Read the key as text
- 1 · green flashing light
- mandatory at night, every class
- 2 · night
- after civil evening twilight
- 3 · position lights
- recommended by the LBA
- 4 · line of sight, 120 m, zones
- apply at night too
Can I fly my drone at night?
Yes, flying at night is allowed in the open category without a special authorisation. There is one additional condition: a green flashing light on the drone.
A green flashing light is mandatory
At night, your drone must have a green flashing light switched on (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Annex UAS.OPEN.060). The obligation lies with you as the pilot and applies to every drone, whatever its class. Drones of classes C1, C2 and C3 have the light built in at the factory. Retrofit lights are available for other drones.
Tip: The German Federal Aviation Office (LBA) also recommends additional position lights. They help you see the drone’s position and direction of flight in the dark.
What counts as night
Night is the time from the end of evening civil twilight to the beginning of morning civil twilight. The exact time therefore depends on location and season; many weather and flight apps show it.
All other rules still apply
- The drone must stay within visual line of sight. At night this is harder than you might think.
- No more than 120 m above ground.
- Restricted zones also apply at night.
Special rule over residential properties
In Germany, you may only fly over other people’s residential properties without consent in exceptional cases. One of these exceptions, flying at a height of at least 100 m under further conditions, expressly does not apply between 10 pm and 6 am (§ 21h LuftVO). More on this in Where can I fly my drone?
Model flying in a club
Anyone flying under the rules of a German model flying association needs a permit from the state aviation authority to fly at night (§ 21f LuftVO).
Sources (as of 28 October 2026)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Art. 2(34) (night) and Annex UAS.OPEN.060(2)(g) (green flashing light) (EUR-Lex)
- Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945, Annex Parts 2 to 4: green flashing light for C1, C2, C3 (EUR-Lex)
- German Federal Aviation Office (LBA): drone FAQ (flying at night; German)
- § 21h German Air Traffic Regulation (LuftVO): geographical zones, residential properties (German)
- § 21f German Air Traffic Regulation (LuftVO): model aircraft within aero sport associations (German)
As of October 2026. This overview is not legal advice; the regulations and the information provided by the authorities are authoritative.
