Do I Need a Part 107 License?

Short Answer:

If you fly a drone for any purpose other than recreational enjoyment, you generally need an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. This includes activities such as real estate photography, roof inspections, construction progress, agricultural surveys, mapping, paid photography, and creating content for a business or YouTube channel (some might say it needs to generate revenue – we would advise to get the certification regardless).

The official FAA regulations can be found here:

• FAA Small UAS Rule (Part 107): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107
• FAA Part 107 Overview: https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators

When Do You Need a Part 107 License?

The FAA separates drone flights into two broad categories:

1. Recreational flying
2. Non-recreational flying

If your flight is not purely for recreation, you generally need a Part 107 certificate.

Recreational Flying

You typically do not need a Part 107 certificate if you are flying only for your own personal enjoyment.

Examples include:

• Flying around your backyard for fun
• Practicing drone flying
• Taking vacation photos for personal memories
• Exploring parks or open fields where drone flights are permitted

These flights must still follow FAA recreational drone rules, including Remote ID requirements (when applicable), airspace restrictions, and safety guidelines.