Starting Friday, Beijing will prohibit the sale of drones and require permits for all flights in the Chinese capital, citing public safety concerns. The new rules also ban the rental or import of drones and key components, and mandate that owners register their devices with police.
While drones are a common sight in many Chinese cities—used for food delivery, agriculture, and building cleaning—the country is tightening regulations on their use. Beijing has already designated its entire airspace as a no-drone zone, with flights requiring approval from air traffic authorities.
Under the new rules, drones must be registered before entering or leaving the city. If a drone is sent outside Beijing for repair, the owner must pick it up in person rather than having it delivered. All outdoor flights now require prior approval, and users must complete an online training session and pass a test on drone regulations.
Exceptions exist for drones used in counter-terrorism and disaster relief, but these require official approval. The restrictions, approved in March, aim to address "challenges" in low-altitude airspace safety, according to city authorities. Xiong Jinghua, a senior official in the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, said the goal is to balance safety with technological and economic progress.
The sweeping regulations are expected to impact China's massive drone market, which includes over three million registered drones and major companies like DJI, the world's largest drone manufacturer. Reports indicate that DJI shops in Beijing are already removing drones and related products from their shelves in anticipation of the ban.
Drones and flying taxis are part of China's so-called low-altitude economy, a strategic priority projected to generate more than two trillion yuan ($290 billion) by 2035.