Drone Laws in Latvia

Latvia Drone Regulations

According to Latvia’s national aviation authority, the Latvia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), flying a drone is legal in Latvia, but we recommend being aware of and compliant with the drone regulations listed below before doing so.

If you’d like to contact the LCAA directly before you travel with any questions you might have, here is their contact information: latcaa@latcaa.gov.lv  / + 371 67 830 936

Why fly a drone in Latvia? To get great aerial shots like these!

General Rules for Flying a Drone Within the European Union

Latvia is a part of the European Union and therefore must abide by the drone regulations put in place by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). In addition to these regulations, Latvia also has regulations that are country-specific.

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone within the European Union.

There are three operational categories that determine drone regulations based on the weight of the drone and the intended operation. This section will only cover the Open Category, to see all European Union laws and categories, click here.

A drone can be operated in the “Open “category if:

• The drone has one of the class identification labels 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.
• The drone was purchased before 1 January 2023, with no class identification label as above.
• The drone has a maximum take-off mass of less than 25 kg (55 lbs).
• The remote pilot keeps the drone at a safe distance away from people.
• The drone will not be operated directly over people unless it has a class identification label or is lighter than 250 g (0.55 lbs). (Please refer to subcategories of operations: A1, A2, and A3 to find out where you can fly with your drone).
• The remote pilot will maintain a visual line of sight (VLOS) or the remote pilot will be assisted by a UA observer.
• The remote pilot will not operate the drone above 120m (400ft).
• The drone will not carry any dangerous goods and will not drop any material.

General Rules for Flying a Drone in Latvia

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

• All drones must be labeled with the owner’s name, address, and telephone number.
• Drone pilots must identify themselves as a drone pilot with a hat, shirt or in some other way.
• Drones may not be flown above crowds, events containing crowds, or people.
• Drones may not be flown near aircraft, airports, prisons, military facilities, or infrastructure objects.
• Drones weighing over .5 kilograms (1.1 pounds) by a drone pilot under 18 years of age may be done only under adult supervision.
• Liability insurance is required for flying a drone heavier than 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds).
• Drones may not be flown at night.

For more information on Latvia’s drone laws, see this document created by the LCAA.

Know something we don’t about drone laws in Latvia? Send us an email at support[at]horizonap[dot]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 Latvia 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 Latvia? Here you go: