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All of CanadaUpdated September 2026

A neighbour's drone is flying over my backyard.

Your privacy rights when someone operates a drone near or over your property.

TL;DR

Recreational drone use is regulated by Transport Canada rules. Flying directly over private property to record may also breach privacy laws and civil privacy torts. Disputes usually start with a conversation and escalate to the local police and Transport Canada if necessary.

Step 1: talk to the neighbour

A polite conversation often resolves the issue. Some drone hobbyists are unaware their flights attract privacy concerns.

Step 2: file a Transport Canada complaint

Transport Canada can be contacted about unsafe or illegal drone flights. Any drone between 250 g and 25 kg, recreational or commercial, requires a pilot certificate and registration. PIPEDA does not apply to an individual's personal, non-commercial drone use; the remedies there are the civil privacy torts, provincial Privacy Acts, and the Criminal Code.

Step 3: consider a civil privacy claim

If recording captured identifiable images of you or your family, you may have a claim for intrusion upon seclusion in Ontario or similar torts in other provinces.

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