What is FAA Remote ID?
Remote ID lets a drone share identification and location information while it flies. The rules are in 14 CFR part 89, and operators have been required to comply since March 16, 2024.
Think of it as a digital license plate. The broadcast makes it possible to know which drones are in the air and where they are controlled from, which supports safety and security as more drones share the airspace.
Which drones need Remote ID?
Drones that must be registered also need Remote ID. That includes every drone flown under Part 107 and recreational drones weighing more than 0.55 pounds. Drones that are not required to be registered, meaning drones flown only recreationally that weigh 0.55 pounds or less, do not need Remote ID.
If you are not sure whether your drone must be registered, start with our drone registration guide.
What are the three ways to comply with Remote ID?
The FAA gives operators three options:
| Option | How it works | Where you can fly |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Remote ID drone | The manufacturer builds the broadcast into the drone | Anywhere the other rules allow |
| Remote ID broadcast module | You attach a module that broadcasts for the drone | Anywhere the other rules allow |
| No Remote ID | The drone does not broadcast | Only inside an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA) |
What is a Remote ID broadcast module?
A broadcast module is a device you attach to a drone that has no built-in Remote ID. It sends the Remote ID broadcast on the drone's behalf. It is the usual choice for older drones and for aircraft you build yourself.
Be careful when shopping. Only drones and broadcast modules listed as accepted on the FAA UAS Declaration of Compliance public list meet the rule, regardless of how they are advertised. Check that list before you buy.
What is an FAA-Recognized Identification Area?
An FAA-Recognized Identification Area, or FRIA, is an area approved by the FAA where drones without Remote ID can fly. FRIAs can be requested by community-based organizations and educational institutions, which makes them common at flying fields.
Outside a FRIA, a drone that must comply needs either built-in Standard Remote ID or a broadcast module.
What information does Remote ID broadcast?
The broadcast includes identification, the drone's location and altitude, its velocity, and the location of the control station or takeoff point. Anyone with a compatible receiver app can read the broadcast. Additional information is available only to authorized officials.
How do you check which Remote ID option fits your drone?
Start with the drone you already own. If the manufacturer built in Standard Remote ID, confirm that the model appears as accepted on the FAA UAS Declaration of Compliance public list and note its serial number. If it has no built-in broadcast, decide whether a listed broadcast module or flying only inside a FRIA suits the way you fly.
For most Part 107 work, flying only inside a FRIA is too limiting, because jobs rarely take place at a flying field. That is why pilots with older drones usually choose a listed broadcast module. Recreational flyers who mainly fly at a club field may find that a FRIA covers their needs.
Whichever option you choose, check the FAA Remote ID guidance for current details before your first flight.
How do you add Remote ID to your registration?
Your FAA DroneZone registration must include the serial number of the Standard Remote ID drone or of the broadcast module. If you move a module to another drone or replace your aircraft, keep the registration details up to date in DroneZone.
Remote ID also matters for operations over people. Sustained flight over open-air assemblies of people under Categories 1, 2 and 4 is allowed only if the drone meets the Remote ID requirements. Our operations over people guide covers the categories.
Remote ID is separate from airspace authorization. Flying near airports in controlled airspace still needs an FAA authorization, which our LAANC guide explains.