[javascript] Google Maps v3 - limit viewable area and zoom level

is it possible to limit Google map v3 to a certain area? I want to allow displaying only some area (e.g. a country) and disallow the user to slide elsewhere. Also I want to restrict the zoom level - e.g. only between levels 6 and 9. And I want to use all the base map types.

Is there any way to achieve this?

I had a partial success with limiting zoom level by using StyledMap, but I succeeded only with restricting ROADMAP, I wasn't able to limit zoom on other basic types this way.

Thanks for any help

This question is related to javascript google-maps google-maps-api-3

The answer is


myOptions = {
        center: myLatlng,
        minZoom: 6,
        maxZoom: 9,
        styles: customStyles,
        mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP
    };

For some reason

if (strictBounds.contains(map.getCenter())) return;

didnt work for me (maybe a southern hemisphere issue). I had to change it to:

    function checkBounds() {
        var c = map.getCenter(),
            x = c.lng(),
            y = c.lat(),
            maxX = strictBounds.getNorthEast().lng(),
            maxY = strictBounds.getNorthEast().lat(),
            minX = strictBounds.getSouthWest().lng(),
            minY = strictBounds.getSouthWest().lat();

        if(x < minX || x > maxX || y < minY || y > maxY) {
            if (x < minX) x = minX;
            if (x > maxX) x = maxX;
            if (y < minY) y = minY;
            if (y > maxY) y = maxY;
            map.setCenter(new google.maps.LatLng(y, x));
        }
    }

Hope it will help someone.


As of middle 2016, there is no official way to restrict viewable area. Most of ad-hoc solutions to restrict the bounds have a flaw though, because they don't restrict the bounds exactly to fit the map view, they only restrict it if the center of the map is out of the specified bounds. If you want to restrict the bounds to overlaying image like me, this can result in a behavior like illustrated below, where the underlaying map is visible under our image overlay:

enter image description here

To tackle this issue, I have created a library, which successfully restrict the bounds so you cannot pan out of the overlay.

However, as other existing solutions, it has a "vibrating" issue. When the user pans the map aggressively enough, after they release the left mouse button, the map still continues panning by itself, gradually slowing. I always return the map back to the bounds, but that results in kind of vibrating. This panning effect cannot be stopped with any means provided by the Js API at the moment. It seems that until google adds support for something like map.stopPanningAnimation() we won't be able to create a smooth experience.

Example using the mentioned library, the smoothest strict bounds experience I was able to get:

_x000D_
_x000D_
function initialise(){_x000D_
  _x000D_
  var myOptions = {_x000D_
     zoom: 5,_x000D_
     center: new google.maps.LatLng(0,0),_x000D_
     mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP,_x000D_
  };_x000D_
  var map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById('map'), myOptions);_x000D_
  _x000D_
  addStrictBoundsImage(map);_x000D_
}_x000D_
_x000D_
function addStrictBoundsImage(map){_x000D_
 var bounds = new google.maps.LatLngBounds(_x000D_
  new google.maps.LatLng(62.281819, -150.287132),_x000D_
  new google.maps.LatLng(62.400471, -150.005608));_x000D_
_x000D_
 var image_src = 'https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/' +_x000D_
  'javascript/examples/full/images/talkeetna.png';_x000D_
_x000D_
 var strict_bounds_image = new StrictBoundsImage(bounds, image_src, map);_x000D_
}
_x000D_
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.google.com/jsapi"></script>_x000D_
      <script type="text/javascript">_x000D_
        google.load("maps", "3",{other_params:"sensor=false"});_x000D_
      </script>_x000D_
<body style="margin:0px; padding:0px;" onload="initialise()">_x000D_
  <div id="map" style="height:400px; width:500px;"></div>_x000D_
     <script  type="text/javascript"src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/matej-pavla/StrictBoundsImage/master/StrictBoundsImage.js"></script>_x000D_
</body>
_x000D_
_x000D_
_x000D_

The library is also able to calculate the minimum zoom restriction automatically. It then restricts the zoom level using minZoom map's attribute.

Hopefully this helps someone who wants a solution which fully respect the given boundaries and doesn't want to allow panning out of them.


This may be helpful.

  var myOptions = {
      center: new google.maps.LatLng($lat,$lang),
      zoom: 7,
      disableDefaultUI: true,
      mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP
    };

The Zoom level can be customizable according to the requirement.


Better way to restrict zoom level might be to use the minZoom/maxZoom options rather than reacting to events?

var opt = { minZoom: 6, maxZoom: 9 };
map.setOptions(opt);

Or the options can be specified during map initialization, e.g.:

var map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById('map-canvas'), opt);

See: Google Maps JavaScript API V3 Reference


Good news. Starting from the version 3.35 of Maps JavaScript API, that was launched on February 14, 2019, you can use new restriction option in order to limit the viewport of the map.

