Part 107, explained · Last reviewed October 25, 2026 against the eCFR and faa.gov. UAV Campus is not affiliated with the FAA.
What is an FAA declaration of compliance for a Category 2 or 3 drone?
A declaration of compliance (DOC) is a record submitted to the FAA that certifies a small unmanned aircraft conforms to the Category 2 or Category 3 requirements of Part 107 subpart D. Once the FAA accepts it, the remote pilot must use an aircraft listed on an FAA-accepted DOC for those categories.
The applicant, the person who designs, produces or modifies the aircraft, files the DOC. The remote pilot checks the FAA DOC Portal and also confirms the category label on the aircraft.
Sources: 14 CFR 107.3 · 14 CFR 107.160 · AC 107-2A, 8.3.5 and 8.9
What the regulation says
§ 107.160 Declaration of compliance.
(a) Required information. In order for an applicant to declare a small unmanned aircraft is compliant with the requirements of this subpart for Category 2 or Category 3 operations, an applicant must submit a declaration of compliance for acceptance by the FAA, in a manner specified by the Administrator, that includes the following information: (1) Applicant's name; (2) Applicant's physical address; (3) Applicant's email address; (4) The small unmanned aircraft make and model name, and series, if applicable; (5) The small unmanned aircraft serial number or range of serial numbers that are the subject of the declaration of compliance; (6) Whether the declaration of compliance is an initial declaration or an amended declaration; (7) If the declaration of compliance is an amended declaration, the reason for the re-submittal; (8) The accepted means of compliance the applicant used to fulfill requirements of § 107.120(a) or § 107.130(a) or both; (9) A declaration that the applicant— (i) Has demonstrated that the small unmanned aircraft, or specific configurations of that aircraft, satisfies § 107.120(a) or § 107.130(a) or both, through the accepted means of compliance identified in paragraph (a)(8) of this section; (ii) Has verified that the unmanned aircraft does not contain any safety defects; (iii) Has satisfied § 107.120(b)(3) or § 107.130(b)(3), or both; and (iv) Will, upon request, allow the Administrator to inspect its facilities, technical data, and any manufactured small unmanned aircraft and witness any tests necessary to determine compliance with this subpart; and (10) Other information as required by the Administrator.
(b) FAA acceptance. If the FAA determines the applicant has demonstrated compliance with the requirements of this subpart, it will notify the applicant that it has accepted the declaration of compliance.
Read all of § 107.160
(c) Notification of a safety issue. Prior to initiating rescission proceedings pursuant to paragraphs (d)(1) through (3) of this section, the FAA will notify the applicant if a safety issue has been identified for the declaration of compliance.
(d) Rescission. (1) No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft identified on a declaration of compliance that the FAA has rescinded pursuant to this subpart while that declaration of compliance is rescinded. (2) The FAA may rescind a declaration of compliance if any of the following conditions occur: (i) A small unmanned aircraft for which a declaration of compliance was accepted no longer complies with § 107.120(a) or § 107.130(a); (ii) The FAA finds a declaration of compliance is in violation of § 107.5(a); or (iii) The Administrator determines an emergency exists related to safety in accordance with the authority in 49 U.S.C. 46105. (3) If a safety issue identified under paragraph (c) of this section has not been resolved, the FAA may rescind the declaration of compliance as follows: (i) The FAA will issue a notice proposing to rescind the declaration of compliance. The notice will set forth the Agency's basis for the proposed rescission and provide the holder of the declaration of compliance with 30 calendar days from the date of issuance of the proposed notice to submit evidentiary information to refute the proposed notice. (ii) The holder of the declaration of compliance must submit information demonstrating how the small unmanned aircraft meets the requirements of this subpart within 30 calendar days from the date of issuance of the proposed notice. (iii) If the FAA does not receive the information required by paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of this section within 30 calendar days from the date of the issuance of the proposed notice, the FAA will issue a notice rescinding the declaration of compliance. (4) If the Administrator determines that an emergency exists in accordance with paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this section, the FAA will exercise its authority under 49 U.S.C. 46105(c) to issue an order rescinding a declaration of compliance without initiating the process in paragraph (d)(3) of this section.
(e) Petition to reconsider the rescission of a declaration of compliance. A person subject to an order of rescission under paragraph (d)(3) of this section may petition the FAA to reconsider the rescission of a declaration of compliance by submitting a request to the FAA in a manner specified by the Administrator within 60 days of the date of issuance of the rescission. (1) A petition to reconsider the rescission of a declaration of compliance must demonstrate at least one of the following: (i) A material fact that was not present in the original response to the notification of the safety issue and an explanation for why it was not present in the original response; (ii) The FAA made a material factual error in the decision to rescind the declaration of compliance; or (iii) The FAA did not correctly interpret a law, regulation, or precedent. (2) Upon consideration of the information submitted under paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the FAA will issue a notice either affirming the rescission or withdrawing the rescission.
