Beijing to ban even storing drones from November, offers subsidies for disposal

Beijing will ban not only the flying of drones across the entire city but also their storage and transport into the capital from November, citing security concerns.

The Beijing municipal government adopted the revised "Beijing Municipal Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Drone) Management Regulations" on Sunday and announced they will take effect Nov. 15, according to the Beijing Daily.

The revised rules designate the entire Beijing administrative area as a drone-controlled airspace, prohibiting in principle the flying of drones as well as the ownership or storage of drones and related core components within the zone. Transporting or carrying drones into the Beijing administrative area, and establishing storage facilities there, are also banned.

Beijing banned unauthorized drone flights in August last year and has since tightened regulations further, prohibiting new sales, rentals and imports of drones and restricting their storage from May this year.

The latest revision goes a step further by banning the storage of drones that residents already own. However, the Beijing Public Security Bureau said exceptions will apply for drones used for special purposes, including counter-terrorism, disaster relief and major events. Agriculture and forestry, education, research and development, production, and sports training and competition are also among the exempted categories.

Ahead of the new rules taking effect, the city has set up disposal channels for residents who currently own drones, including on-site purchases, scrapping and collection, and courier shipment out of Beijing. Those who sell their drones to designated companies by the end of next month will receive a subsidy of 30 percent of the purchase price, up to 3,000 yuan ($447), while sales made between Nov. 1 and Nov. 14 will be subsidized at 15 percent of the purchase price, up to 1,500 yuan.

Those who choose to scrap or surrender their drones at designated locations rather than sell them will receive 200 yuan per unit through the end of October, and 100 yuan per unit between Nov. 1 and Nov. 14.

The subsidies apply only to privately owned drones that have been verified by public security authorities. Owners may also personally transport their drones out of Beijing by air, rail or road.