FAA Compliance
Commercial drone operations in the United States involve more than obtaining a Remote Pilot Certificate. Depending on the mission, operators may also need to register aircraft, comply with Remote ID requirements, obtain airspace authorization, follow FAA Part 107 operating limitations, maintain required records, or obtain a waiver for advanced operations.
This resource center brings together practical guides covering the most common FAA compliance topics for commercial drone operations. Whether you are preparing for your first commercial flight or reviewing an existing compliance process, these articles explain the federal requirements that commonly apply under FAA Part 107.
Use the guides below to find the topic relevant to your operation.
| # | Article | Primary role |
| 1 | FAA Part 107 Compliance Guide for Commercial Drone Operations | Pillar / broad compliance |
| 2 | When Do You Need an FAA Part 107 Certificate? | Applicability |
| 3 | How to Get an FAA Part 107 Drone License | Pilot certification |
| 4 | FAA Drone Registration and Remote ID Requirements for Commercial Operators | Aircraft compliance |
| 5 | FAA Part 107 Operating Limits: Altitude, Speed, VLOS, Weather, and Night Flights | Flight rules |
| 6 | How to Get LAANC Authorization for Commercial Drone Flights | Controlled airspace |
| 7 | FAA Rules for Flying Drones Over People and Moving Vehicles | Operations over people |
| 8 | FAA Part 107 Waivers: BVLOS and Advanced Drone Operations | Advanced operations |
| 9 | FAA Drone Accident Reporting and Compliance Recordkeeping | Reporting and records |
| 10 | Do You Need an LLC or Drone Insurance for a Commercial Drone Business? | Business / risk management |
Agricultural Drone Operations
Agricultural drone operations can involve additional requirements beyond the standard Part 107 rules that apply to mapping, monitoring, photography, and other commercial flights.
Using a drone to dispense pesticides, fertilizers, seeds, or other materials may require an FAA Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate. Larger agricultural drones may also fall outside the standard Part 107 framework when their total takeoff weight reaches 55 pounds or more. Pesticide applications are additionally governed by EPA requirements, product labeling, and state-specific licensing rules.
Use the guides below to determine which aviation, pesticide, and operating requirements apply to your agricultural drone operation.
FAA Part 137 Requirements for Agricultural Drone Operations
Learn when Part 137 applies to drone spraying and dispensing operations, how the certification process works, and which FAA approvals may be required before beginning commercial agricultural applications.
Read the Part 137 Guide
Agricultural Drone Spraying Laws: FAA, EPA, and State Requirements
Understand how FAA aviation rules, EPA pesticide requirements, product labels, applicator licensing, and state regulations interact during agricultural drone spraying operations.
Read the Drone Spraying Laws Guide
Agricultural Drones Over 55 Pounds: Exemptions and Operating Requirements
Review the authorization path for agricultural drones weighing 55 pounds or more at takeoff, including Section 44807 exemptions, aircraft registration, Part 137 certification, and applicable operating limitations.
Read the Heavy Agricultural Drone Guide
How to Choose an Agricultural Drone for Mapping, Monitoring, and Spraying
Compare agricultural drone systems by mission type, payload, coverage requirements, sensing capabilities, spray capacity, regulatory path, and operational support.
Read the Agricultural Drone Buying Guide
| # | Article | Primary role |
| 11 | FAA Part 137 Requirements for Agricultural Drone Operations | Pillar: spraying and dispensing compliance |
| 12 | Agricultural Drone Spraying Laws: FAA, EPA, and State Requirements | Pesticide application regulatory framework |
| 13 | Agricultural Drones Over 55 Pounds: Exemptions and Operating Requirements | Heavy agricultural UAS compliance |
| 14 | How to Choose an Agricultural Drone for Mapping, Monitoring, and Spraying | Commercial buying guide |
Official FAA & Federal Resources
Core Part 107 Regulations
14 CFR Part 107 — Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
14 CFR Part 107 Subpart B — Operating Rules
14 CFR Part 107 Subpart C — Remote Pilot Certification
14 CFR Part 107 Subpart D — Operations Over Human Beings
14 CFR Part 107 Subpart E — Waivers
14 CFR §107.7 — Inspection, Testing, and Demonstration of Compliance
14 CFR §107.9 — Safety Event Reporting
14 CFR §107.41 — Operation in Certain Airspace
Pilot Certification and Commercial Operations
FAA — Certificated Remote Pilots Including Commercial Operators
FAA — Become a Certificated Remote Pilot
FAA — Recreational Flyers and Non-Recreational Operations
FAA — Information for International UAS Operators
Registration and Remote ID
FAA — How to Register Your Drone
14 CFR Part 48 — Registration and Marking Requirements
14 CFR §48.205 — Display and Location of Unique Identifier
FAA — Remote Identification of Drones
14 CFR Part 89 — Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft
Airspace and LAANC
FAA — UAS Data Exchange and LAANC
FAA — Part 107 Airspace Authorizations
Operations Over People and Moving Vehicles
FAA — Operations Over People General Overview
14 CFR Part 107 Subpart D — Operations Over Human Beings
FAA — Remote Identification of Drones
Part 107 Waivers and BVLOS
14 CFR Part 107 Subpart E — Waivers
Federal Register — Proposed Part 108 BVLOS Rule
Agricultural UAS and Part 137
FAA — Dispensing Chemicals and Agricultural Products (Part 137) with UAS
FAA — Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operations Certification
14 CFR Part 137 — Agricultural Aircraft Operations
14 CFR Part 91 — General Operating and Flight Rules
FAA — Special Authority for Certain UAS (Section 44807)
FAA AIM — Airspace Access for Part 135 and Part 137 UAS
FAA Notice N 8900.773 — Part 137 UAS Certification Policy
Pesticide Application and Worker Safety
EPA — Introduction to Pesticide Labels
EPA — How to Get Certified as a Pesticide Applicator
EPA — Certification Standards for Pesticide Applicators
EPA — Agricultural Worker Protection Standard
EPA — State and Territorial Pesticide Agencies
Accident and Incident Reporting
14 CFR §107.9 — Safety Event Reporting
NTSB — Report an Aircraft Accident
49 CFR Part 830 — Accident and Incident Notification and Reporting
NTSB — Advisory to Operators of Civil Uncrewed Aircraft Systems