Sub-250g drone rules in the UK (2026)
✓ Reviewed against CAA sources on 6 July 2026
Sub-250g drones (UK0 class, or unmarked legacy drones under 250g) remain the sweet spot for UK hobbyists — but the perks are slightly slimmer than they used to be. Here's the 2026 picture.
What you still get
A1 'Over People' flying — the fewest restrictions in the Open category. Fly in towns and residential areas, closer than 50m to people, briefly over uninvolved people (never crowds). No Remote ID requirement. No A2 CofC needed for close-to-people flying.
What changed in January 2026
The old 'no test at all' perk is gone: any drone 100g or over now needs a Flyer ID (free online theory test), and 100g+ camera drones need an Operator ID (£12.34/year) as well. Only sub-100g drones escape registration entirely.
What never applied
Sub-250g was never a free-for-all. The 120m height limit, airport Flight Restriction Zones, visual-line-of-sight, privacy laws and local bylaws all apply at any weight. Check where you're flying before you take off — our locations map is built for exactly that.
Shopping in this class? See our ranked best sub-250g drones guide.
Official sources
This page is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. The CAA links above are always the authoritative version.