Whether it’s drone shots of the backyard, the neighborhood or the roofline, aerial photography has become basically table stakes in real estate listings.
Buyers expect to see drone photos on those Redfin listings, and agents who offer them stand out. But here’s the part a surprising number of real estate professionals get wrong: using a drone for anything real estate-related almost certainly requires an official license from the Federal Aviation Administration.
If you’re a real estate agent who uses drones, here’s what you actually need to know.
Yes, you need a Part 107 drone license for real estate
Any time a drone is used to promote the sale of a property, such as photographing listings, shooting neighborhood overviews or capturing footage for marketing materials, the FAA classifies that as commercial drone use. Commercial drone use requires a Remote Pilot Certificate under FAA Part 107, commonly called a Part 107 drone license.
This applies whether you’re a real estate photographer getting paid per shoot, a real estate agent flying your own drone for your own listings, or someone doing it “as a favor.” The FAA’s position is that if the footage is being used to support a real estate transaction in any way, it’s commercial. Fines for flying commercially without a Part 107 certificate can reach $32,000 per violation, per flight.
The gray areas that aren’t actually gray
A few scenarios that real estate professionals commonly think are exceptions — and aren’t:
“I’m just flying for my own listings, not charging anyone.” This doesn’t matter. You’re using drone footage to advance a commercial transaction (the sale of a property), which is commercial use under Part 107.
“My drone weighs under 250 grams — I heard I don’t need a license for those.” The 250-gram threshold exempts drones from FAA registration requirements for recreational flyers. It does not exempt commercial operators from needing a Part 107 certificate. If you’re flying a DJI Mini 4 Pro for paid real estate work, you still need your license.
“A friend is doing it as a favor, and no money is changing hands.” It’s still commercial use, so it counts.
“I hired a licensed drone photographer, so I’m covered.” Mostly true — the pilot needs the license, not you. But as the person hiring them, you bear some responsibility for ensuring they’re actually certified. Ask to see their Remote Pilot Certificate. If they can’t produce one, you’re taking on legal exposure too.
What if you don’t want to get licensed yourself?
Hiring a certified drone operator is often the smartest move for real estate agents who don’t want to deal with FAA certification, airspace authorization, or the learning curve of operating a drone safely around people and structures.
If you go that route, always verify the pilot’s Part 107 certificate is current — certificates must be renewed every 24 months via free online recurrent training. You can look up any drone pilot’s FAA certification at the FAA’s public airmen registry.
What the Part 107 test actually covers
If you do decide to get certified (and for real estate professionals who want to shoot their own listings regularly, it’s absolutely worth the investment) here’s what you’re signing up for.
The Part 107 test is a 60-question multiple-choice exam administered in person at an FAA-approved testing center. Topics include airspace classifications, reading sectional charts, aviation weather (METARs, TAFs, wind patterns), FAA regulations, Remote ID requirements and emergency procedures. The test costs $175 regardless of whether you pass or fail, and you need a 70% or higher to pass.
Worth noting: in 2025, the average Part 107 test score hit an all-time low of 79.31%, with only 82.96% of test takers passing. It’s not easy, so study up!
The best way to prepare
I used Drone Pilot Ground School to study for my own Part 107 test and passed with a 90% on my first try. For someone coming in with no aviation background (which describes most real estate professionals) the structured video lessons, practice tests, and 1:1 instructor support make a real difference. The course normally runs $299 but you can use code DRONEGIRL100 to bring it down to $199.
If budget is a priority, Drone Launch Academy is a solid alternative at $149 with code DRONEGIRL50. I’ve done a full breakdown of both — and three other options — in my Part 107 test prep course guide.
Is it worth it for real estate specifically?
Yes! Aerial photography commands a premium for real estate listings — many photographers charge $150–$300 more for a package that includes drone shots. If you’re a photographer who can add aerial to your offering, or an agent who can control your own aerial content rather than outsourcing it, the $199 course cost and $175 test fee pay for themselves quickly.
Flying a drone is the easy part. Getting certified is the hard part.
However, flying without certification is a liability that no listing is worth. The fine structure is punishing, the FAA does enforce it, and the reputational damage from an incident during an uncertified commercial flight — to the drone pilot and to the brokerage — isn’t worth the shortcut.
Use code DRONEGIRL100 to enroll in Drone Pilot Ground School for $199 →
FTC disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.
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