Can I fly a drone in Biel/Bienne?
Drone zones in and around Biel/Bienne
The zones below are the ones nearest the centre of Biel/Bienne, measured from 47.1371, 7.2461. Distance is to the edge of the zone, so “over the centre” means the city centre itself is inside it. Restricted up to is how far the zone reaches above the ground – the restriction applies from the surface to that height, so it is not an altitude you may climb to.
| Zone | Restriction | Distance | Restricted up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regionalgefängnis BielExemption permits may be applied for at the competent authority. | Requires authorisation | 0.1 km | 150 m AGL |
| LSZP Biel-KappelenExemption permits may be applied for at the competent authority. | Requires authorisation | 1 km | not stated |
| LSZP Biel-Kappelen (Airport perimeter)Exemption permits may be applied for at the competent authority. | Requires authorisation | 6 km | not stated |
| CTR GRENCHENExemption permits may be applied for at the competent authority. | Requires authorisation | 6 km | not stated |
| Water Bird and Migratory Bird Reserves Häftli bei Büren (BE)Exemption permits may be applied for at the competent cantonal specialist office. | Requires authorisation | 6 km | not stated |
| LSZJ CourtelaryExemption permits may be applied for at the competent authority. | Requires authorisation | 8 km | not stated |
Who to ask for permission
The zones around Biel/Bienne name one responsible body, so who you ask depends on which zone you are flying in.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fly a drone in Biel/Bienne?
No published drone zone covers the exact centre of Biel/Bienne, but 6 restricted zones fall within 8 km of it, the nearest 0.1 km away. Check your exact take-off point before you fly. Biel/Bienne is in Switzerland, where the UAS geographical zones are published by FOCA / BAZL (Switzerland), data via swisstopo under Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Article 15. Always confirm against the official source before a flight.
Where can't I fly a drone in Biel/Bienne?
Inside Biel/Bienne's UAS geographical zones. Within 8 km of the centre canfly? tracks 6 restricted zones: 6 requiring authorisation. They are published by FOCA / BAZL (Switzerland), data via swisstopo and shown on the map at https://canfly.io/map.
How high can I fly a drone in Biel/Bienne?
The EU open category caps you at 120 m above ground across Switzerland, and lower where a zone says so. No zone over the centre of Biel/Bienne publishes a height at which its restriction stops, so treat 120 m as the limit and check the zones nearby before you launch.
Who do I ask for permission to fly a drone in Biel/Bienne?
The zones around Biel/Bienne name one responsible body, so it depends which zone you are in. The most frequently named is FOCA (BAZL) (info@bazl.admin.ch). Each zone's authority is listed on this page.
How this page was worked out
- Zones published by
- FOCA / BAZL (Switzerland), data via swisstopo
- Official source
- https://map.geo.admin.ch/?layers=ch.bazl.einschraenkungen-drohnen
- Data version
- 2026-07-31
- Last refreshed by canfly?
- 2026-07-31
- Area covered
- Within 8 km of 47.1371, 7.2461
- Legal basis
- Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Article 15
Zone counts are measured from the point above, which is Biel/Bienne's centre as recorded by GeoNames; a zone counts if any part of it falls within 8 km of it. That radius scales with population and is not Biel/Bienne's administrative boundary, so a zone just outside the city limits still appears - which is what matters when you are deciding where to take off. Population 55,120 (GeoNames, record updated 2025-06-13). City data from GeoNames, licensed CC BY 4.0. Zone data is the official Switzerland dataset, unmodified except for normalisation to ED-269.
Other cities in Switzerland
canfly? has zone pages for 10 cities in Switzerland. See the whole country, or another city: