okay so i just got a mini 3 pro for christmas and im still figuring everything out. my question is whether i actually need to register it with the FAA if im literally just flying around my own property. i live in a pretty rural area, no airports anywhere near me that i know of. my neighbor said i dont need to do anything under 250g but this thing is definitely heavier than that. i dont want to get in trouble but also dont want to go through a bunch of paperwork if i dont have to. anyone dealt with this before

yeah unfortunately you do need to register if its over 249 grams, doesnt matter if youre in your backyard or the middle of nowhere. the FAA registration is like 5 bucks and takes maybe 10 minutes on their dronezone website. you get a number and you just have to put it on the drone somewhere. the recreational flyer rules also say you need to pass the TRUST test which is free and only takes like 20 minutes, just a basic safety quiz. honestly the registration part is the easy bit, its more about knowing what airspace youre in that trips people up. check your area on the B4UFLY app, it'll tell you if you need any authorizations before you go up.

your neighbor is thinking of the mini series under 250g exemption, but yeah the mini 3 pro is 249g without accessories and tips over once you slap a ND filter or anything on it so always worth registering anyway. also just heads up some states have their own additional rules on top of FAA stuff which is kind of annoying. like Florida has some specific stuff around critical infrastructure, and a few states have rules about flying over private property even your own if it affects neighbors. not trying to scare you just worth googling your specific state too