(f) Inapplicability of part 13, subpart D, of this chapter. Part 13, subpart D, of this chapter does not apply to the procedures of paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section.
14 CFR 107.3, declaration of compliance
Declaration of compliance means a record submitted to the FAA that certifies the small unmanned aircraft conforms to the Category 2 or Category 3 requirements under subpart D of this part.
AC 107-2A, 8.3.5.1
A remote pilot can accomplish these things by checking the FAA's DOC Portal at https://uasdoc.faa.gov to see if the DOC is valid
Sources: 14 CFR 107.160 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-21) · 14 CFR 107.3, declaration of compliance · AC 107-2A, 8.3.5.1
Exam traps
- A DOC covers Category 2 and Category 3 only, not Category 1 (AC 107-2A says there are no applicant requirements for Category 1).
- The aircraft must be listed on an FAA-accepted DOC, and also labeled as eligible, to be used in Category 2 or 3.
- No person may operate an aircraft identified on a DOC the FAA has rescinded while it is rescinded.
- Changes not allowed by the remote pilot operating instructions can require a new DOC and relabeling.
Try it: practice questions
Similar to the FAA test, not the actual test questions.
Practice question 1
You acquired a Category 2 sUAS and plan to use it to record video footage at weddings. Can you legally fly over the bride/groom during a private photo session?
- A Yes, as long as the bride and groom provided their written consent.
- B No, sustained flights over human beings are not allowed.
- C Yes, as long as the aircraft is listed with an FAA-accepted Declaration of Compliance.
Show the answer
Answer: C. Yes, as long as the aircraft is listed with an FAA-accepted Declaration of Compliance.(As long as the aircraft has a listed Declaration of Compliance on the FAA website, you’re good to go and fly over small groups of people. Remote ID has not effect here, this requirement would only apply for flights being conducted over open air assembly. A couple does not qualify as open air assembly. While written consent is a good thing to have to cover yourself, it is not part of the regulation and not the most correct answer.)
FAA source: 14 CFR 107.115(a)(2)
Practice question 2
You acquired a Category 2 sUAS and plan to use it to record video footage at weddings. Can you legally fly over the bride/groom during a private photo session?
- A Yes, as long as the bride and groom provided their written consent.
- B Yes, as long as the aircraft is listed with an FAA-accepted Declaration of Compliance.
- C No, sustained flights over human beings are not allowed.
Show the answer
Answer: B. Yes, as long as the aircraft is listed with an FAA-accepted Declaration of Compliance.(As long as the aircraft has a listed Declaration of Compliance on the FAA website, you’re good to go and fly over small groups of people. Remote ID has not effect here, this requirement would only apply for flights being conducted over open air assembly. A couple does not qualify as open air assembly. While written consent is a good thing to have to cover yourself, it is not part of the regulation and not the most correct answer.)
FAA source: 14 CFR 107.115(a)(2)
Practice question 3
Which statement about Category 1 operations over people is true?
- A Any aircraft weighing 0.55 lb or less qualifies, even with exposed propellers.
- B No Declaration of Compliance is needed; the aircraft must weigh 0.55 lb or less including everything on board and have no exposed rotating parts that would lacerate skin.
- C The aircraft must be listed on an FAA-accepted Declaration of Compliance and labeled "Category 1".
Show the answer
Answer: B. No Declaration of Compliance is needed; the aircraft must weigh 0.55 lb or less including everything on board and have no exposed rotating parts that would lacerate skin.14 CFR 107.110(a): Category 1 needs a 0.55 lb-or-less aircraft (on takeoff and throughout the flight, everything attached) with no exposed lacerating rotating parts. Under 107.3 a Declaration of Compliance applies only to Category 2 or 3.
FAA sources: 14 CFR 107.110(a) · 14 CFR 107.3 (Declaration of compliance)
How does a remote pilot check a declaration of compliance?
Check the FAA DOC Portal to see if the DOC is valid, and visually inspect the aircraft for a label showing the category.
Source: AC 107-2A, 8.3.5.1
Is this the same as the Remote ID declaration of compliance?
No. In Part 89, a declaration of compliance is a producer record attesting the subpart F Remote ID requirements are met. The Part 107 DOC concerns subpart D categories.
Sources: 14 CFR 89.1 · 14 CFR 107.3