FAA Part 107 for Real Estate Drone Photography — What Agents Need to Know
The rules behind commercial drone flights for listings, and the simple checks agents and brokers should make before hiring.
Commercial flights need a certified pilot
In the United States, drone photography for a listing is a commercial operation. The pilot needs an FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate, and the aircraft must be registered and Remote ID compliant where required.
Airspace and authorisations
Many neighbourhoods sit inside controlled airspace near airports. Pilots can often get authorisation through LAANC, but some locations require more lead time or are not flyable. Always use official FAA resources — the directory does not provide airspace approvals.
Night, people and roads
Twilight shoots, flights over people and flights over moving vehicles are subject to specific Part 107 conditions. Ask the pilot how they comply for your shoot.
Insurance and liability
Ask for a certificate of liability insurance. Brokerages often set minimum limits for vendors who work on listings.
Simple vendor checklist
Part 107 certificate number, insurance certificate, a real property portfolio, delivery time and file formats, and how owner consent and neighbour privacy are handled.
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