On May 1st, 2026, Beijing will officially enter a new stage of "full-scale drone control". According to the "Regulations on the Management of Unmanned Aircraft in Beijing", starting from this date, the entire administrative area of Beijing has been designated as a controlled airspace for unmanned aircraft. This means that all outdoor drone flights within the Beijing area must be submitted for application and approved in advance; otherwise, they cannot be carried out. This regulation, which was voted on by the 16th session of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee on March 27th, 2026, consists of 12 articles and implements full-chain control over the production, sales, transportation, storage, and flight of drones.
The core of the new regulation is an unprecedentedly strict airspace control. Unlike the current management model at the national level where "controlled airspace" (above 120 meters in altitude, around airports, etc.) and "operational airspace" coexist, the new regulation in Beijing implements full-scale control. Regardless of the size of the drone or its flight purpose, outdoor flights must all be approved. At the same time, the regulation clearly prohibits the sale and rental of drones and their core components to units and individuals in Beijing; prohibits transporting or carrying drones and their core components into Beijing; and prohibits illegal production, assembly, modification of drones or cracking their systems.
In the storage aspect, the new regulations prohibit the establishment of drone storage facilities within the six-ring road (inclusive) area and also prohibit the construction of such facilities throughout the city. According to the supporting regulations, if more than 3 complete drones or more than 10 core components are stored at the same address, it will be regarded as a storage facility. All drone owners must cooperate with the public security authorities to complete the information verification within three months after the implementation of the regulations. The existing drones need to complete the real-name registration and activation as required by the state before April 30.
To implement the new regulations, the Beijing police have continuously intensified their efforts in investigating and punishing cases. Since the Beijing municipal government issued the airspace control notice in August 2025, the police have dealt with multiple cases of "unauthorized flights". According to public reports, a total of 51 cases were investigated from August to October 2025, and there have been many cases since 2026. The involved individuals were punished with administrative detention, fines, confiscation of equipment, etc. The cases involved various scenarios such as unauthorized filming in scenic spots, corporate publicity, and agricultural production test flights.
As the deadline on May 1st approaches, the industry leader DJI Innovation has initiated the process of removing its products from the shelves in Beijing. According to the staff at its Beijing International Trade Center store, the drone products in all Beijing stores were suspended from sales after 4 p.m. on April 29th, and the clearance process must be completed by April 30th. The online platform has also stopped shipping to addresses in Beijing. After May 1st, the Beijing stores will no longer be responsible for repairs, and users will need to send the products to other places or go to service centers in other provinces and cities for handling. On the e-commerce platform, the official flagship store on Tmall has indicated that most of its products are no longer supported for sale in the Beijing area.
The new regulations also provide space for special needs. For counter-terrorism and stability maintenance, emergency rescue and disaster relief, as well as for major event security, and for certain needs in teaching, research and development, agricultural production, etc., after security assessments by relevant departments such as the public security organs, the purchase, transportation and storage of drones are allowed. The person in charge of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress said that this legislation, while adhering to strict management, also takes into account the needs of production and life, and leaves room for development for special industries.
Some analyses suggest that, based on Beijing's implementation of strict overall control measures, the low-altitude economy is not experiencing a "pause" in its development; instead, it has entered a new stage centered around "law and order". In 2026, with the implementation of this landmark regulation in Beijing, it marks a shift in the low-altitude economy sector from early market exploration and scale expansion to a deep-level governance that prioritizes safety and norms. In the short term, strict entry requirements and the full-chain control will indeed curb some activities in the consumer market, such as ordinary sales and recreational flights. However, in the long run, the clear regulatory boundaries have delineated a safety red line for the industry, providing a predictable and accessible institutional pathway for applications with social value and productivity, such as emergency rescue, industry inspection, and logistics delivery. This is not the end of development; rather, it is a crucial turning point from "uncontrolled growth" to "orderly development". Therefore, 2026 may be regarded as the "first year" of China's low-altitude economy strengthening its legal foundation and pursuing high-quality development.
