What are the FAA Compliance Requirements for Drone Custom Applicators? What are the State Requirements?

Operating agricultural spray drones under FAA Part 137 and Section 44807 exemptions requires timely and accurate reporting. This post outlines the exact “what, when, and how” for submissions, along with practical ways tools like DroneTrax can help streamline compliance.

FAA Reporting for Normal Operations

For operators with a 44807 exemption and Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate, the FAA requires monthly flight data submissions to track activity and ensure safety.

What to Submit: Use the FAA’s UAS Exemption Monthly Flight Report. Include company and exemption details, aircraft registration and model, operating locations (city and lat/long), total flights and flight hours (per aircraft and location), HAZMAT flights, any delays/cancellations due to other aircraft, communication issues, and incidents. Report all activities, including training or ferry flights. Negative (zero-flight) reports are required.

When: Monthly, covering the prior month’s operations (typically due shortly after month-end—check your exemption for exact timing).

How: Complete the official Excel workbook and email it to the FAA address listed in your exemption (often 9-AVS-FS-AFS-700-Correspondence@faa.gov). For full details, visit the FAA UAS Dispensing Chemicals page.

DroneTrax simplifies this by automatically pulling flight log data from supported drones, populating the required fields, and generating ready-to-submit monthly reports. Users can review, finalize, and send them directly from the platform.

FAA Reporting for Incidents and Accidents

Accident and incident reporting is more urgent and applies to crashes, damage, boundary violations, or safety events.

What to Submit: Any incident, accident, crash, substantial damage, loss of control, or operation that crosses defined boundaries. Include serious injuries, property damage beyond the drone, chemical releases, or near-misses. Provide details on date, time, location, aircraft, pilot, description, and outcomes.

When: Within 24 hours for most events (or immediately if NTSB criteria apply, such as serious injuries). Include summary details in your next monthly report.

How: Email the designated FAA office (commonly UAS137Certificates@faa.gov or the address in your exemption). Use CAPS forms if available, or provide a clear narrative. Also notify the NTSB if required via their website.

DroneTrax supports incident documentation within work orders and flight records, making it easier to compile accurate details quickly and include them in both immediate notifications and monthly summaries.

State Reporting Requirements

State Departments of Agriculture (or equivalent) primarily require maintenance of pesticide application records, with submissions varying by state. Records typically include product details, rates, locations, dates, and conditions. Most states do not mandate monthly submissions but require records to be available upon request. DroneTrax helps by linking chemical usage and work order data into organized, exportable formats that align with state needs.

Here is a state-by-state overview (always verify current rules directly with the agency via the linked site):

• Alabama: Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries requires detailed spray records (product, amount, site, date). Records must be maintained and available for inspection; no routine submission.
• Alaska: Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation requires records for restricted-use pesticides. Submit as required for specific permits or inspections.
• Arizona: Arizona Department of Agriculture mandates application records retention. Annual summaries or reports may be requested for certain pesticides.
• Arkansas: Arkansas State Plant Board requires maintenance of application records. Submit pesticide use reports if part of state monitoring programs.
• California: California Department of Pesticide Regulation has strict requirements. Submit monthly or quarterly pesticide use reports (PUR) electronically via the online system for most applications.
• Colorado: Colorado Department of Agriculture requires records to be kept and available for inspection. Limited routine reporting.
• Connecticut: Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection requires application logs. Submit for certain commercial operations or incidents.
• Delaware: Delaware Department of Agriculture requires records retained for 2 years and available on request.
• Florida: Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services requires detailed records, with enhanced requirements during declared emergencies (including licensee info, dates, locations).
• Georgia: Georgia Department of Agriculture requires records for aerial applications. Submit if specifically requested.
• Hawaii: Hawaii Department of Agriculture operates a pesticide use reporting system with periodic submissions.
• Idaho: Idaho State Department of Agriculture requires application records maintained and available on request or annually.
• Illinois: Illinois Department of Agriculture requires detailed records available for inspection.
• Indiana: Indiana State Chemist Office requires records to be maintained and available.
• Iowa: Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship requires detailed logs, with reporting tied to specific programs.
• Kansas: Kansas Department of Agriculture requires records for commercial UAS pesticide applications, available on request.
• Kentucky: Kentucky Department of Agriculture requires standard recordkeeping with records available during inspections.
• Louisiana: Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry requires maintenance and provision of records upon request.
• Maine: Maine Department of Agriculture requires records for restricted pesticides, with reporting as needed.
• Maryland: Maryland Department of Agriculture requires application records, with annual or on-request submissions.
• Massachusetts: Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources requires detailed logs to be maintained.
• Michigan: Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development requires annual reports on mix/load pad locations in addition to application records.
• Minnesota: Minnesota Department of Agriculture requires records, with specifics for aerial endorsements.
• Mississippi: Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce requires standard application records.
• Missouri: Missouri Department of Agriculture requires records maintained for inspection.
• Montana: Montana Department of Agriculture requires pesticide records to be available.
• Nebraska: Nebraska Department of Agriculture requires records for aerial pest control applications, available on request.
• Nevada: Nevada Department of Agriculture requires application documentation maintained.
• New Hampshire: New Hampshire Department of Agriculture requires records retained and available.
• New Jersey: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection requires detailed reporting for commercial applicators.
• New Mexico: New Mexico Department of Agriculture requires records with limited routine submissions.
• New York: New York Department of Environmental Conservation requires annual pesticide reporting for certain categories.
• North Carolina: North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services requires records maintained, with specific UAV guidance.
• North Dakota: North Dakota Department of Agriculture requires standard recordkeeping.
• Ohio: Ohio Department of Agriculture requires records available for inspection.
• Oklahoma: Oklahoma Department of Agriculture requires detailed logs maintained.
• Oregon: Oregon Department of Agriculture operates a pesticide use reporting program.
• Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requires records for aerial applicators.
• Rhode Island: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management requires application records.
• South Carolina: South Carolina Department of Pesticide Regulation requires records and possible use reports.
• South Dakota: South Dakota Department of Agriculture requires standard record maintenance.
• Tennessee: Tennessee Department of Agriculture requires records tied to aerial licenses.
• Texas: Texas Department of Agriculture requires records maintained, with summaries or specific reports as needed.
• Utah: Utah Department of Agriculture and Food requires records per pesticide control rules, available on request with no routine monthly submissions.
• Vermont: Vermont Agency of Agriculture requires detailed records maintained.
• Virginia: Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services requires records maintained.
• Washington: Washington State Department of Agriculture requires records with compliance guidance for drone applications.
• West Virginia: West Virginia Department of Agriculture requires standard recordkeeping.
• Wisconsin: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture requires pesticide application records.
• Wyoming: Wyoming Department of Agriculture requires records available for inspection.

These represent the standard regular reporting landscape. DroneTrax integrates flight, maintenance, and chemical data in one platform, helping generate the reports and records needed efficiently. Review your specific exemption documents and contact agencies for tailored guidance. Proper reporting supports safe and legal drone operations.