Beijing will ban residents from owning or storing drones within the city from November under new regulations aimed at tightening controls over unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The new rules, announced on Sunday, will take effect on Nov 15. They prohibit the ownership or storage of drones in the Chinese capital, as well as drone flights within its airspace.
Bringing drones or drone components into Beijing will also be prohibited.
Concerns over airspace safety in the city, which has a population of around 22 million, intensified in June after a small aircraft crashed into a skyscraper, killing the pilot and injuring 13 people.
The municipal government said the new regulations were introduced to strengthen safety measures in the capital.
Under rules introduced in May, Beijing had already banned the sale of drones and required owners to register their devices, although they were still allowed to keep them.
The latest regulations require drone owners to dispose of their devices or remove them from Beijing before Nov 15. Those who fail to comply could face confiscation and fines.
Authorities will provide subsidies to owners who dispose of their drones or sell them through designated buyback channels.
Alternatively, owners can use a free delivery service to have their drones shipped out of the city.
