Beijing to ban drone ownership within the city
Authorities in Beijing, China, will ban the ownership and storage of drones and their key components within the city from November 15, 2026. This was reported by Asharq Al-Awsat, citing revised rules published by local authorities.
New restrictions
For failure to comply with the requirements, authorities will be able to confiscate drones and impose fines on individuals and companies. The new rules tighten restrictions introduced earlier: drone sales were banned in Beijing in May.
The rules, approved in March and effective from May 1, required existing drone owners to register their devices under their real names with identity verification. If they complied with strict requirements, they were allowed to retain registered drones.
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Options for owners
As the state-run Beijing Daily writes, drone owners will be offered subsidies for selling their devices at designated buyback points. They will also be able to hand over drones for disposal and recycling for small compensation or take them outside Beijing before the new rules take effect.
Earlier, Beijing banned unauthorized drone flights, citing security concerns, and designated the city's administrative territory as restricted airspace. In other regions of China, users may launch drones outdoors, but this also requires registration under their real names.
Aviation accident
The revised rules appeared after an accident at the end of June, when a small aircraft crashed into a skyscraper in Beijing. The pilot was killed in the crash, and another 13 people were injured.
