A licensed drone shot is one of the highest-impact frames in a listing — and one of the easiest ways to get it wrong. If the operator isn't certified and following the rules, the footage isn't just risky, it can get pulled and the agent exposed. Here's the real framework for Ontario.
You need an Advanced RPAS certificate
In Canada, flying a drone for commercial work — including real estate photography — requires a Transport Canada pilot certificate. For the kind of flying real estate needs (near people, near buildings, often in controlled airspace around the GTA), that means the Advanced Operations certificate: a written exam, an in-person flight review, and registration of the aircraft.
Bricks' drone work is flown under an Advanced RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) certificate. That's the difference between "someone with a DJI" and a compliant operator who can legally fly in the complex airspace around Toronto, Mississauga, and the airports.
The rules that actually affect your shoot
Controlled airspace & no-fly zones
The GTA sits under some of the busiest airspace in the country — Pearson, Billy Bishop, and several helipads. Many listings fall inside controlled airspace or near an airport, which requires advance clearance from NAV CANADA (a flight plan / airspace authorization) before flying. A compliant operator checks this per address, every time.
Altitude & distance
Recreational and most commercial flights are capped at 122 metres (400 feet) above ground level and must stay within visual line of sight. For real estate that's plenty — a listing aerial at 60–100 m reads beautifully without leaving the legal envelope.
People & property
Advanced certification is what permits flying over people and near buildings safely — but it still demands a risk assessment, not a free-for-all. That's exactly why the certificate matters for residential shoots.
What a compliant GTA aerial shoot looks like
- Pre-flight check: verify the address against NAV CANADA airspace and any local restrictions.
- Clearance: file the required authorization when the location is in controlled airspace.
- On-site assessment: wind, obstacles, neighbours, and a safe launch point.
- Capture: a tight set of exterior and approach angles — usually enough in 10–15 minutes of flight.
- Edit: straightened, colour-matched HDR stills and a short aerial clip, delivered with the rest of the shoot.
Why it matters to the agent
An unlicensed operator isn't just breaking rules — if something goes wrong, the agent and brokerage are on the hook too. Booking a certified Advanced RPAS operator protects the listing, the client, and your license. It's also a quiet trust signal: buyers and sellers notice when the media is clearly professional.
"In the GTA, the airspace is the hard part — not the flying. Certification is what lets us shoot legally next to Pearson's approach path."
FAQ
Can any drone photo be used in a listing?
Only if flown legally by a certified pilot with the right airspace clearance. Bricks flies under an Advanced RPAS certificate.
What if the home is near the airport?
Then it's almost certainly controlled airspace — we file the NAV CANADA authorization before the shoot. That's standard for much of Mississauga and Etobicoke.
Is drone included or extra?
Licensed drone coverage is part of the core Bricks shoot; aerial video can be added as a reel. See pricing →
Written by Raphael Merchant, founder of Bricks. Figures reflect 2026 GTA market research across major regional providers; Bricks rates are starting points and tailored per booking.
Transport Canada Advanced RPAS drone certificate holder. Read more →