(Bloomberg) -- Owners of consumer drones will have to beginregisteringwith the U.S. government starting next week under a policyissued in time for the expected holiday buying rush.

All but the smallest toys will qualify for tracking by theFederal Aviation Administration as the agency attempts to imposeorder on the burgeoning hobbyist use of the unmanned craft. Dronesmust be registered starting Dec. 21 and the agency will charge a $5fee, which is required under current law, according to the FAA.

Related: FAA urges largest fine yet on drones in crackdownon near misses

Incidents in which drones have flown close to traditionalaircraft or in prohibited zones have surged this year in spite ofindustry and FAA efforts to educate the public on their properuse.

“Make no mistake: unmanned aircraft enthusiasts are aviators,and with that title comes a great deal of responsibility,”Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said at press conferenceMonday. “Registration gives us an opportunity to work with theseusers to operate their unmanned aircraft safely.”

The announcement marks an evolution in how small drones aretreated by the government, which had initially taken more of ahands-off policy but now believes rules are needed to ensuresafety. It also prompted objections from some hobbyist and industrygroups.

Model operators

The Academy of Model Aeronautics, which has for decadesrepresented model aircraft operators, issued a statement saying theregulation violates language in a 2012 law passed by Congress thatexempted its members from new government rules.

“AMA is disappointed with the new rule,” Dave Mathewson, thegroup’s executive director, said in the statement.

The FAA believes it has authority to regulate drones because thesame 2012 law defines all unmanned vehicles as aircraft under U.S.law, Michael Whitaker, the FAA’s deputy administrator, said in thepress conference.

The Consumer Technology Association, an electronics- industrytrade group, blasted the FAA in a Dec. 10 press release forincluding a fee in the registration rule. The charge would be“essentially a drone tax” and would undermine the government’s goalof getting widespread compliance, Douglas Johnson, vice presidentfor technology policy, said in the release.

Civilian drones

Civilian drones weighing more than 250 grams (0.55 pounds) mustbe registered and identified with markings so that authorities havea better chance of finding the owner in the event of an illegalflight or crash, Whitaker said. People can register once and applyit to multiple drones.

The registration is good for three years and there’s a provisionallowing someone to cancel a registration if they sell a drone.

Related: Toy drones pose greater risk to planes than birdsdo, study says

The agency will not charge the $5 fee for the first 30 days, hesaid. Current U.S. law requires that the agency charge the fee,which is the same for small private planes and airliners, hesaid.

Multiple drones

People who bought drones before Dec. 21 have untilFeb. 19to register them with the government. Anyone who buysa drone after Dec. 21 must register before flying it outdoors,according to Whitaker.

Once a person registers, they can use that registration formultiple drones, he said. If people ignore the new rule, thegovernment has existing laws to take enforcement action, hesaid.

The government accepted most of the recommendations of a taskforce of drone- and aviation-industry representatives. In spite ofthat, some drone operators began objecting to registration evenbefore it was finalized.

The registration doesn’t apply to drones operated for hire,which must already be registered with the government. The FAA isdrafting separate regulations it expects to complete next year togovern small commercial drones.

The CTA estimates there will be 700,000 consumer drones sold inthe U.S. this year, an increase of 63% compared to last year. Asmany as 400,000 of the devices will be sold during the holidays,according to the group.

A trade group representing drone manufacturers, the Associationfor Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, praised the FAAaction.

“Though it may not be perfect, this process and final rule showsthat industry and government can come together quickly to developpolicy,” AUVSI President Brian Wynne said in an e-mailed statement.Wynne urged the FAA to complete regulations for commercial dronesas soon as possible.

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