Skip to content
Aperture
Country

Denmark

Denmark lets you sell images of buildings freely, but a photo whose main subject is a public artwork (the Little Mermaid) is restricted for commercial use.

By Joel Kelly Verified Jun 28, 2026 2 sources
Permit: conditionalPanorama: Full, with limits

Shoot decision

Depends on setup

Photograph freely from public property. Commercial productions need a municipal filming permit.

Permit

Conditional

Issuer: Municipality for commercial productions; no permit for personal street photography

Cost: No permit for personal photography; commercial shoots, closures, and managed sites need permits

Photograph freely from public property. Commercial productions need a municipal filming permit.

Drone / airspace

Governed by EU EASA rules via the Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority; operator registration required

Central-city and airport zones are restricted. For detail, see Drone Authority.

Street / public space

Yes to photograph almost anything visible from public property; publishing is governed by GDPR and Danish privacy law

Situational scenes are more permissive than portrait-type images; advertising use needs consent.

Freedom of panorama

Full, with limits

Copyright Act Art. 24: buildings may be used commercially. Public artworks may not be used commercially when the artwork is the main subject.

Practical notes

  • The Little Mermaid (protected to end of 2029) is the textbook trap: a commercial shot centered on it needs the heirs' permission.
  • Sell a wide cityscape freely; do not sell a tight commercial shot of a copyrighted sculpture as the main subject.

Guidance, not legal advice

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

Drone Authority

Check the flight side

Photography access and drone permission are separate questions. Drone Authority covers the flight-law side for this country.

Field kit

Travel kit for publication risk

Match more field gearCheck field deals

Product links may earn a commission at no cost to you. Verify the rules first, then buy only what keeps the shoot practical.

Plan the travel shoot

Sources

More in Countries

← All location guides