Buying a Drone for Business in 2026: What the DJI Ban Changed

Updated September 29, 2026. The rules below are still changing. We’ll update this page as they do.

If you’re buying a drone for real estate, construction, inspections, or marketing in 2026, the question isn’t only which drone is best. It’s which drones you can still buy, and which ones might not be available next year.

Here’s what changed, what it means if you already own a drone, and how to decide between buying one and hiring a pilot.

The short answer

• Drones the FCC approved before December 2025, including popular DJI and Autel models, are still legal to buy, sell, and fly commercially in the US.
• No new DJI or Autel models are being approved for sale in the US.
• A pending FCC proposal would also end US sales of already-approved drones with LiDAR or thermal cameras. It isn’t final.
• Imported drones have carried new tariffs since September 3, 2026.
• If you already own a drone, you can keep flying it.

What changed, in order

December 2025: foreign-made drones added to the FCC Covered List. The FCC added DJI, and foreign-made drones and key components generally, to its Covered List. That blocks new FCC equipment authorizations, which means new models can’t be imported or sold. Models authorized before the cutoff stay legal. (CALT, Iowa State University)

January 2026: firmware updates allowed, some approvals quietly revoked. The FCC issued a waiver allowing security and software updates for previously authorized drones, so existing drones keep getting updates. It also revoked some DJI and Autel authorizations granted shortly before the cutoff, without naming them publicly. (Wiley)

February to May 2026: DJI challenges the decision in court. DJI petitioned the Ninth Circuit. The court denied the FCC’s motion to dismiss and paused the case, with DJI’s opening brief due in November 2026. (CALT)

August 2026: a proposal targeting LiDAR and thermal drones. The FCC proposed ending US sales and imports of already-authorized foreign drones with LiDAR, thermal imaging, spraying systems, or docks, among other features, 180 days after a final rule. Models reported at risk include the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, Mini 5 Pro, Air 3S, and the thermal Matrice 4T. Drones people already own wouldn’t be affected. Comments closed September 2, and no final rule has been issued. (UAV Coach)

September 3, 2026: import tariffs. New Section 232 tariffs apply to imported drones: 100% on thermal drones and drones over 25 kg, and 25% on other small drones, with lower rates for qualifying allied countries. (Wiley)

If you already own a drone

Keep flying it. Nothing in the current rules or the pending proposal takes away a drone you already own, and firmware updates are still allowed. The practical risk is spare parts and replacement batteries getting harder to find, so if your business depends on one drone, buying spare batteries and props now is cheap insurance.

If you’re buying one now

• Buy what’s approved and in stock. Every pick in our guides is a model you can buy new in the US today.
• If you want a LiDAR model, don’t wait. The Mini 5 Pro and Air 3S are excellent, and they’re also the most exposed to the August proposal.
• Check the seller and warranty terms. Sourcing is uneven right now. Third-party imports, including the Mavic 4 Pro, which DJI never officially sold in the US, may carry a warranty that doesn’t apply here.
• Consider a US-made drone if your clients require it. Options exist, but they’re enterprise tools with enterprise prices.

For specific picks:

• The best drones for real estate photography in 2026
• The best drones for construction and inspections in 2026

Buy a drone, hire a pilot, or use stock footage?

There are three ways to get aerial footage for a business, and the right one depends on how often you need it.

Fly it yourself

Worth it if you’ll fly often. Plan for more than the drone:

• Part 107 certification. Any commercial flight needs an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate, earned by passing a knowledge test.
• Registration and Remote ID. Every drone flown for business must be registered ($5, good for three years) and broadcast Remote ID, whatever it weighs. (FAA)
• Insurance. Liability coverage for the flights, plus damage coverage for the drone.
• Practice. Takeoff, hover, and landing first, then smooth side-to-side passes and slow orbits. Smooth, slow movement is what separates usable footage from shaky footage. Build a pre-flight checklist and use it every time.
• Editing. Raw footage almost always needs color correction and trimming before it’s usable.

Hire a local pilot

Worth it if you need aerials a few times a year, or if consistency matters, like progress documentation on a construction project. When you hire, check for:

• A current Part 107 certificate and proof of insurance
• A portfolio in a style you like
• Local airspace experience. In the Phoenix metro, that means knowing when and how to get LAANC authorization
• Clear turnaround times and who owns the files

Use stock footage

Stock aerials work for generic city or landscape shots on a website or in an ad. They don’t work when you need your property, your project, or your neighborhood. Free clips often come with licensing limits, so read the terms before using one commercially.

Need aerial photo or video in Arizona? Jack & Bean flies FAA-certified and insured, with unedited files delivered the same day and edited files in one to two business days. See aerial services