The invention discloses a high-precision radioactive source search positioning system and method based on a civil small unmanned aerial vehicle. The positioning system comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle module and a ground workstation module in wireless communication connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle module, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle module comprises one or more unmanned aerial vehicles, the unmanned aerial vehicle is provided with a gamma dose rate quick response measuring instrument, a height measurement and obstacle avoidance unit, a high-precision positioning unit, a liquid spraying unit and a remote data transmission and control unit, the gamma dose rate quick response measuring instrument, the height measurement and obstacle avoidance unit, the high-precision positioning unit and the liquid spraying unit are respectively in communication connection with the remote data transmission and control unit; and the ground work station module comprises terminal equipment, and the terminal equipment is in communication connection with the remote data transmission and control unit. The system has the advantages of being good in maneuverability, high in environmental adaptability, good in flight safety, high in source searching sensitivity and accuracy and the like, a warning area can be automatically delimited, and the radiation exposure dose of workers is reduced to the maximum extent.