Registration guide · 5 min read · Updated September 2026

How to Register a Drone with FAA DroneZone

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Who needs to register

Part 107: register each aircraft individually, regardless of its weight.

Recreational flying: an aircraft under 250 grams may be exempt when flown exclusively under the limited recreational exception. At 250 grams or more, register it. Count the aircraft as flown, including equipment attached to it. A recreational registration cannot be used for Part 107 operations.

Choose the registration category and register

Use FAA DroneZone to register an eligible aircraft. The FAA currently lists a $5 fee for each Part 107 aircraft, valid for three years. Recreational registration currently costs $5, covers the owner’s recreational inventory, and is valid for three years. Fees and instructions can change, so confirm them in DroneZone before payment.

For online registration through DroneZone, the aircraft must weigh less than 55 pounds. Aircraft at or above that limit and some ownership situations, including trustee-owned aircraft, may require the FAA aircraft registry’s separate process. Follow the FAA’s current registry instructions for those cases. You do not need a Part 107 pilot certificate merely to register an aircraft.

Save the certificate and mark the aircraft

After registration is issued, save or print the registration certificate. Keep a paper or digital copy available when flying, and provide it to another person operating your aircraft. Before operating, mark the aircraft with its registration number on an exterior surface. The marking must be legible, secured, and maintained. Registration issuance and aircraft marking are separate requirements; having a number in an account does not replace marking the aircraft.

Meet applicable Remote ID requirements

Aircraft that are registered or required to be registered must follow applicable Remote ID requirements, subject to FAA exceptions or authorizations. Common compliance paths include an aircraft with Standard Remote ID, a compliant broadcast module, or operating without Remote ID equipment inside an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA).

A broadcast module must be an eligible model covered by an FAA-accepted Declaration of Compliance, installed and used as required, and associated with the aircraft’s registration as directed by the FAA. For Part 107 operations, each aircraft must be registered individually and receives its own registration number. A Remote ID broadcast module is not registered on its own: its serial number is listed on the registration of the drone it is used with (14 CFR 48.110(a)(7)). Recreational inventory treatment is different, so follow the instructions for the type of operation you are registering. A generic product listing does not establish compliance. Confirm a model against the FAA’s current compliance information before buying. When using a FRIA, keep the aircraft and the person manipulating its controls inside the FRIA and maintain visual line of sight.

Remote ID transmits specified aircraft or module identification and flight data. It does not broadcast the operator’s name or home address. Standard Remote ID reports the control-station location; a broadcast module reports its takeoff location. Review the FAA’s FAA: Remote ID guidance and accepted compliance information before operating.

If you buy, sell, or transfer a drone

A seller’s registration does not transfer to the buyer. The buyer should register the aircraft under the category for the planned operation and apply the correct marking. Remove or fully cover the previous owner’s marking so that only the applicable current marking is displayed. The seller should update, remove, or cancel the aircraft entry in DroneZone as directed by the FAA for that registration type.

Keep registrations valid whenever you operate an aircraft that requires registration. If a registration expires, renew it before flying again. Ownership alone does not mean you must keep an aircraft continuously registered while it is not being operated.

Before you fly

Use this short check:

1. Confirm whether the flight is recreational or under Part 107.
2. Verify that the aircraft is registered in the correct category, if required.
3. Save the registration certificate and mark the aircraft’s exterior.
4. Check Remote ID requirements and the current status of any equipment or exception you rely on.
5. Check the airspace, restrictions, and other operating rules for the location and flight.

The FAA can take enforcement action for failing to register when registration is required. The FAA ended its temporary discretionary enforcement policy for Remote ID in March 2024; this guide does not predict how the agency will handle an individual case.

Common questions

How much does drone registration cost?

The FAA currently lists $5 for each Part 107 aircraft, valid for three years. Recreational registration currently costs $5, covers the owner’s recreational inventory, and is valid for three years. Verify the fee in DroneZone before paying.

Does one registration cover every drone?

For recreational flying, one registration covers the owner’s recreational inventory. Under Part 107, each aircraft must be registered individually. The aircraft must be registered for the operation being conducted; recreational-only registration does not cover a Part 107 flight.

Can I fly as soon as I get a registration number?

A registration number alone is not flight authorization. Before flying, have a valid registration certificate available, mark the aircraft as required, and meet the applicable pilot, Remote ID, airspace, and operating requirements.

Do I need a remote pilot certificate to register?

No. Aircraft registration and pilot certification are separate processes. You need the appropriate pilot qualification to conduct a Part 107 flight, but it is not a prerequisite merely to register an aircraft.

What should I do if I sell a registered drone?

The buyer cannot use the seller’s registration. The buyer should register the aircraft for the intended operation and apply the correct marking. The seller should update or remove the aircraft from the relevant DroneZone record as instructed by the FAA.

Does Remote ID tell the public who I am?

Remote ID broadcasts specified identification and flight data, not your name or home address. Standard Remote ID includes the control-station location; a broadcast module includes the module’s takeoff location. Follow the FAA’s current requirements for the equipment and operation.

Can any broadcast module make my drone compliant?

No. Check that the exact model is covered by an FAA-accepted Declaration of Compliance, install and operate it as required, and enter its serial number in the applicable registration record. Confirm the current FAA compliance listing before purchasing.

Gear mentioned on this page

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. This never affects which products we recommend or what the practice questions say. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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  Remote ID broadcast modules

  If your drone does not have Standard Remote ID built in, you can comply with a broadcast module covered by an FAA-accepted Declaration of Compliance, installed and working, with its serial number entered in your DroneZone record, and with the drone flown within visual line of sight. Check the FAA's accepted declarations before buying; not every search result qualifies.
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Reviewed and updated September 2026.

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