Do You Need a Part 107 License for Real Estate Photography?

Do you need a Part 107 license for real estate drone work?

The short answer is yes. Buyers and sellers now expect drone photos in a listing, since they show the whole property and the neighborhood around it in a way ground photos can’t. If you’re getting paid for those photos, you need to be certified. 

Here’s what the FAA rules say, why certification is worth it, and how to get it.

drone real estate


FAA Rules for Real Estate Drone Photography

Knowing when you need a Part 107 drone license is pretty simple when you boil it down to this: if the drone is involved in commerce or any exchange of money, the flight falls under the FAA Part 107 rules.

Related article: Do I Need a Part 107 Drone License?

There's even a question on the Part 107 test that involves real estate. It asks something like, a friend offers to take you out for dinner if you create some drone images of a real estate listing for him. Does this require Part 107 certification?

What do you think?

There are actually two reasons why the answer is yes.

  • You're flying in exchange for something of value to you (dinner)
  • The images will be used for commercial purposes (advertising real estate)

The FAA has been fining people for making money with their drone without a Part 107 certification, so be sure you're compliant. Civil penalties can be in the tens of thousands of dollars, and criminal charges may also apply based on the situation.

real estate drone


Why Part 107 Certification Matters for Real Estate

Avoiding fines is one reason to get certified. Here are a few others:

  • You can fly legally for listings, marketing, and inspections
  • You can apply for FAA waivers for things like flying beyond visual line of sight
  • Clients and agents often ask for proof of certification before they hire you

aerial real estate


Steps to Get Your FAA Part 107 License

There are three steps to getting your drone license.

Study and Prepare

There are a lot of different knowledge areas on the Part 107 test: FAA regulations, airspace, weather, operations, and more. Read this article for a breakdown of what's on the test.

Preparation typically takes a few weeks. You can fast-track your preparation with a structured Part 107 study course.

Schedule and Take the Test

You'll take your test in-person at an FAA-approved testing center. Follow these steps to schedule your test.

🎥 WATCH: FAA Part 107 Test-Taking Tips (YouTube)

Get Certified and Start Flying

There's a little more paperwork to do after taking your test, and you can read about that here.

Once you have your temporary certificate, you can start flying for clients.

Want more Part 107 resources & guides? Check out this page.