Operations Over People: The Four Part 107 Categories (2026)
Quick Answer: Under 14 CFR Part 107 Subpart D, routine flight over people is divided into four categories tied to a drone's weight and certified safety features, mapping to Category C0–C4 declarations. Category 1 covers the lightest drones (under 0.55 lb / 250 g); higher categories require injury-severity testing and other safeguards. In dense NYC, these rules combine with NYPD permits and airspace limits, so flying over people remains tightly constrained.
The FAA generally restricts flight over people who are not part of the operation. 14 CFR Part 107 Subpart D created four categories that permit certain operations over people when specific conditions are met. This guide explains the four categories, how they relate to drone weight and the Category C0–C4 declarations, and why New York City's density makes them difficult to rely on.
The Four Categories
| Category | Core Condition |
|---|---|
| Category 1 | Drone weighs 0.55 lb (250 g) or less, including everything onboard, and has no exposed rotating parts that could lacerate skin. No FAA design verification beyond the weight/laceration condition. |
| Category 2 | Heavier drone that, per a manufacturer's means-of-compliance testing, would not cause injury above a defined severity threshold on impact, with no laceration risk. Requires a manufacturer declaration of compliance. |
| Category 3 | Higher injury threshold than Category 2; flight over people is more limited (for example, not over open-air assemblies) and other operating conditions apply. |
| Category 4 | Drone holds an FAA airworthiness certificate and operates under an approved maintenance and operating program. |
How Categories Map to C0–C4 Markings
Manufacturers can declare a drone's compliance using Category C0 through C4 labels. In broad terms, the lightest drones align with Category 1 / C0, while heavier drones rely on declarations of compliance and testing that align with Categories 2 and 3. The exact mapping depends on the manufacturer's means-of-compliance documentation; always confirm a specific model's category in its FAA-accepted declaration rather than assuming from weight alone.
Remote ID Is Part of the Picture
Operations over people under Subpart D generally also require the drone to broadcast Remote ID under 14 CFR Part 89, so that the aircraft can be identified during flight. A Category 1 drone may rely on a standard or broadcast-module Remote ID solution depending on the model. Confirm a specific drone's Remote ID capability before planning any operation over people.
Operations Over Moving Vehicles
Subpart D also addresses sustained flight over moving vehicles, with conditions that mirror the over-people categories. Transit over a moving vehicle and sustained flight over moving vehicles are treated differently, and open-air assemblies receive the strictest treatment. Because NYC streets are full of moving traffic and pedestrians, operators frequently find that what looks like a simple shot would actually be a sustained operation over people or vehicles, triggering the stricter conditions.
Why This Is Hard in NYC
New York City is one of the most densely populated areas in the country, so almost any flight risks being over people. Even when a drone qualifies under a Subpart D category federally, you still need an FAA airspace authorization for Class B airspace and an NYPD take-off/landing permit under NYC Administrative Code § 10-126. Flying over people in NYC is legal but requires authorization and careful planning — it is not something to attempt casually.
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