Drones for filming and events: shooting legally in France

Who it is for

• Event organisers, agencies and communication teams commissioning aerial footage in France
• Foreign production companies, directors and line producers planning a drone or FPV shoot in France
• Professional drone pilots and videographers covering events, weddings and competitions
• Local authorities and venue managers receiving drone filming requests

What this guide does not do: It does not replace the risk assessment of a DGAC authorisation file, nor legal advice on a dispute · It does not cover drone light shows, nor music and broadcasting rights · It grants no authorisation and provides no pilot training

Contents of the complete guide

1. Your shoot or event in 5 questions (free extract below)
2. Decision table: type of event, flight framework, paperwork and lead times
3. Organiser, production, pilot: who does what and who is liable for what
4. Filming permits: towns, venues, parks and no-capture zones
5. FPV: the pilot pair, drone classes and real limits
6. Public safety on the day: set-up, briefing and emergency plan
7. Images, people and publication: image rights, GDPR and licensing
8. Templates to copy: mission sheet, letter, public notice and clauses
9. Common mistakes, real-world scenarios and event checklist

Included: 33 checklist items and 2 decision or reference tables.

Introduction

Crew, extras, guests, runners, spectators: at an event, as soon as people are present, the question is no longer "can the drone fly?" but "over whom, under which framework, with what paperwork, and who is liable?". This guide answers those questions trade by trade: commercials and corporate films, festivals and concerts, corporate events, sports competitions, weddings and immersive FPV shots.

It is written first for clients (organisers, production companies, agencies, local authorities) and the pilots working for them, including foreign crews who fly or commission a mission in France and discover that French rules add national layers to the EU framework. Couples planning a wedding will find a useful section too. The common foundation (categories, registration, training, penalties) is covered in The complete guide to French drone regulations 2026: here we focus on what is specific to filming and events.

Content up to date as of 30 September 2026, taking into account the French decree of 23 December 2025 in force since 1 January 2026. C-DRONE is neither the DGAC (the French civil aviation authority) nor an official body: this guide is a preparation tool, and only the official texts published on Légifrance and information from the administration are authoritative.

Your shoot or event in 5 questions

Before talking equipment or budget, five questions tell you whether your aerial project is simple, heavy or impossible as currently written. Ask them in this order: every "yes" adds paperwork and lead time.

Question 1: will there be members of the public or uninvolved people under the drone?

This question decides almost everything. The rules distinguish involved persons (the crew, extras, the couple or athletes who have been informed, briefed and have accepted the operation) from uninvolved persons (the audience, passers-by, guests who asked for nothing). The drone can work close to the former, under conditions; it must keep its distance from the latter.

And there is a red line: the assembly of people, meaning a crowd dense enough that individuals cannot freely move away (a concert audience, spectators packed along a course, a market, a dense exit from a ceremony). Flying over an assembly is prohibited in the open category, whatever the drone, including under 250 g. The STS-01 standard scenario does not allow it either. Only an operational authorisation issued by the DGAC after a risk assessment can consider it, with a lead time measured in weeks, often months.

Question 2: is the location in a built-up area or near a restricted zone?

In French built-up areas, a professional flight has been possible since 1 January 2026 in the open category over public space, without overflying people and in daytime, or in the specific category (usually STS-01). In both cases, a prior notification to the préfet (the State's representative in the département, form cerfa 15476*04) must be filed at least 10 working days before the flight. Add the official restriction map on Géoportail: a countryside wedding venue can sit under an aerodrome zone with a height cap, and central Paris is a prohibited zone requiring an authorisation from the Paris police préfecture.

Question 3: is the event big enough to trigger préfecture measures?

Major gatherings (festivals, international competitions, official visits, national celebrations) regularly lead to préfecture orders temporarily banning drones within a perimeter, and sometimes to temporary restricted areas published through aeronautical information (NOTAM). Even a fully compliant operator does not fly inside these perimeters without an express exemption. They are published in the préfecture's official bulletin, sometimes only days before the event, so they must be actively searched for.

Question 4: do you need to fly at night?

In France, night flying is prohibited in principle in the open category, stricter than in several other EU countries. The decree of 23 December 2025 opened possibilities under strict conditions (notably on mass, height and lighting), and the specific category has its own conditions: have the pilot confirm the exact framework in writing and, when in doubt, check the consolidated text on Légifrance. The simplest solution is often the blue hour: aeronautical night only starts 30 minutes after sunset, leaving a legal daytime window with city lights already on.

Question 5: do you want FPV shots?

An FPV drone is flown with goggles: the pilot no longer sees the aircraft directly. In the open category this is allowed provided an observer, standing next to the pilot, keeps the drone in sight. But the FPV shots everyone dreams of (flying through a crowd, weaving between guests, diving onto a stage) almost always happen near people: the operation then moves to the specific category, often to a dedicated authorisation, because FPV aircraft rarely carry the C5 class label required by STS-01.

What your answers mean

Frequently asked questions

How do I receive the guide?

Right after payment you are redirected to the complete guide's page. Bookmark it, or print it to PDF (Ctrl+P or Cmd+P, “Save as PDF”). Stripe also emails you the receipt.

Do I get an invoice?

Yes: Stripe generates the invoice and emails it. You can enter your company name and VAT number at checkout.

Is the guide kept up to date?

Yes. The guide's page is updated when the rules change; your access stays valid and you always read the latest version.

Does this guide replace the official texts or a training course?

No. C-DRONE is neither the French civil aviation authority (DGAC) nor a training organisation: the guide explains and organises the paperwork, with links to the official sources, which alone are authoritative.

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