Drone pilot rules for tree inspection: what the United States, United Kingdom and Canada require

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. Arborists and consulting arborists use drones for crown and site views. This page covers only what the three aviation regulators publish about the pilot, the registration and the permission for flights done for work. It says nothing about how to fly or how to inspect a tree. The regulators' pages are the only sources.

United States

Item	What the source says
Rule set	Small UAS Rule, 14 CFR Part 107
Pilot qualification	Remote Pilot Certificate, after the Unmanned Aircraft General - Small knowledge test
Registration	Part 107.13 points to the aircraft registration rule at 14 CFR 91.203(a)(2)
Keeping it valid	Recurrent training or a test within 24 calendar months
Flights outside the rules	Part 107 waiver
Test fee	Not published on the pages read

The FAA says that to fly under the Small UAS Rule, Part 107, a person must obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate. For a first-time pilot the FAA lists these steps: get an FAA Tracking Number by creating an IACRA profile, book a knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing centre, pass the Unmanned Aircraft General - Small test, then complete the certificate application in IACRA. The pilot must be at least 16 years old and able to read, speak, write and understand English. A certificate holder completes online recurrent training every 24 calendar months to keep aeronautical knowledge recency. The eCFR text of section 107.12 says no person may manipulate the flight controls, or act as remote pilot in command, without a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating, apart from a person under the direct supervision of a pilot who can take control at once. Section 107.65 sets the 24-month recency test and section 107.51 sets operating limits, among them a ceiling of 400 feet above ground level unless the aircraft stays within 400 feet of a structure. See the FAA page on becoming a certificated remote pilot and the eCFR text of Part 107.

The FAA waiver page says a pilot does not need a waiver when complying with all of Part 107, and that a waiver is the official approval to fly outside a listed rule, such as night flight, flight beyond visual line of sight or flight over people. See the FAA page on Part 107 waivers.

United Kingdom

Item	What the source says
Rule set	Open category and Specific category
Pilot qualification	Flyer ID after a free theory test for Open category flying; the Specific category has its own remote pilot qualifications page, not read here
Registration	Operator ID, GBP 12.34 for 1 year, operator aged 18 or over; Flyer ID GBP 0 for 5 years
Flights outside the Open category	Operational authorisation from the CAA

A Flyer ID comes from a free online theory test, is valid for five years and allows basic low-risk flying in the Open category. Children under 13 must take the test with a parent or guardian. The Operator is the person or organisation responsible for the drone, and must hold an Operator ID costing GBP 12.34 for one year. An Operator must be 18 or over. The Specific category covers operations more complex than the Open category. The CAA says an operational authorisation is needed first. PDRA01 is the pre-defined route: it covers aircraft from 250 g to 25 kg within visual line of sight, and the CAA lists inspecting roofs and photographing buildings among its examples. Operations outside PDRA01 go through UK SORA, which replaced the earlier OSC method on April 23, 2025. See the CAA page on Flyer IDs and Operator IDs and the CAA Specific category overview.

Canada

Item	What the source says
Rule set	Basic, Advanced and Level 1 Complex operations
Pilot qualification	Pilot certificate by category: Basic from age 14, Advanced from 16, Level 1 Complex from 18
Registration	All drones of 250 g or more, through the Drone Management Portal
Flights outside the standard rules	Special flight operations permission
Test fee	Not published on the pages read

Transport Canada says all drones weighing at least 250 g must be registered, and that the weight of anything attached, such as a camera, counts. Registration is through the Drone Management Portal, and the registration number must be marked on the drone. The page lists fines of CA$5,000 for recreational users and CA$25,000 for commercial users for flying without meeting the requirements. The categories page sorts pilot certificates into Basic, Advanced and Level 1 Complex operations, with minimum ages of 14, 16 and 18. Basic operations are in visual line of sight and not close to or over people; Advanced operations allow flight closer to people and in controlled airspace with permission, if the drone meets the safety feature requirements. The licensing page lists the Small Basic exam, the Advanced exam, flight reviews and a route to special flight operations permission. See Transport Canada on registering your drone, the page on operation categories and pilot certificates and the pilot licensing page.

Who to call

The FAA, the CAA and Transport Canada each run their own drone offices. Questions about a certificate, an ID or a permission go to the regulator named in the section above.