New regulations governing the sale and use of drones in Beijing will come into effect on Friday, according to city authorities.
Under the new rules, the sale, rental and import of drones and key components will be prohibited within the Chinese capital.
Drone owners will also be required to register their devices with the police.
All outdoor drone flights in Beijing will require prior approval.
Users must complete an online training session and pass a test on current drone regulations before operating a device.
Authorities said drones must be registered before being brought in or out of Beijing.
If a drone is sent outside the city for repair, the owner will need to collect it in person rather than receive it by delivery.
However, exemptions apply for drones used in approved activities such as counter-terrorism and disaster relief operations.
According to officials, the measures are intended to address public safety issues in low-altitude airspace.
READ ALSO: X Begins Rollout of New AI-Powered Advertising Platform
Xiong Jinghua, a senior official in the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, said the aim was to balance safety with technological and economic development.
The changes follow a broader tightening of drone regulations across China in recent years.
In 2023, Beijing’s entire airspace was designated a no-drone zone, with air traffic approval required for flights.
Drones form part of China’s “low-altitude economy,” a sector the government has identified as a strategic priority.
Official projections suggest the industry could be worth more than two trillion yuan by 2035.
While drones are widely used in some Chinese cities for services such as food delivery, agriculture and building maintenance, China is also home to known manufacturers including Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI), the world’s largest drone maker.
Reports indicate that DJI stores in Beijing are removing drones and related products from shelves ahead of the new restrictions.
Government data shows there are more than three million registered drones in China.