How to Register a Drone with the FAA

Registering a drone takes about as long as buying something online, but a few choices along the way matter more than they look. Everything below comes from the FAA's How to Register Your Drone page and 14 CFR Part 48.

Does your drone need to be registered?

The FAA says all drones must be registered except those that weigh 0.55 pounds or less (under 250 grams) and are flown under the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations. A Part 107 flight needs a registered drone whatever it weighs. Under §48.25, the owner registers, and if the owner is under 13, someone 13 or older must register it for them.

Part 107 or recreational: which registration?

The FAA is explicit that drones registered under the recreational exception cannot be flown under Part 107, and that a registration cannot be transferred between the two. If you will ever fly for work, register under Part 107. The YouTube post covers where that line falls for creators.

What do you need to register?

The FAA lists:

• your physical address, and mailing address if different,
• email address and phone number,
• the drone's make and model,
• the Remote ID serial number from the manufacturer, if the drone has standard Remote ID or you use a broadcast module,
• a credit or debit card.

The FAA also says registrants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents; for foreign operators, the certificate is treated as a recognition of ownership. Registration is done online at FAADroneZone, for drones under 55 pounds.

How do you mark the drone?

Under §48.205, the registration number must be legibly displayed on an external surface of the drone, attached so that it stays on for the whole flight. A label or engraving on the outside of the airframe works; inside the battery compartment does not.

What do you carry when you fly?

The FAA says you must have the registration certificate, paper or digital, in your possession when you fly, and anyone else flying your drone must have it too. Federal law requires you to show it to any federal, state or local law enforcement officer who asks. A Part 107 pilot also carries the remote pilot certificate and photo ID, as the certificate post explains.

Registration is step one of a one-time setup; the legal drone flight plan lists the rest, from the TRUST certificate to the two-minute check before takeoff.

When does it expire?

After 3 years under §48.100. You renew through FAADroneZone. The renewal date calculator handles the separate 24-month recency for your pilot certificate.

Flying a mini drone? The sub-250 gram post explains when the 0.55-pound exemption applies, and visitors from abroad should read flying a drone in the US as a visitor.