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Canada

Canada has full freedom of panorama nationwide, but Quebec protects a person's image even in non-commercial publication.

Verified Jun 28, 2026 2 official sources
Permit: conditionalPanorama: Full

Guidance, not legal advice

Rules change and enforcement varies. Confirm with the issuing authority before you shoot. Drone law depth lives at Drone Authority.

Permit

Conditional

Issuer: Municipal film offices and Parks Canada for managed locations; no permit for personal street photography

Cost: No permit for personal photography on public property; commercial shoots in cities, parks, and venues typically need a municipal or site permit

Photographing in public is legal. Commercial shoots on city streets, in parks, or at managed venues usually need a municipal film or photo permit or venue permission; rules vary by city and by Parks Canada site.

Drone / airspace

Regulated by Transport Canada; drones 250g to 25kg require registration and a pilot certificate

For the category detail, see Drone Authority.

Street / public space

Yes in common-law Canada, with no consent needed to take the photo; Quebec is the exception

Under the Civil Code of Quebec and the Aubry decision, publishing an identifiable person's image without consent can be an invasion of privacy even when non-commercial.

Freedom of panorama

Full

Copyright Act section 32.2(1)(b) makes it non-infringing to photograph an architectural work, or a sculpture or work of artistic craftsmanship permanently situated in a public place. You can sell images of public buildings, monuments, and permanent public sculpture.

Practical notes

  • In Quebec, street portraits of identifiable people can expose you to liability if published without consent, unlike the rest of Canada.
  • Permanent public art is covered, but a temporary installation used as the central subject can still raise issues.

Sources

Keep shooting

Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side:

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