US drone rules & registration, in plain English

Updated October 27, 2026. Every rule below links to the FAA (or FCC) page it comes from. Rules change, so always confirm on faa.gov before you fly. This is not legal advice.

This hub covers what every US drone flyer needs before takeoff: which rules apply to you, the TRUST test, FAA registration, Remote ID, and how to check where you’re allowed to fly. If you’re brand new, start with the Start Here page and come back for the detail.

Which rules apply to you?

There are currently two sets of rules for drones under 55 pounds (FAA):

	Recreational (49 U.S.C. 44809)	Part 107 (14 CFR Part 107)
Who	Flying purely for fun or personal enjoyment	Everything else: business, paid work, volunteer or “goodwill” flights for an organization
Knowledge requirement	Pass the free TRUST test and carry proof	Pass the FAA knowledge test and hold a Remote Pilot Certificate
Registration	Required at 250 g (0.55 lb) or more; $5 covers all your drones for 3 years	Required for every drone regardless of weight; $5 per drone for 3 years
Remote ID	Required if the drone is registered or must be	Required if the drone is registered or must be

Being unpaid doesn’t automatically make a flight recreational. The FAA says, “When in doubt, assume Part 107.” For the commercial path, see our Part 107 hub.

The rules for recreational flyers

Under the recreational exception, the FAA lists these requirements (source):

1. Fly only for recreational purposes.
2. Follow the safety guidelines of an FAA-recognized community-based organization (CBO).
3. Keep the drone within your visual line of sight, or use a visual observer standing next to you and in direct communication with you.
4. Give way to, and don’t interfere with, other aircraft.
5. In controlled airspace (Class B, C, D and surface Class E around airports), fly only with prior FAA authorization through LAANC or DroneZone, and at or below the authorized altitude.
6. Fly at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled (Class G) airspace.
7. Pass TRUST and carry proof.
8. Have a current FAA registration (if required), mark the drone on the outside, and carry proof of registration.
9. Don’t operate in a way that endangers the safety of the national airspace system.

More detail: US Drone Rules in Plain English · How High Can Drones Fly? · Night flying rules

TRUST: the free recreational test

The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) is the aeronautical knowledge and safety test the law requires for recreational flyers (FAA TRUST page). What to know:

• It’s free and online, offered through FAA-approved test administrators (the FAA lists them, including the Academy of Model Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle, Pilot Institute and UAV Coach).
• Every question is correctable to 100% before you get your certificate.
• Download, save, or print the certificate. Administrators don’t keep a record, so if you lose it you have to retake TRUST.
• Carry it (paper or digital) when you fly and show it if law enforcement or the FAA asks.

TRUST is for recreational flying only. It does not let you fly for work.

FAA drone registration

All drones must be registered except those under 250 grams (0.55 lb) flown under the recreational exception (FAA registration page).

• Where: FAADroneZone, the only official site. Third-party sites that charge more aren’t needed.
• Cost: $5. A recreational registration covers every drone in your inventory. Part 107 is $5 per drone. Both last three years.
• Who: you must be 13 or older (an adult registers for younger owners) and a US citizen or legal permanent resident. Foreign visitors get a recognition of ownership instead.
• What you need: addresses, email, phone, the drone’s make and model, its Remote ID serial number if it has one, and a card.
• After: label the outside of the drone with your registration number and carry the certificate (paper or digital).

A recreational registration can’t be used for Part 107 flights, and registrations can’t be transferred between the two. Full walk-through: How to Register Your Drone.

Remote ID

Remote ID is a broadcast of the drone’s identification and location (and the control station or takeoff location) that others can receive. Drones that are registered, or required to be, must comply, whether flown for fun or for work (FAA Remote ID page). There are three ways to comply:

1. Fly a Standard Remote ID drone with the broadcast built in.
2. Attach a Remote ID broadcast module to an older drone. You must keep the drone in sight at all times.
3. Fly without Remote ID only inside an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA), within visual line of sight.

When you register, you enter the Remote ID serial number. Check the FAA’s Declaration of Compliance list to confirm your drone or module is accepted. More: Remote ID Explained for Beginners.

Where can I fly? B4UFLY and LAANC

It’s on you as the pilot to know where flying is allowed (FAA: Where Can I Fly?).

• B4UFLY: the FAA’s B4UFLY service is provided through FAA-approved companies’ apps and websites (currently Airspace Link, Aloft, AutoPylot, Avision, FlightLoop and UASidekick). They show controlled airspace, special-use airspace, temporary flight restrictions, national parks and more, plus a clear fly / don’t-fly status (FAA B4UFLY page).
• LAANC: to fly in controlled airspace near airports (at or below 400 feet), you need authorization first. LAANC, through FAA-approved UAS Service Suppliers, gives near-real-time approvals at hundreds of airports and is available to both recreational flyers and Part 107 pilots (FAA LAANC page). LAANC covers airspace only, so you still check NOTAMs, weather, and other restrictions.
• Never fly over or near emergency response activity, in a temporary flight restriction, or in prohibited areas such as the Washington, D.C. Special Flight Rules Area without specific approval.
• Local rules: state and local laws and property rules (for example, many parks) can add restrictions on where you take off and land.

What’s changing

• BVLOS (Part 108): the FAA’s proposed rule for routine beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights was published in August 2025. As of late October 2026 the final rule has not been published, so nothing has changed for beginners yet.
• Foreign-made drones: since December 22, 2025, new foreign-made drone models can’t receive FCC authorization. Previously authorized models can still be sold and flown, and drones you own are unaffected (FCC FAQ).

Guides in this section

• Do You Need a License to Fly a Drone?
• How to Register Your Drone with the FAA
• Remote ID Explained for Beginners
• US Drone Rules in Plain English
• How High Can Drones Fly?
• Flying a Drone at Night

Sources

• FAA: Recreational Flyers & Community-Based Organizations
• FAA: The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST)
• FAA: How to Register Your Drone
• FAA: Remote Identification of Drones
• FAA: B4UFLY
• FAA: UAS Data Exchange (LAANC)
• FCC: Covered List FAQs for UAS