First widespread misconception: no, you do not own the air above your land. Airspace belongs to the State. That does not mean you have no rights — it means your rights flow through other channels: privacy, image, security, aviation regulations.
What the law says
In France, an overflight is not forbidden by default. The uses can be: capturing images without consent, infringing on privacy (article 9 of the Civil Code), overflying specifically forbidden zones (prefectural order, listed sites, height > 120 m), or breaching visual line of sight rules.
As a resident or operator, you therefore have two levers: privacy and image protection, and respect for restricted zones.
Document, never act physically
Faced with an intrusive overflight, the doctrine is simple: never act physically on the drone (no shotguns, no thrown objects, no attempt to jam). Document: time, position, duration, pictures if possible, witnesses. If you have a DECTYR RX-5, the trajectory and Remote ID identifier will be logged automatically.
Engage the authorities
Three complementary channels: file a complaint with law enforcement, report the aviation breach to the DGAC (zone, altitude), engage the data protection authority for privacy infringements if pictures circulate. For professional sites, your prefectural security advisor is a direct channel.
Technical deterrence
Without acting on the drone, you can raise the cost of intrusion: visible "drone detection in progress" signage, public UAS policy, contractual rules with audiovisual contractors banning unauthorised overflights. A visible detector, even passive, deters a significant share of amateur pilots.
FAQ
Can I destroy a drone flying over me?
No. Destroying a third-party drone is legally and financially risky (damage, harm to property, public danger). Document — do not destroy.
Can I ban drones from my land?
You can ban take-off and landing from your land (property right). You cannot, however, ban a pure overflight — unless you obtain a motivated prefectural order.
What if the drone captures images of my family?
File a privacy complaint (article 9 of the French Civil Code) and notify the data protection authority. Evidence from a detector (trajectory, identifier) is operationally valuable for the investigation.