UK drone rules 2026: the 100g rewrite
Verify before you fly
Rules verified: 2026-10-29 — regulations change; ALWAYS confirm with the national aviation authority before you fly. Official source: UK Civil Aviation Authority — Drones. This page is educational information, not legal advice.
UK drone rules changed materially on 1 January 2026. The Flyer ID registration threshold dropped from 250g to 100g, new drones began carrying UK class marks (UK1, UK2, UK3, UK5, UK6), and Remote ID switched on for UK-classed aircraft. Guides written before 2026 — and there are many — describe a system that no longer exists. This page reflects the CAA's current Drone Code.
Flyer ID and Operator ID: who needs what
The UK splits registration into two IDs. The Flyer ID belongs to the person at the controls and is earned by passing the CAA's free online theory test (valid five years; there is no age limit, though children under 13 register with a parent or guardian). The Operator ID belongs to the person responsible for the aircraft — 18 or over, renewed yearly, and its number must be displayed on the drone in clear block capitals taller than 3mm.
| Your drone | Flyer ID | Operator ID |
|---|---|---|
| 250g up to 25kg | Required | Required |
| 100g–250g with a camera | Required | Required |
| 100g–250g without a camera | Required | Optional |
| Under 100g | Recommended | Optional |
Read that middle row again: the popular 249g camera drones that needed nothing for US recreational flying now need both IDs in the UK.
Where you can fly: the Drone Code limits
- 120m (400ft) is the maximum height, measured from the closest point of the earth's surface — hills and cliffs included.
- Drones under 250g, or of UK0, UK1 or C0 class, may fly closer than 50m to uninvolved people and over them — but never over crowds. C1 aircraft enjoy the same relaxation until 31 December 2027.
- Everything else keeps a 50m horizontal distance from uninvolved people, including people in vehicles and buildings.
- In the A3 "far from people" zone: at least 150m from residential, recreational, commercial and industrial areas (the sub-250g/UK0/UK1/C0 exception applies here too).
- Most airports and airfields sit inside a Flight Restriction Zone; never enter without permission. The CAA's stated consequence for endangering an aircraft is prison for five years.
UK class marks and the C-class wind-down
Any new model placed on the UK market from 1 January 2026 carries a UK class mark: UK1 (under 900g), UK2 (under 4kg), UK3 (under 25kg, under 3m), UK5 and UK6 (both requiring an Operational Authorisation). Aircraft bought earlier usually carry European C marks instead, and the CAA permits flying a C-class aircraft as if it were the corresponding UK class until 31 December 2027 — after which C-class aircraft are treated as legacy aircraft flown by weight.
Remote ID
From 1 January 2026, operators of UK1, UK2 or UK3 class aircraft must add and switch on Remote ID; the CAA warns that non-compliance may lead to prosecution.
Key takeaways
- The 100g Flyer ID threshold is live — sub-250g is no longer a free pass.
- Camera drones from 100g need an Operator ID too, with the number on the airframe.
- Sub-250g/UK0/UK1/C0 keep the fly-over-people privilege — crowds are never allowed.
- C-class marks work as UK equivalents only until the end of 2027.
- Flight Restriction Zones around airports are hard limits without permission.
Foldable landing zone mats
With the UK's 50m rules, launching from a clean, marked pad at the field edge keeps your flight defensible and your gear out of the mud. Compare current landing mats that pack to pocket size.
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