How to Register Your Drone With The FAA

Basic Requirements

The FAA requires registration of drones that satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

• The drone weighs more than .55 lbs (8.8 ounces), regardless of what it is used for. Even if you are only operating a drone in your backyard for fun, if the drone weighs 10 ounces, it must be registered. Most commercially-available drones weigh more than 9 ounces. See FAR 48.15
• The drone is operated under Part 107 (other than for purely recreational or hobby purposes), regardless of weight. See FAR 91.203 and 107.13

How To Register Your Drone

Drone registration is as easy as submitting an application to the FAA online on their website. Beware of scammers that allege to be an "official FAA drone registration support site," such as federaldroneregistration. These websites are not government websites, and their services consist of nothing more than filling out the online form on your behalf in exchange for a fee.

Note that the following drones must be registered under the traditional aircraft registration process, and may not be registered online:

• Drones that weigh 55 pounds or more
• Drones owned by a trustee under a trust agreement
• Drones where the owner uses a voting trust to meet U.S. Citizenship requirements

Cost of Drone Registration

Registration costs $5 per drone and is valid for 3 years.

Drone Markings

After registering your drone, you will receive a registration number that must be attached to the exterior of your drone. After February 25, 2019, the registration number may not be placed inside of the battery compartment, and must be visible on the outside of the drone.

FAA Drone Registration Regulations

14 CFR 48.15 Requirement to register.

No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft that is eligible for registration under 49 U.S.C. 44101-44103 unless one of the following criteria has been satisfied:

(a) The owner has registered and marked the aircraft in accordance with this part;

(b) The aircraft weighs 0.55 pounds or less on takeoff, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft; or

(c) The aircraft is an aircraft of the Armed Forces of the United States.

48.200 General.

(a) No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft registered in accordance with this part unless the aircraft displays a unique identifier in accordance with the requirements of 48.205 of this subpart.

(b) A unique identifier is one of the following:

(1) The registration number issued to an individual or the registration number issued to the aircraft by the Registry upon completion of the registration process provided by this part; or

(2) If authorized by the Administrator and provided with the application for Certificate of Aircraft Registration under 48.100 of this part, the small unmanned aircraft serial number.

48.205 Display and location of unique identifier.

(a) The unique identifier must be maintained in a condition that is legible.

(b) The unique identifier must be affixed to the small unmanned aircraft by any means necessary to ensure that it will remain affixed for the duration of each operation.

(c) The unique identifier must be legibly displayed on an external surface of the small unmanned aircraft.

14 CFR 107.13 Registration.

A person operating a civil small unmanned aircraft system for purposes of flight must comply with the provisions of 91.203(a)(2) of this chapter.

14 CFR 91.203 Civil aircraft: Certifications required.

(a) Except as provided in § 91.715, no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it has within it the following:

. . .

(2) An effective U.S. registration certificate issued to its owner or, for operation within the United States, the second copy of the Aircraft registration Application as provided for in § 47.31(c), a Certificate of Aircraft registration as provided in part 48, or a registration certification issued under the laws of a foreign country.