FAA Drone Registration Requirements: Fees, Marking, and Exceptions (2026)

Federal law requires drones weighing 0.55 pounds (250 grams) or more to be registered with the FAA before their first outdoor flight. Registration costs $5 per drone, is valid for 3 years, and is completed online at FAADroneZone. The requirement comes from the federal aircraft registration statutes (49 U.S.C. §§44101-44104) and the FAA's registration rule for small unmanned aircraft (14 CFR Part 48), and §107.13 applies it to Part 107 operations. Here are the current rules for 2026.

Who Must Register

• Drones from 0.55 lb (250 g) up to 55 lb (25 kg) are registered under 14 CFR Part 48 through FAADroneZone.
• Drones over 55 lb follow the standard aircraft registration process under 14 CFR Part 47.
• Under Part 107, the small UAS must be registered regardless of weight, per §107.13.
• Drones under 0.55 lb flown only under the recreational exception (49 U.S.C. §44809) are not required to register.

When in doubt, assume Part 107 applies: nearly all non-recreational flying falls under it, and registration is mandatory before flight.

Cost, Validity, and FAADroneZone

Registration is handled online at FAADroneZone and costs $5 per drone, valid for 3 years.

• For Part 107 operations, you register each aircraft individually: $5 per drone.
• For recreational flyers, one $5 registration covers all the drones in your inventory.
• Registration cannot be transferred between operation types: a drone registered for recreational flying cannot be flown under Part 107 under that registration.

You receive a registration certificate and a registration number immediately. Mark your renewal date: registration expires after 3 years and must be renewed before you fly again.

Marking Your Drone

The FAA requires your registration number to be displayed on the exterior of the drone, visible and legible from a reasonable distance. Carry proof of registration, either a paper certificate or an electronic copy, whenever you fly, and present it if asked by law enforcement or FAA personnel.

The 250-Gram Threshold

0.55 pounds equals 250 grams. Manufacturers publish drone weights, but some drones marketed as sub-250 gram models still exceed the limit once propellers and a battery are installed. If in doubt, weigh your drone fully assembled before deciding whether registration applies.

Recreational vs. Commercial Registration

Registration uses the same system and the same fee for both, but the operating rules differ. Recreational flyers operate under the exception in 49 U.S.C. §44809 and must hold a TRUST certificate, while commercial and other non-recreational operations require a Part 107 remote pilot certificate. A drone under 250 grams flown only recreationally skips registration, but it still must follow the rules: TRUST, airspace restrictions, and safe operating practices apply to every drone.

Registration and Remote ID

Registration and Remote ID are separate requirements, but they are linked. Since September 16, 2023, drones that must be registered must also broadcast Remote ID under 14 CFR Part 89, unless flown within a Federally Recognized Identification Area (FRIA). Both are managed through your FAADroneZone account. Registering a drone does not automatically make it Remote ID compliant: check that your drone broadcasts Remote ID or has a broadcast module installed.

Stay Compliant

Registration is one of the first steps in the sky107.com study checklist. The practice question bank covers registration and Remote ID questions in the official exam format, and the FAQ answers common certification questions. See the pricing page for study plans, and check the Remote ID guide, the study guide, and the recurrent training guide.