For every unmanned aerial vehicle, regardless of its weight, liability insurance must be taken out in accordance with the provisions of Section 33 et seq. LuftVG (maximum liability amount § 37 Para. 1a) in conjunction with § 101 ff. LuftVZO must be concluded. As this involves the operation of an aircraft, accidents caused by drones are generally not covered by personal liability insurance. Instead, so-called owner's liability insurance is required.

Drones may only fly above an altitude of 100 meters if an official exemption permit has been obtained. Further information can be obtained from the Lower Saxony State Authority for Road Construction and Transport (opens in a new tab).

Unmanned aerial systems Drones and model aircraft are obliged to avoid manned aircraft and unmanned free balloons.

Please find out who owns the area where you want to fly the drone and obtain a take-off permit.

Both private and commercial drone pilots with a drone with a take-off weight of more than 2 kilograms require a certificate of knowledge, also known as a drone pilot's license, in accordance with the current Aviation Ordinance. A drone pilot's license is also required to apply to a state aviation authority for exemptions from otherwise prohibited operations, to obtain a take-off permit for drones with a take-off weight of more than 5 kilograms or to be able to use a general ruling.

Permission must be obtained from the Lower Saxony State Authority for Road Construction and Transport for drones weighing over 5 kilograms and/or applications for exemptions from the flight bans (see below). Details on how to apply can be found here (opens in a new tab).

In Salzgitter, it is necessary to report every drone flight (regardless of location and purpose) to the specialist service for security, law and order. This requires an informal e-mail or letter stating the time, place and duration of the planned flight as well as the type and weight of the drone. This is only an information obligation. A permit is not required.

Here you will find the contact details where you can send the flight information:

• any obstruction or danger
• the operation of drones or model aircraft in and above sensitive areas such as police and emergency services, crowds of people, main traffic routes, approach and departure areas of airports,
• the operation of a drone or model aircraft weighing more than 0.25 kilograms above residential properties.
• This also applies if the flying object (regardless of its weight) is capable of receiving, transmitting or recording optical, acoustic or radio signals (e.g. camera drones).

at a lateral distance and a height of 100 meters:

• Crowds of people (§ 21b Para. 1 No. 2 LuftVO),
  accident sites (§ 21b Para. 1 No. 2 LuftVO),
  Disaster areas and other locations of authorities and organizations with security tasks (§ 21b Para. 1 No. 2 LuftVO) as well as airfields and airports (§ 21 LuftVO),
• the boundary of industrial plants, prisons, institutions for the execution of penal sentences, military facilities and organizations, power generation and distribution facilities, unless the operator of the facility has expressly consented to the operation (Section 21b (1) No. 3 LuftVO),
• Land on which the constitutional bodies of the federal or state governments or supreme and higher federal or state authorities or diplomatic and consular missions as well as international organizations within the meaning of international law have their headquarters, unless the respective body has expressly consented to the operation (Section 21b (1) No. 4 LuftVO),
• properties of the police and other security authorities, unless the authority has expressly consented to the operation (Section 21b (4) No. 1 LuftVO),
• Federal highways, federal waterways and railroad facilities, unless the competent authority has expressly approved the operation (Section 21b (1) No. 5 LuftVO),
• hospitals,
• mobile facilities and troops of the German Armed Forces as part of registered maneuvers and exercises (Section 21b (1) No. 2 LuftVO),
• Facilities in which activities requiring a permit of protection level 4 according to the Biological Agents Ordinance are carried out (so-called S4 laboratories), unless the operator of the facility has expressly consented to the operation (Section 21b (1) No. 3 LuftVO),
• Nature conservation areas, bird sanctuaries and FFH areas, unless the requirements specified in the LuftVO are met. Corresponding regulations in protected areas within the city of Salzgitter can be obtained from the lower nature conservation authority.
• Flights outside protected areas, particularly during the breeding and settling season and over breeding and resting areas of species susceptible to disturbance, must also comply with the statutory provisions of special species protection in accordance with Section 44 (1) of the Federal Nature Conservation Act. Accordingly, it is prohibited to stalk or harm specially protected species. They must not be significantly disturbed during the breeding, rearing, moulting and migration periods. Breeding or resting sites (such as nests) may not be damaged either. Species under special protection include all European bird species. If eggs or nestlings are damaged, this is an administrative offense that can be punished with a fine of up to 50,000 euros.
• residential properties if the take-off mass of the device is more than 0.25 kilograms or the device and its equipment are capable of receiving, transmitting or recording optical, acoustic or radio signals (e.g. camera), unless the owner or other authorized user whose rights are affected by the operation over the respective residential property has expressly consented to the overflight (Section 21b (1) No. 7 LuftVO) or
• if the operation is for the transportation of explosives and pyrotechnic articles, radioactive substances, hazardous substances and mixtures in accordance with Section 3 of the Ordinance on Protection against Hazardous Substances, biological substances in risk groups 2 to 4 in accordance with Section 3 (1) of the Ordinance on Biological Substances and objects, liquids or gaseous substances that are likely to cause panic, fear or fright in people if dropped or released.