PulveCast

Agricultural drone spraying rules in Canada

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

Last updated:

Allowed with authorisation. Since 30 June 2026, Health Canada allows any pesticide registered for aerial application to be applied by drone (RPAS), unless the label says otherwise, following all aerial label directions. Pilots need a Transport Canada pilot certificate and a registered drone, and must meet provincial pesticide licensing rules.

Who regulates it

What you need

  • Register every drone of 250 g or more with Transport Canada (CARs 900.13). (tc.canada.ca)
  • A Transport Canada drone pilot certificate. For medium drones (25 to 150 kg) in visual line of sight you need an Advanced Operations certificate and a drone declared safe for that operation. For lower-risk BVLOS you need a Level 1 Complex certificate. (tc.canada.ca)
  • The product must be registered for aerial application, and its label must not say "DO NOT apply by Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)". Follow every aerial direction on the label without change: rate, spray volume, droplet size and buffer zones. (canada.ca)
  • The person who mixes and loads the pesticide must not be the drone pilot. Everyone involved wears at least the PPE required on the label. (canada.ca)
  • Meet provincial or territorial requirements: training, applicator certification, licences, permits and authorisations. (canada.ca)

How to get authorised

  1. Get the right Transport Canada pilot certificate (Advanced for medium drones in visual line of sight). (tc.canada.ca)
  2. Register the drone in the Drone Management Portal. (tc.canada.ca)
  3. Complete your province's pesticide applicator training and licensing. (canada.ca)
  4. Check the label in Health Canada's label search: aerial application must be allowed and RPAS not excluded. (pr-rp.hc-sc.gc.ca)
  5. Before the first job, measure the drone's real swath width. Then apply following the aerial label directions. (canada.ca)

Operating limits for spraying

  • Use the spray buffer zones set for conventional rotary-wing aircraft on the label (SPN2026-02).
  • Aerial application to forests, woodlands, residential areas and aquatic sites is a restricted use (SPN2026-02).
  • Products that require a closed cab for ground application may not be applied by drone unless equivalent RPAS protection exists (SPN2026-02).
  • Maximum 122 m (400 ft) above ground unless a special flight operations certificate (SFOC) allows more (CARs 901.25).
  • Do not place the pilot, visual observer or crew downwind of the spraying drone (SPN2026-02).

Good to know

  • Before 30 June 2026, a drone could only apply a pesticide whose label specifically allowed RPAS. Very few labels did.
  • Since 4 November 2025, medium drones (25 to 150 kg) in visual line of sight no longer need a special flight operations certificate.

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.

Other countries