According to the documentation

MapRestriction interface

A restriction that can be applied to the Map. The map's viewport will not exceed these restrictions.

source: https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/reference/map#MapRestriction

So, now you just add restriction option during a map initialization and that it. Have a look at the following example that limits viewport to Switzerland

_x000D_
_x000D_
var map;
function initMap() {
  map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById('map'), {
    center: {lat: 46.818188, lng: 8.227512},
    minZoom: 7,
    maxZoom: 14,
    zoom: 7,
    restriction: {
      latLngBounds: {
        east: 10.49234,
        north: 47.808455,
        south: 45.81792,
        west: 5.95608
      },
      strictBounds: true
    },
  });
}
_x000D_
#map {
  height: 100%;
}
html, body {
  height: 100%;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}
_x000D_
<div id="map"></div>
<script src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=AIzaSyDztlrk_3CnzGHo7CFvLFqE_2bUKEq1JEU&callback=initMap" async defer></script>
_x000D_
_x000D_
_x000D_

I hope this helps!


Here's my variant to solve the problem of viewable area's limitation.

        google.maps.event.addListener(this.map, 'idle', function() {
            var minLat = strictBounds.getSouthWest().lat();
            var minLon = strictBounds.getSouthWest().lng();
            var maxLat = strictBounds.getNorthEast().lat();
            var maxLon = strictBounds.getNorthEast().lng();
            var cBounds  = self.map.getBounds();
            var cMinLat = cBounds.getSouthWest().lat();
            var cMinLon = cBounds.getSouthWest().lng();
            var cMaxLat = cBounds.getNorthEast().lat();
            var cMaxLon = cBounds.getNorthEast().lng();
            var centerLat = self.map.getCenter().lat();
            var centerLon = self.map.getCenter().lng();

            if((cMaxLat - cMinLat > maxLat - minLat) || (cMaxLon - cMinLon > maxLon - minLon))
            {   //We can't position the canvas to strict borders with a current zoom level
                self.map.setZoomLevel(self.map.getZoomLevel()+1);
                return;
            }
            if(cMinLat < minLat)
                var newCenterLat = minLat + ((cMaxLat-cMinLat) / 2);
            else if(cMaxLat > maxLat)
                var newCenterLat = maxLat - ((cMaxLat-cMinLat) / 2);
            else
                var newCenterLat = centerLat;
            if(cMinLon < minLon)
                var newCenterLon = minLon + ((cMaxLon-cMinLon) / 2);
            else if(cMaxLon > maxLon)
                var newCenterLon = maxLon - ((cMaxLon-cMinLon) / 2);
            else
                var newCenterLon = centerLon;

            if(newCenterLat != centerLat || newCenterLon != centerLon)
                self.map.setCenter(new google.maps.LatLng(newCenterLat, newCenterLon));
        });

strictBounds is an object of new google.maps.LatLngBounds() type. self.gmap stores a Google Map object (new google.maps.Map()).

It really works but don't only forget to take into account the haemorrhoids with crossing 0th meridians and parallels if your bounds cover them.


To limit the zoom on v.3+. in your map setting add default zoom level and minZoom or maxZoom (or both if required) zoom levels are 0 to 19. You must declare deafult zoom level if limitation is required. all are case sensitive!

function initialize() {
   var mapOptions = {
      maxZoom:17,
      minZoom:15,
      zoom:15,
      ....

One solution is like, If you know the specific lat/lng.

google.maps.event.addListener(map, 'idle', function() {

    map.setCenter(new google.maps.LatLng(latitude, longitude));
    map.setZoom(8);

});

If don't have specific lat/lng

google.maps.event.addListener(map, 'idle', function() {

    map.setCenter(map.getCenter());
    map.setZoom(8);

});

or

google.maps.event.addListener(map, 'idle', function() {

    var bounds = new google.maps.LatLngBounds();
    map.setCenter(bounds.getCenter());
    map.setZoom(8);

});

This can be used to re-center the map to a specific location. Which is what I needed.

    var MapBounds = new google.maps.LatLngBounds(
    new google.maps.LatLng(35.676263, 13.949096),
    new google.maps.LatLng(36.204391, 14.89038));

    google.maps.event.addListener(GoogleMap, 'dragend', function ()
    {
        if (MapBounds.contains(GoogleMap.getCenter()))
        {
            return;
        }
        else
        {
            GoogleMap.setCenter(new google.maps.LatLng(35.920242, 14.428825));
        }
    });

Much better way to limit the range... used the contains logic from above poster.

var dragStartCenter;

google.maps.event.addListener(map, 'dragstart', function(){
                                       dragStartCenter = map.getCenter();
                                         });

google.maps.event.addListener(this.googleMap, 'dragend', function(){
                            if (mapBounds.contains(map.getCenter())) return;
                    map.setCenter(this.dragStart);
                           });

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