China has announced a sweeping ban on drones in Beijing, prohibiting residents from possessing or storing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) within the capital from November 15.

Under the new regulations announced on Sunday, the possession, storage and operation of drones will be prohibited across the city, while transporting drones or their components into Beijing will also be banned.

Authorities said the measures were introduced to “safeguard the security of the capital.”

Drone owners will be offered subsidies to scrap their devices, while those who have registered their drones may also have them bought back by the authorities. Owners can alternatively use free shipping services to send the devices out of Beijing.

The new rules come after Beijing banned the sale of drones in May, although registered owners were still permitted to keep their devices.

Under the latest regulations, owners must either dispose of their drones or move them out of the capital by November 15, failing which they could face confiscation and fines.

Security concerns surrounding the use of drones have intensified in Beijing, a city of about 22 million people. In June, a small aircraft crashed into the capital’s tallest skyscraper, killing the pilot and injuring 13 people.

Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, said the ban reflected Beijing’s heightened sensitivity to security.

He noted that the restrictions were aimed not only at preventing terrorist threats but also at addressing potential counter-intelligence concerns, given that drones can be used for surveillance.

Drone flights within Beijing’s airspace already require official permission.

However, the new regulations allow exemptions for special operations, including counter-terrorism, agriculture, disaster relief and scientific research.