C‑DRONE
Night aerial view of an illuminated urban area

🛡️ SECURITY & SURVEILLANCE · LYON (69) · €600–2,500 PER DAY

Drone security & surveillance in Lyon

Drones have become a remarkably effective security auxiliary: alarm verification in minutes where a patrol takes an hour, perimeter surveillance of large industrial and logistics sites, thermal cameras detecting a human presence at night several hundred metres away, inspection of fences and blind spots of fixed cameras. Paired with a security control room, they multiply a ground team's coverage without multiplying headcount.

We offer one-off missions (surveillance of a private event, a sensitive construction site over a weekend, intrusion searches) as well as recurring arrangements in partnership with licensed private security companies holding the required CNAPS authorisations. Every mission undergoes a prior legal review: image capture falls under GDPR and, for public roads, under a framework strictly reserved for the authorities.

Free quote — security & surveillance in Lyon

Rates

€600–2,500 per day — the range observed on the 2026 French market, including regulatory preparation, flight and delivery. The exact quote depends on the site, the deliverable and the airspace context in Lyon.

Common use cases

The local context in Lyon

Greater Lyon sits under the CTR of Lyon-Bron business airport, right next to the city, and is bordered to the east by the Lyon-Saint-Exupéry CTR: almost all urban flights happen at reduced height after coordination with air navigation services. The dense centre (Presqu'île, Croix-Rousse slopes) also requires the built-up-area scenario with prior notification to the prefecture.

Local demand is driven by a powerful economy: headquarters and laboratories of the chemical valley (Seveso sites, no overflight without agreement), Part-Dieu and Gerland construction projects, commercial real estate, nearby vineyards (Beaujolais, Côtes du Rhône) and a UNESCO-listed heritage — Vieux-Lyon, Fourvière — much in demand for tourism and film work.

Applicable regulations

Private drone surveillance is only lawful above private property with the site operator's consent: drone surveillance of public roads is reserved for law enforcement under a specific legal framework. Night flights, essential for security work, are prohibited in the open category and require the specific category (an operational authorisation with SORA risk assessment or a suitable scenario). Added to this are French internal-security code obligations for surveillance activities (CNAPS licence for the partner security company) and GDPR: informing site employees, minimising capture, limited retention of recordings. AlphaTango registration, height under 120 m, pilot trained in night thermal operations.

Frequently asked questions

Can a drone monitor the street outside my business?

No: drone image capture of public roads is reserved for the authorities (police, gendarmerie) under a strict legal framework. We only monitor the interior of your property, with the camera angled to exclude public space.

Can the drone fly at night for surveillance?

Yes, but only in the specific category with a suitable operational authorisation, which we hold. Thermal cameras make night detection far more effective than conventional CCTV.

Can the footage serve as evidence in case of intrusion?

Yes, if capture was lawful: flight over your own property, declared system, employees informed. Time-stamped recordings are then admissible and handed to law enforcement if charges are filed.

Can this service be flown anywhere in Lyon?

Almost: CTR de Lyon-Bron; CTR de Lyon-Saint-Exupéry à l'est; Sites Seveso de la vallée de la chimie au sud. Depending on the exact location, the pilot picks the right framework (open or specific category) and files the required declarations — included in the quote.

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