Drone rules · United States
United States
In the United States, drones of 250 g (0.55 lb) and above must be registered with the FAA and broadcast Remote ID. Recreational flyers pass the free TRUST test; anyone flying for work needs a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Stay at or below 400 ft AGL, keep the aircraft in sight, and get LAANC authorization before flying in controlled airspace.
Key points
- Registration
- 250 g (0.55 lb) and above, at FAADroneZone. $5 for three years. Mark the registration number on the aircraft
- Remote ID
- Required for registered aircraft since September 16, 2023: built-in, a broadcast module, or fly only in a FRIA
- Recreational
- Pass TRUST (free, online), follow a community-based organization's safety guidelines, carry proof
- Commercial
- Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate: aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA testing center, recurrent online training every 24 months
- Altitude
- 400 ft above ground level (Part 107 allows higher within 400 ft of a structure)
- Airspace
- Class B, C, D and surface E need authorization: LAANC through an approved app, near-real-time
- Night and over people
- Allowed under Part 107 with an anti-collision light and, over people, an aircraft that meets a category. Beyond visual line of sight needs a waiver
- Visitors
- Foreign nationals register the aircraft the same way. Part 107 is open to non-citizens
Before you fly
- 1Weigh the aircraft: 250 g or more means registration
- 2Register at FAADroneZone and mark the number on the aircraft
- 3Recreation: pass TRUST. Work: earn the Part 107 certificate
- 4Check the airspace in an FAA-approved app; request LAANC if it is controlled
- 5Fly under 400 ft, within sight, with Remote ID broadcasting
Sources
Authority：Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ↗
This is an overview, not the regulation. Numbers and procedures change; confirm with the FAA before you fly.Last checked: 2026-09-26