Drone Safety for Kids | FAA Rules Made Simple

Handing a drone to a child is exciting, but the federal rules catch many parents off guard. The good news: the FAA keeps the requirements simple enough for a family to handle in one afternoon. The key is knowing which rules apply to a young pilot versus the person who owns the drone, and that difference shapes everything.

What Age Can Kids Fly Drones?

The FAA sets no minimum age for a child to fly a drone recreationally.

The age limits that do exist target the person who registers and owns the drone, not necessarily the child holding the controller:

• A drone owner must be 13 years or older to register it themselves.
• If the owner is under 13, a parent or another person aged 13+ registers the drone on their behalf.

For older teens, the rules shift. Anyone 16 or older can pursue a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, which is required for commercial work or flying in restricted airspace. That certificate also demands English proficiency, physical and mental fitness, and a passing score on the FAA knowledge test.

The Three FAA Rules Every Kid Must Follow

Recreational flying under FAA rules boils down to three requirements, and each one is easy to verify.

1. Pass TRUST. The FAA requires every recreational drone operator to complete The Recreational UAS Safety Test, a free online course. It covers airspace rules, safety practices, and where you can fly.

2. Register the drone if it weighs 250 grams (0.55 lb) or more. This threshold is the dividing line between toy drones and “real” ones. A drone that weighs less than 250 grams, like many mini models marketed to kids, skips federal registration for recreational use. Anything heavier, including most camera drones, needs a registration number displayed on the aircraft.

3. Have someone 13+ register heavier drones. If the child owns the drone but is under 13, a parent registers it in their own name. After registering, mark the drone with the assigned number before the first flight.

State, Local, and Common Sense Rules

FAA rules are the floor, not the ceiling. State laws, city ordinances, and park regulations can add restrictions that override federal allowances. A drone that is perfectly legal under FAA rules might still be banned at a local park or national park, so check before flying anywhere new.

The practical safety habits matter just as much as the legal ones. Kids should fly in open areas away from people, cars, and power lines. They should keep the drone in sight and below 400 feet. And they should never fly near airports or emergency response scenes—those are the violations that draw real penalties.

When buying a first drone, weight is the single most useful spec to check. Many kid-friendly models sit safely under the 250-gram registration threshold, which removes the registration step entirely. Our roundup of the best drones for kids and families breaks down which models stay under that limit and which ones deliver better cameras and flight time.

Common Questions About Kids and Drones

Parents often hit the same few questions when starting out, and the answers are more forgiving than most expect.

Does a child need a license to fly a drone?

No license is required for recreational flying, but the operator must pass the free TRUST test. A Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107 is only needed for commercial work, and that path has a minimum age of 16.

Are small toy drones exempt from FAA rules?

Drones under 250 grams avoid FAA registration for purely recreational use. They still fall under TRUST requirements, and local rules can restrict them. The FAA registration threshold remains the controlling federal rule regardless of marketing claims.

Can a parent register a drone for a child?

Yes. If the drone owner is under 13, a person aged 13 or older must register it.