PulveCast

Agricultural drone spraying rules in Australia

What you need to spray crops with a drone in Australia: legal status, authorities, permits, requirements and operating limits, with links to the official sources.

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Allowed with authorisation. Spraying pesticides by drone is legal. CASA's Part 101 rules govern the flying, the pesticide label must allow aerial application, and each state or territory licenses aerial chemical application separately (for example, EPA drone licences in New South Wales and a pilot chemical rating licence in Queensland).

Who regulates it

What you need

  • Spraying for hire needs a CASA remotely piloted aircraft operator's certificate (ReOC) for the business and a remote pilot licence (RePL) for the pilot. (casa.gov.au)
  • On your own land without payment, drones up to 150 kg can be flown in the landholder excluded category; above 25 kg the pilot still needs a RePL for that aircraft. (legislation.gov.au)
  • Drone spraying counts as aerial application: follow the label's aerial instructions; if the label allows only fixed-wing application, a multirotor drone may not be used (NSW EPA). (epa.nsw.gov.au)
  • NSW: hold an EPA RPA pilot licence (RePL or CASA accreditation plus chemical units AHCCHM303/307 and AHCCHM304) and work under an EPA RPA business licence (ReOC required); licences last 5 years. (epa.nsw.gov.au)
  • Queensland: the pilot needs a RePL and a state pilot chemical rating licence, even when spraying their own land. (business.qld.gov.au)

How to get authorised

  1. Register the drone with CASA and get the right CASA credential (RePL, and a ReOC if you spray for others). (casa.gov.au)
  2. Complete chemical application training (for example AHCCHM303/307 and AHCCHM304). (epa.nsw.gov.au)
  3. Apply for your state or territory's aerial application licence (for example NSW EPA RPA pilot and business licences). (epa.nsw.gov.au)
  4. Check that each product label allows aerial application and follow its aerial instructions, including buffer zones. (apvma.gov.au)

Operating limits for spraying

  • In NSW, the Pesticides Act 1999 prohibits attaching pesticide spray equipment to any aircraft not endorsed by CASA for agricultural operations.
  • Label spray-drift restraints and buffer zones for aerial application apply to drones.

Good to know

  • NSW exempts landholders from the EPA business licence when spraying land they own or occupy with an excluded RPA, but they still need the EPA pilot licence.

Checked against official sources on 2026-09-18. Rules change: confirm with the authorities before operating. This page is a planning summary, not legal advice. The product label and the official rules always prevail.

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