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Real estate drone video: who may fly it, what to shoot, and how it cuts into clips
Updated 27 October 2026 · Written by Reyansh Juneja and Naman Dhiman, the co-founders of SOVE7GN, who run the campaigns and review the clips
In the US, whoever flies a drone for a real estate listing needs an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107, a registered drone that broadcasts Remote ID, and an airspace authorization before flying in controlled airspace near an airport. Canada and the UK have their own pilot and registration rules; below is what each requires, the six aerial shots worth paying for, and how one flight becomes five short clips.
Short answer: Hire or be a certified pilot: in the US that means passing the FAA knowledge test, registering the drone ($5, valid 3 years) and broadcasting Remote ID. Near most airports, get a LAANC authorization first. Shoot six passes: the reveal, the orbit, the top-down lot, the approach, the distance shot and golden hour. Shoot in 4K so you can crop vertical clips from the same footage.
General information, not legal advice. Checked October 2026.
Who is allowed to fly a drone for a listing in the US?
The FAA is plain about it: with a small drone under 55 pounds, you can fly for work or business by following Part 107 (FAA). Filming a listing you are paid to sell is business. That applies to an agent flying their own drone as much as to a hired videographer.
| Requirement | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Remote Pilot Certificate | Pass the FAA "Unmanned Aircraft General, Small" knowledge test; be at least 16 and able to read, write, speak and understand English | FAA |
| Recurrent training | Every 24 calendar months to keep the certificate current | FAA |
| Drone registration | $5, valid for 3 years, registration number marked on the drone | FAA |
| Remote ID | Since September 16, 2023, a drone that needs registration must broadcast Remote ID, unless flown inside an FAA-recognized identification area | FAA |
| Airspace | Flights under 400 feet in controlled airspace around airports need FAA authorization first; LAANC gives it in near-real time through approved apps | FAA LAANC |
Night flights and flights over people are allowed under Part 107 without a waiver if the pilot meets the requirements in the Operations Over People rule, which took effect on April 21, 2021 (FAA). Flying from a moving vehicle or beyond visual line of sight still needs a waiver.
Before you book a pilot, ask to see the certificate and the drone's registration, and ask who requests the LAANC authorization if the house is near an airport. If they hesitate, find another pilot.
What do Canada and the UK require?
| Country | Rule that matters for a listing flight | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Drones from 250 g to 25 kg need a pilot certificate. A Basic certificate (online exam, minimum age 14) does not allow flying closer to or over people, or in controlled airspace. An Advanced certificate (online exam plus a flight review, minimum age 16) allows both, with air traffic permission for controlled airspace | Transport Canada, certificates |
| UK | A Flyer ID (pass the CAA theory test) for any drone of 100 g or more. An Operator ID for a drone of 250 g or more, or 100 g or more with a camera. The operator must be 18 or over. New drones sold from 1 January 2026 carry a UK class mark | CAA |
Our cautious reading for Canada: a city lot with neighbors, walkers and traffic close by usually means flying near people, so ask for a pilot with an Advanced certificate. In the UK, the CAA describes the Open category as covering most leisure flying and low-risk commercial work; anything beyond that needs a CAA authorisation.
Which six drone shots are worth paying for?
Most listing aerials repeat the same two moves. These six each prove something a buyer cannot see from the ground:
| Shot | How it is flown | What it proves |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The reveal | Rise slowly from behind a tree or roofline to show the house | Setting and first impression |
| 2. The orbit | Slow circle around the house at roof height | Shape of the house and how it sits on the lot |
| 3. Top-down lot | Straight down, high enough to show the boundaries | Lot size and privacy, honestly |
| 4. The approach | Low push from the street to the front door | Arrival, the driveway, the gate |
| 5. The distance shot | Rise and turn toward the water, town or trail | What "four minutes to the beach" actually looks like |
| 6. Golden hour | Repeat 1 or 2 in the last light | The version that stops a scroll |
Keep it true. NAR members must present a true picture in advertising, and the Code of Ethics treats misleading images as a problem (NAR Code of Ethics, Article 12). Do not frame out a highway or a power line in a way that changes what a buyer would find. Keep neighbors and their yards out of frame; it is their privacy and not your listing.
How does one drone flight become five short clips?
Drone footage is usually shot horizontal. Shoot in 4K: a 3840 by 2160 frame cropped to 9:16 at full height is 1215 pixels wide (2160 times 9, divided by 16), which still covers a 1080 by 1920 vertical export. That one choice lets the same flight feed the property film and the clips.
| Clip | Built from | Length | First line on screen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reveal plus approach | 10 to 15 seconds | "Here is what you see when the gate opens." |
| 2 | Distance shot | 10 to 20 seconds | "Four minutes to the water. Here is the route." |
| 3 | Top-down lot with the boundary drawn on | 10 to 15 seconds | "This is the whole lot, line by line." |
| 4 | Golden hour orbit | 15 to 20 seconds | "Same house, 7:40pm." |
| 5 | Any aerial, with you talking over it | 20 to 40 seconds | Your one-line opinion on the house |
Clip 5 is the one that tends to carry, because it pairs the view with your judgment. Pure aerials with music need cleared music; our real estate video music guide covers what you can legally use. The full listing shoot, interiors included, is on our real estate listing video page, and the six-week plan that spaces these clips out is in how to market luxury real estate.
What should you agree with the drone pilot before the shoot?
- Certificate and registration, shown, not promised.
- Airspace: who requests authorization if the house sits near an airport.
- Insurance: ask what liability cover they carry, in writing.
- Footage license: written permission to use the footage on social media, including cut-down clips and paid boosts. Without a written agreement the videographer generally owns the video; our realtor social media rules page covers why.
- Raw files: ask for the ungraded 4K files as well as the edit, so clips can be cut later.
Prices vary a lot by market and by what is included, so get two or three written quotes that list these five items.
If you want the aerials, interiors and your talking pieces cut into clips and posted daily on your own accounts, we approve 2 example clips with you first and go live within 48 hours. Entry is $2,000 a month for 2 clips a day; Growth is $4,000 a month for 4. See how we work with founder-led businesses or book a 30-minute call.
Questions people ask
Do you need a license to fly a drone for real estate?
In the US, yes: flying for work or business falls under Part 107, which requires a Remote Pilot Certificate, a registered drone and Remote ID. Canada requires a pilot certificate for drones from 250 g to 25 kg, and the UK requires a Flyer ID and usually an Operator ID.
Can a realtor fly their own drone for listings?
Yes, if they hold the certificate and follow the same rules as any commercial pilot. In the US that means the Part 107 test, recurrent training every 24 calendar months, registration and Remote ID, and an authorization in controlled airspace.
How long should a real estate drone video be?
Our recommendation is 10 to 20 seconds per aerial clip and 20 to 40 seconds when you talk over it. Inside a 2 to 4 minute property film, aerials work best as short openers and transitions rather than one long flight.
Want a straight answer for your videos?
Book a 30-minute call. Send us a link first and we'll tell you which plan fits and how many clips we can make.
Book a call See plans and pricing- Real estate listing videoA shot list for one listing shoot, cut into a property film and about 10 short clips.
- How to market luxury real estateA 6-week video plan for a $2M+ listing, plus the weekly clips that market the agent.
- Real estate video musicWhich music is cleared for listing reels, and what to do when it is not.