Flights in protected areas

Rules and recommendations for drone use and helicopter flight in protected nature areas

In the following areas the use of drones (UAS) and helicopters is limited or prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. Click here to apply for a permit. Excluded from the ban are Search and Rescue operations and the activities of the Coast Guard.

The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except in with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. Visitors are prohibited from accessing the island except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland.

The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited in the following areas in Andakíll: in Kistufjörður, in the mudflats of Kistuhöfði and between Kistuhöfði  and Grjóteyri.
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited.  
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited within the bird sanctuary during both the nesting season and the migratory season, except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland.
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland.
May 1st – September 15th 
During the period of May 1st – September 15th the use of drones (UAS) is prohibited within the area of Dynjandi except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. 
Exemptions from the ban are not granted for any drone activity on the seaside of Dynjandisvegur main road.
September 16th – April 30th 
During the period of September 16th – April 30th the use of drones (UAS) is permitted within the area of Dynjandi without a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland.
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland.
May 1st – August 15th 
During this period, permits for drone use are not granted due to birds nesting. 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland.
April 15th – July 15th 
All visitors are prohibited from accessing the protected area.
June 15th – September 15th 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. Permits are not granted for Landmannalaugar, Landmannahellir or Hrafntinnusker. 
The landing of helicopters and other manned aircraft is prohibited in area 1, with no exceptions. 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. 
The landing of helicopters and other manned aircraft is prohibited in area, except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. 
The landing of helicopters and other manned aircraft is prohibited in area, except with a permit from the landowner and The Environment Agency of Iceland. 

The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. 

 April 1st – October 31st between 08:00-10.00.

The use of drones (UAS) is permitted within the area without a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland between the hours of 8-10AM. However this exemption is not applicable to UAS used for commercial purposes. Note that it is forbidden to fly lower than 50 meters over Strokkur geyser.

November 1st – March 31st between 11:00-12:00

The use of drones (UAS) is permitted within the area without a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland between the hours of 11AM-12PM. However this exemption is not applicable to UAS used for commercial purposes. Note that it is forbidden to fly lower than 50 meters over Strokkur geyser. 
The landing of helicopters and other manned aircraft is prohibited in area, except with a permit from the landowner and The Environment Agency of Iceland. 

The use of aircraft is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. 
 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. 
April 1st – October 31st between 19:00-21.00.
The use of drones (UAS) is permitted within the area without a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland between the hours of 8-9 PM. However this exemption is not applicable to UAS used for commercial purposes.
November 1st – March 31st between 11:00-12:00
The use of drones (UAS) is permitted within the area without a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland between the hours of 11AM-12PM. However this exemption is not applicable to UAS used for commercial purposes. 
 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. The landing of helicopters and other manned aircraft is prohibited in area, except with a permit from the landowner and The Environment Agency of Iceland. 
April 1st – October 31st between 08:00-10.00.
The use of drones (UAS) is permitted within the area without a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland between the hours of 8-10AM. However this exemption is not applicable to UAS used for commercial purposes. 
November 1st – March 31st between 11:00-12:00
The use of drones (UAS) is permitted within the area without a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland between the hours of 11AM-12PM. However this exemption is not applicable to UAS used for commercial purposes.
 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland.
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland.
May 1st – August 15th 
During this period, permits are not granted for drone (UAS) use near bird cliffs and other sensitive bird nesting spots within Hornstrandir nature reserve.
The landing of helicopters and other manned aircraft is prohibited in area, except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland.
April 15th – July 31st 
During this period, permits for drone use are not granted due to birds nesting. 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland.
May 1st – August 15th  
During this period, permits for drone use are not granted due to birds nesting. 
 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland.
May 1st – August 15th  
During this period, permits for drone use are not granted due to birds nesting. 
 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland.
The landing of helicopters and other manned aircraft outside of designated landing zones is prohibited in area, except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. 
May 20th – August 20th 
During this period the use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland, due to birds nesting.
 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. 
April 1st – October 31st between 08:00-10.00.
The use of drones (UAS) is permitted within the area without a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland between the hours of 8-9 PM. However this exemption is not applicable to UAS used for commercial purposes. Note that it is forbidden to fly in the canyon in front of the waterfall.
November 1st – March 31st between 11:00-12:00
The use of drones (UAS) is permitted within the area without a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland between the hours of 11AM-12PM. However this exemption is not applicable to UAS used for commercial purposes. Note that it is forbidden to fly in the canyon in front of the waterfall.
 
April 15th – September 15th 
During this period the use of drones (UAS) within the national park is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. The ban applies for the area from the shore up to Útnesvegur main road. During this period, permits are not granted for drone (UAS) use near bird cliffs and other sensitive bird nesting spots within the national park.
 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland.
May 1st – August 15th  
During this period, permits for drone use are not granted due to birds nesting. 
 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited in Surtsey except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland.
Visitors are prohibited from accessing the island except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland, subject to high restrictions.
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland.
The landing of helicopters and other manned aircraft is prohibited in area, except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. 
 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland. 
The use of drones (UAS) is prohibited except with a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland.
May 10th – August 10th 
Drone (UAS) flight under 5000 feet is prohibited. 
May 1st – June 20th 
Visitors are prohibited near/in the nesting grounds of pink-footed geese, 

Protected bird habitats

The following areas are protected bird sanctuaries. The utmost care must be taken in protected bird habitats, cf. Paragraph 4 Article 17 of the Nature Conservation Act no. 60/2013. Whether a drone permit is required in the following areas depends on the time of year and the type and scale of the project. Please contact the Environment Agency for more information at ust@ust.is

  • Eldey island: visitors are prohibited from accessing the island year-round. 
  • Svarfaðadalur Nature Reserve
  • Grótta Nature Reserve is closed from May 1st – July 15th. 
  • Grunnafjörður
  • Guðlaugstungur
  • Hrísey in Reykhólahreppur – visitors are prohibited from accessing the island between April 15th – July 15th without a permit from The Environment Agency
  • Melrakkaey - visitors are prohibited from accessing the island without a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland
  • Mývatn and Laxá
  • Oddaflóð
  • Salthöfði og Salthöfðamýrar 
  • Skrúður - visitors are prohibited from accessing the island without a permit from The Environment Agency of Iceland
  • Lake Vestmannsvatn