Drone Flying Rules in Brighton — Beach, Pier & South Downs National Park (2026)

Shoreham Airport Flight Restriction Zone

Brighton City Airport, commonly known as Shoreham Airport, sits immediately west of the city along the A27. Every licensed aerodrome in the UK has a Flight Restriction Zone that extends from the runway threshold. The standard FRZ covers a radius of approximately 2 to 2.5 nautical miles (roughly 4 km) around the aerodrome, plus rectangular protection zones aligned with the runway centreline.

Flying an unmanned aircraft inside the FRZ without prior permission from both the CAA and the airport operator is a criminal offence carrying an unlimited fine and up to five years imprisonment. If your planned flight location falls within the FRZ boundary, you must submit an application to Brighton City Airport. The airport conducts an Air Traffic Services safety and risk assessment before granting or refusing permission.

Use the CAA NATS Drone Assist app or the official FRZ checker to confirm whether your launch site is inside or outside the restricted zone before every flight.

South Downs National Park Restrictions

The South Downs National Park covers a large area north and east of Brighton, including the chalk cliffs at Seven Sisters and the rolling downland behind the city. While the CAA does not impose a blanket airspace ban over national parks, the South Downs National Park Authority manages the land and can restrict take-off and landing on its property.

The National Park Authority does not permit drone launch or recovery on its land without prior written consent. If you launch from private land with the landowner’s permission outside the park boundary and fly over the park at lawful altitude, CAA airspace rules apply to the airspace above rather than park ground-level policies.

Key considerations for the South Downs near Brighton:

• Devil’s Dyke, Ditchling Beacon and the surrounding downland are popular with walkers. Maintaining a 50 m separation from uninvolved persons is essential under Open Category A3 rules.
• Ground-nesting birds, including skylark and lapwing, breed on the open chalk grassland from March to August. Disturbing protected wildlife can constitute an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
• Contact the South Downs National Park Authority directly if you intend to launch from park-managed car parks or visitor centres.

Brighton Seafront, Beach and Pier

The seafront between the Marina and Hove Lagoon is one of the most popular stretches of coastline in the south of England. During summer weekends the beach, promenade and Palace Pier attract dense crowds.

Under the CAA Open Category rules (A1 sub-category), drones under 250 g may fly over uninvolved people but must never be flown intentionally over crowds. Drones weighing 250 g or more must maintain a horizontal distance of at least 50 m from uninvolved persons at all times under the A3 sub-category. The high density of people on the seafront means that lawful flight with heavier drones is extremely difficult during busy periods.

Brighton Palace Pier is a Grade II* listed structure. While there is no CAA-specific restriction on flying near piers, the pier operators control the structure and adjacent beach. Do not launch from, land on or hover directly above the pier without explicit permission from the pier management.

Consider early-morning flights when the beach is largely empty to maintain safe separation distances.

2026 Registration and ID Requirements

The CAA rules updated from January 2026 under CAP 2320 require the following:

• Flyer ID: Required for anyone flying a drone weighing 100 g or more. Obtained by passing the free online theory test on the CAA registration portal.
• Operator ID: Required if you own or are responsible for a drone weighing 250 g or more. The Operator ID must be displayed on the aircraft.
• Maximum altitude: 120 m (400 ft) above the closest point of the earth’s surface.
• Visual line of sight: You must be able to see your drone at all times without aids other than corrective lenses.
• Night flying: Any drone flown at night must carry a green flashing light visible from all directions.

Where You Can Fly Near Brighton

Several locations around Brighton offer good flying opportunities outside the FRZ and away from crowded areas:

• Saltdean and Telscombe Cliffs: East of the Marina, these clifftop areas are less crowded and sit outside the Shoreham FRZ. Check for nesting peregrine falcons on the cliff faces.
• Stanmer Park: A large open park on the northern edge of the city. Brighton and Hove City Council byelaws may apply, so check with the council before launching.
• Shoreham Beach (west of the FRZ): The western end of Shoreham Beach may sit outside the FRZ boundary. Confirm with the NATS Drone Assist app before flying.

Penalties for Violations

Flying a drone in breach of CAA regulations can result in fines of up to £2,500 for most Open Category offences. Flying within an FRZ without permission or endangering an aircraft carries far harsher penalties, including an unlimited fine and imprisonment. Sussex Police and the CAA both enforce drone regulations in the Brighton area.