Part 107 Drone Registration: What §107.13 Requires

Registration is one of the shortest rules in Part 107 and one of the easiest to get wrong, mostly because the actual requirements live somewhere else. 14 CFR § 107.13 is a single sentence that points you to § 91.203, which in turn points to Part 48. This post follows that chain in question-and-answer form: what each section says, how drone registration under Part 107 works in practice, how to mark your aircraft, and when the registration has to be renewed.

It is general information, not legal advice. All regulatory quotations are from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (checked Nov 2, 2026; Title 14 shown as up to date as of Oct 29, 2026). For the broader rule set, see our federal drone law overview.

What does § 107.13 actually say?

Here is the full text of 14 CFR § 107.13, titled "Registration":

A person operating a civil small unmanned aircraft system for purposes of flight must comply with the provisions of § 91.203(a)(2) of this chapter.

That's the whole section. It doesn't describe a process or a form. It borrows a requirement from the general operating rules in Part 91.

What does § 91.203(a)(2) require?

14 CFR § 91.203 covers certifications required for civil aircraft. Its paragraph (a) opens:

(a) Except as provided in § 91.715, no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it has within it the following:

Paragraph (a)(2) is the piece § 107.13 pulls in:

(2) An effective U.S. registration certificate issued to its owner or, for operation within the United States, the second copy of the Aircraft registration Application as provided for in § 47.31(c), a Certificate of Aircraft registration as provided in part 48, or a registration certification issued under the laws of a foreign country.

For a typical small drone flown under Part 107, the relevant phrase is "a Certificate of Aircraft registration as provided in part 48". Part 48 is where the registration and marking details sit.

Which drones have to be registered in the first place, and how registration connects to Remote ID, is covered in our post on Remote ID for Part 107 flights. This post sticks to how registration and marking work.

How does Part 107 registration differ from recreational registration?

Part 48 has two registration paths. 14 CFR § 48.100 covers "Small unmanned aircraft operated for any purpose other than exclusively limited recreational operations." Paragraph (a) reads:

(a) Certificate of Aircraft Registration. A Certificate of Aircraft Registration issued in accordance with § 48.110 to a small unmanned aircraft used for any purpose other than operating exclusively in compliance with 49 U.S.C. 44809 constitutes registration for the small unmanned aircraft identified on the application.

Note "the small unmanned aircraft identified on the application." A Part 107 registration is tied to a specific aircraft. The recreational path in § 48.105 works differently: one certificate covers "all the small unmanned aircraft used exclusively for operations in compliance with 49 U.S.C. 44809 owned by the individual identified on the application."

The FAA's How to Register Your Drone page (checked Nov 2, 2026) puts the practical consequence plainly: "Drones registered under the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations cannot be flown under Part 107." If a drone that started as a hobby aircraft is now flying paid jobs, it needs a Part 107 registration.

What information do I have to provide?

14 CFR § 48.110(a) lists the required information, including the applicant's name, physical address, email address and telephone number, and:

(5) The aircraft manufacturer and model name.

Paragraphs (a)(6) and (a)(7) add Remote ID serial numbers where they apply. Under § 48.110(b), the information "must be submitted to the Registry through the web-based small unmanned aircraft registration system in a form and manner prescribed by the Administrator."

That web-based system is FAADroneZone, at faadronezone.faa.gov. On fees, the FAA's registration page (checked Nov 2, 2026) says: "Part 107 registration costs $5 per drone and is valid for three (3) years."

When does registration take effect?

Section 48.100(b) answers this:

(b) Effective date of registration. An aircraft is registered when the applicant receives a Certificate of Aircraft Registration for the specific aircraft. The effective date of registration is shown by the date of issue on the Certificate of Aircraft Registration issued for the aircraft.

Starting an application isn't the same as being registered.

Do I need to carry the certificate?

Section 91.203(a) says no person may operate a civil aircraft "unless it has within it" the registration certificate, and for drones the FAA explains how that works in practice. Its registration page (checked Nov 2, 2026) says: "You must have your registration certificate (either a paper copy or digital copy) in your possession when you fly. If another individual operates your drone, they must have your drone registration certificate (either a paper or digital copy) in their possession."

That second sentence matters for crews. If a different certificated pilot flies one of your company drones, they need access to that aircraft's certificate too.

How do I mark the drone?

Marking is in Subpart C of Part 48. 14 CFR § 48.200(a) says:

(a) No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft registered in accordance with this part unless the aircraft displays a unique identifier in accordance with the requirements of § 48.205 of this subpart.

Under § 48.200(b)(1), the unique identifier is "The registration number issued to an individual or the registration number issued to the aircraft by the Registry upon completion of the registration process provided by this part", or, under (b)(2), the serial number if the Administrator authorizes it.

14 CFR § 48.205 sets out how it's displayed:

(a) The unique identifier must be maintained in a condition that is legible.

(b) The unique identifier must be affixed to the small unmanned aircraft by any means necessary to ensure that it will remain affixed for the duration of each operation.

(c) The unique identifier must be legibly displayed on an external surface of the small unmanned aircraft.

Practical habit: check the label during preflight. Labels wear, peel and get covered by accessories.

When does registration renew?

Section 48.100(c) sets the term:

(c) Registration renewal. A Certificate of Aircraft registration issued under this part expires 3 years after the date of issue unless it is renewed.

(1) The holder of a Certificate of Aircraft Registration must renew the Certificate by verifying, in a form and manner prescribed by the Administrator, that the information provided in accordance with § 48.110 is accurate and if it is not, provide updated information. The verification may take place at any time within the six months preceding the month in which the Certificate of Aircraft registration expires.

(2) A certificate issued under this paragraph expires three years from the expiration date of the previous certificate.

So a renewal window opens six months before the expiration month, and renewing early doesn't shorten your term, because the new certificate runs three years from the old expiration date. The FAA's registration page adds that "When your drone registration expires, you need to renew your registration through the FAA DroneZone."

What if something changes before then?

14 CFR § 48.115 requires the holder to keep the information current. Paragraph (b) reads:

(b) The holder of a Certificate of Aircraft Registration must update the information using the web-based small unmanned aircraft registration system within 14 calendar days of the following:

(1) A change in the information provided under § 48.110.

(2) When aircraft registration requires cancellation for any reason including sale or transfer, destruction, or export.

Keeping it straight across a fleet

With several aircraft, each on its own three-year clock, it's easy to lose track of which certificate expires when. Many operators keep registration numbers, issue dates and expiration dates alongside maintenance logs; Pilot Ledger covers fleet records for every registered aircraft.

If you're still preparing for your remote pilot certificate, registration is a topic worth knowing cold. Our Part 107 knowledge test prep guide covers how to study the regulations.

The short version

• § 107.13 requires compliance with § 91.203(a)(2), which points to a Part 48 Certificate of Aircraft Registration.
• Part 107 registration is per aircraft under § 48.100; recreational registrations can't be flown under Part 107.
• Registration is effective on the certificate's date of issue, and the certificate must be in the operator's possession, paper or digital.
• The unique identifier must be legible, securely affixed and on an external surface.
• Certificates expire three years after issue unless renewed; changes must be updated within 14 calendar days.