cannot be flown faster than 87 knots (100 mph) for drones weighing over 4.4 pounds, and 30 knots (34 mph) for drones weighing under 4.4 pounds.
• Drones may not be operated from a vehicle, except by a vessel in water.

For more information on the Dominican Republic’s drone laws, see this document issued by the IDAC (for a translation of the same document, see this download link we found on the Phantom Pilots forum).

Know something we don’t about drone laws in the Dominican Republic? Send us an email at support@horizonap.com. We are not international aviation attorneys and do our best to keep this page up-to-date for drone pilots, but the reality is that given the pace of the small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industry and how governments are responding, drone regulations in the Dominican Republic can change throughout the year, and those changes can be hard to track. If we missed something, please reach out to let us know.

Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in the Dominican Republic? Here you go: