The DJI Situation and What It Means for Real Estate Drone Operators

By Don Hazelwood

October 29. 20205

If you fly drones for real estate photography or as a hobby, you’ve likely seen the headlines about DJI and the growing tension around its future in the United States. Right now, you can still fly your existing DJI drone legally. There’s no outright ban, and the sky isn’t falling today. But the landscape is shifting, and it’s going to affect the way many of us work, especially those of us who rely on DJI gear for many different uses from real estate, construction progress, and marketing footage to name a few.

The Current Situation

Let’s start with what’s happening right now. Existing DJI drones remain fully legal to fly. Whether you’re shooting rooflines, estate listings, or empty lots, your current drone can stay in the air. The issue isn’t about what’s flying, it’s about what’s coming into the country.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been delaying or blocking shipments of new DJI products at the border. They cite the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which increases scrutiny on products potentially linked to forced labor in China. As a result, new DJI drones are becoming scarce on store shelves across the country. Retailers are struggling to restock, and some models are already sold out everywhere.

At the same time, government agencies are already operating under a complete DJI ban. Federal agencies and contractors cannot buy or use DJI drones due to national-security concerns, and several state and local public-safety agencies have followed suit. This restriction hasn’t trickled down to private industry yet, but it’s a sign of the direction things are headed.

So, while you can keep flying the gear you own, getting new gear, or even replacement parts, is becoming more difficult.

Why a Full Ban Looks Likely

The heart of this issue lies in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. Tucked into it is a provision requiring a national security agency to audit DJI by December 23, 2025. This might sound routine, but here’s where it gets serious: if the audit isn’t finished by the deadline, DJI will automatically be added to the Federal Communications Commission’s “Covered List.”

Once a company lands on this list, the FCC will stop certifying new products from them. This means DJI would no longer be able to sell or officially support new drones, controllers, or accessories in the U.S. In other words, the company wouldn’t technically be banned, but its business would be suffocated.

In late October 2025, the FCC took it a step further by voting to give itself the power to retroactively ban previously approved devices from companies deemed national-security risks. This is a huge move because it means the FCC could invalidate certifications already granted to DJI products, cutting off their ability to function within the U.S. communications framework.

The audit deadline in December 2025 is the line in the sand. If nothing changes by then, new DJI products will effectively be blocked from entering the U.S. market, and the company’s dominance could fade almost overnight.

What This Means for Drone Users

For drone operators—especially those working in real estate photography. this isn’t a sudden ban but a slow squeeze on the DJI ecosystem. Your current drone will keep flying, but support and sustainability are the long-term concerns.

If DJI ends up on the FCC’s Covered List, it’s unlikely existing drones will be remotely disabled or “bricked.” However, the ecosystem which makes them so dependable could start to crumble. Firmware updates might stop, app access could vanish, and replacement parts could dry up. Drones use radio frequencies for control and transmission, and those require FCC authorization. Any major update involving communication, security, or connectivity often requires new authorization. Once the FCC blocks those, DJI can’t legally roll out updates in the U.S.

There’s also a business reality to consider. If DJI can’t sell new drones or accessories in the United States, there’s little financial incentive for the company to maintain its software or compliance features for U.S. customers. Cloud-based services like geofencing and flight safety updates could become unreliable or stop altogether. Even the apps used to manage and update DJI drones, like DJI Fly or DJI Pilot, could disappear from U.S. app stores if regulators pressure Apple and Google to remove them.

Without these updates, drone operators face several long-term risks. FAA rules for Remote ID are still evolving, and future firmware requirements could change. Without updates, some DJI models might fall out of compliance, grounding them for professional use. Security vulnerabilities could remain unpatched. And cloud-dependent functions like geofencing might gradually fail, limiting flight zones or preventing takeoff in certain areas.

This gradual loss of support could make DJI drones increasingly unreliable over time, even if they remain physically functional.

The Real Estate Photography Impact

For real estate photographers, this situation hits harder than most industries. DJI drones are the workhorses of the trade. They’re dependable, easy to use, and produce professional-grade imagery all of our clients have come to expect. Many real estate photographers built their workflows around DJI hardware and software integration, from automated flight paths to HDR capture profiles.

Imagine trying to shoot a 6,000-square-foot luxury home when your DJI app won’t load geofencing data, or when your firmware is out of sync with FAA regulations. It doesn’t take much to create downtime or compliance headaches which will ripple through your business.

Even if you can keep flying, parts shortages could slow operations. Batteries and gimbals have limited lifespans, and if new shipments stop, you may be competing on eBay for used parts to keep your drone running. Resale values could drop sharply as uncertainty grows, affecting small operators who rely on upgrading older gear to fund newer purchases.

On the business side, there’s a marketing and client-trust angle. Larger real estate firms are becoming more cautious about data security and regulatory compliance. You might start getting questions from clients about the equipment you use, particularly if they’ve heard about the national-security concerns around DJI. Being able to show you’ve evaluated compliant alternatives, or you are prepared for changes, could help maintain credibility.

Preparing for the Next 12 Months

While the situation is complicated, there are practical things you can do to stay ahead. Start by documenting what you have. Know your current models, firmware versions, and accessory lists. If you’re running DJI drones, make sure they’re updated now while updates are still available.

It’s also wise to secure spare batteries, props, and accessories while you can still get them at reasonable prices. Having a buffer will help if parts become difficult to find. Back up all your flight logs and settings locally instead of relying solely on DJI’s cloud, just in case access becomes restricted.

Begin exploring alternative drone options, even if you don’t switch immediately. Companies like Skydio and Parrot are gaining traction with NDAA-compliant drones. They’re more expensive and don’t yet match DJI’s combination of performance and ease of use, but they’re improving quickly. Getting familiar with another platform now could save you from being blindsided later.

If you run a real estate photography business, consider how this affects your service model. You might decide to keep your current DJI drones operational as long as possible while gradually transitioning to compliant brands. Updating your contracts and communications to reflect your equipment strategy can reassure clients you are operating responsibly and are ahead of the curve.

And keep watching for updates. The key date is December 23, 2025. If the audit deadline passes without resolution, the FCC’s Covered List change could take effect soon after. Staying informed through drone publications, forums, and FAA announcements will help you adjust quickly.

The Bottom Line

There’s no reason to panic today. DJI drones remain legal to fly, and no one is grounding them tomorrow. But this situation is a reminder the tools we rely on are deeply connected to global politics and regulatory policy. DJI’s challenges aren’t just about drones, they’re about data, security, and control of emerging technologies.

For real estate photographers, it’s about business continuity. You need reliable tools to deliver consistent, high-quality work. The next year may bring more uncertainty than we’re used to, but those who prepare, by diversifying equipment, staying compliant, and communicating transparently with clients will adapt.

Drones have transformed real estate marketing by giving us new perspectives and storytelling power. Whether DJI remains part of this picture or not, the demand for aerial imagery isn’t going anywhere. The tools might change, but the sky is still open.

So, keep flying, keep learning, and keep your business ready for whatever changes come next.