Part 107 is the FAA rule for drones under 55 pounds flown for work or business. Here are the parts that matter on a roof job, from the FAA’s own pages.
The pilot holds a certificate
The person at the controls needs an FAA remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating, or direct supervision by someone who holds one. A pilot must be at least 16, able to read, write, speak, and understand English, and pass the FAA’s knowledge test. The certificate must be on hand during every flight, and recurrent online training is due every 24 calendar months.
The drone is registered
Every drone flown under Part 107 is registered with the FAA, for $5 and three years, and marked with its number. Since September 16, 2023, a drone that needs registration must also broadcast Remote ID.
How it flies
- 400 feet. No higher than 400 feet above the ground, or higher if the drone stays within 400 feet of a structure.
- Line of sight. The drone stays within unaided sight of the pilot. A pilot using a first-person-view camera needs a visual observer who keeps the drone in sight.
- Daylight, or lit. Flights run in daylight or twilight, and since April 21, 2021 at night, as long as the pilot has completed the updated test or recurrent training and the drone has anti-collision lighting visible for at least three statute miles.
- Visibility and speed. At least three miles of visibility from the control station, and no faster than 100 mph.
People on the ground
The FAA’s Part 107 summary says not to fly over people unless they are directly participating in the operation. The Operations Over People rule, in effect since April 21, 2021, allows some flights over people when the drone and the operation meet the requirements of one of four categories, and keeps strict limits on sustained flight over gatherings. Anything outside those categories needs a waiver. lossmap never flies over uninvolved people.
Airspace near airports
Class G airspace needs no air traffic control permission. Class B, C, D, and E airspace, the controlled airspace around airports, needs an FAA authorization before the flight. LAANC, a system run with FAA-approved companies, delivers those authorizations in near-real time at 726 airports. Pilots still check NOTAMs and weather. lossmap flies near airports with FAA authorization through LAANC.
Disaster areas
After wildfires, hurricanes, and other emergencies, the FAA may issue a temporary flight restriction, published as a NOTAM. Drones cannot fly in it without permission, coordinated with the controlling agency named in it. The FAA notes that approval typically goes to public safety agencies, first responders, and organizations such as media. That is why a restricted disaster area can add time to a lossmap shoot.
Waivers and accidents
A pilot can request a waiver from many of these rules by showing the flight will be at least as safe. The FAA says it generally answers within 90 days. A pilot must report to the FAA within 10 days any operation that causes serious injury, loss of consciousness, or property damage of at least $500.
Why it matters to a claim file
A claim file gets read by people who were not there. A flight by a certificated pilot, inside the rules, is one less thing to question about the photos. Liability insurance answers a different question: what happens if something goes wrong over the property. lossmap requires both, a Part 107 certificate and at least $1,000,000 in commercial drone liability insurance, and we verify credentials on onboarding and check renewals on schedule.
Related
See drone roof inspection reports, what an aerial damage assessment includes, whether insurers accept drone roof photos, and how hail and wind roof damage are documented. Pilots can see what flying for lossmap involves.
Sources
Official FAA pages, checked October 9, 2026.