The Federal Aviation Administration has issued new rules policing the use of most small commercial drones.
It is the first comprehensive plan to ensure safety in the skies and laid out strict rules over where and when small unmanned aircraft can operate.
Running to more than 600 pages, the FAA rulebook covers the safe use of commercial drone flights, such those used for aerial photography.
Pilots must keep the drone within line of sight at all times and can only operate during daylight hours.
Altitude is limited in most cases to a maximum of 400 feet in areas where there are no tall buildings.
All pilots, who must be at least 16 years old, are required to pass an aeronautics test and background check by the TSA every two years.
"We wanted to make sure we’re striking the right balance between innovation and safety," said transportation secretary Anthony Foxx.
"We are part of a new era in aviation, and the potential for unmanned aircraft will make it safer and easier to do certain jobs, gather information, and deploy disaster relief."
The Department of Transportation cited estimates that the drone industry could create thousands of jobs and generate billions for the US economy.
"With this new rule, we are taking a careful and deliberate approach that balances the need to deploy this new technology with the FAA’s mission to protect public safety but this is just our first step. We’re already working on additional rules that will expand the range of operations," FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said.
The rules come into effect in August and are separate from FAA regulations for hobbyist non-commercial drone operators.
