GMRS Licensing & Rules

Photo: a neat desk with a generic printed certificate with no readable text, a pen and a plain handheld radio. Photorealistic, no logos, no brand names, no readable text, no identifiable faces

GMRS is a licensed service, but the license is simple, and most of the rules fit on a page. This hub collects our guides to 47 CFR Part 95 Subpart E. Each one quotes the rule and links to the current eCFR text.

Licensing in one paragraph

You need a valid individual license to operate a GMRS station (95.1705). Any individual 18 or older who isn’t a foreign government representative may apply (95.305). The FCC charges $35 for a new license and $35 to renew, and the term is 10 years. One license covers you and the immediate family members you allow to operate, from spouses and children to grandparents, aunts, uncles and in-laws (95.1705(c)(2)). You apply online in the FCC’s ULS after getting an FCC Registration Number (FRN).

Channels and power

GMRS has 30 channels: 16 main and 14 interstitial (95.1763). Power depends on channel and station type (95.1767):

  • Main channels: up to 50 W transmitter output for mobile, repeater and base stations; 15 W for fixed stations.
  • 462 MHz interstitials (channels 1–7): 5 W ERP.
  • 467 MHz interstitials (channels 8–14): 0.5 W ERP, handhelds only.

The eight 467 MHz main channels are repeater inputs.

On the air

Identify with your call sign at the end of a transmission or series, and at least every 15 minutes in longer conversations, by voice in English or by Morse (95.1751). GMRS is for two-way talk about personal or business activities. Music, advertising, coded messages, continuous transmissions and internet-linked repeaters are out (95.1731, 95.1733, FCC).

Equipment

Use radios certified for GMRS (95.1761). Since September 30, 2019, radios certified for both GMRS and FRS can’t be made, imported or sold (95.1791). For choosing a radio, see the Radios hub.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Transmitting before the grant. Wait until ULS shows the license as active and you have your call sign.
  • Running 50 W on interstitials. Channels 1–7 cap at 5 W ERP and 8–14 at 0.5 W ERP, whatever the radio can do.
  • Skipping identification. It costs a few seconds and is required on every channel.
  • Linking repeaters over the internet. The FCC’s GMRS page says it isn’t allowed.
  • Letting friends operate. Only you and your immediate family may operate under your license, except to send an emergency message.
  • Forgetting renewal. The FCC GMRS page says you can renew starting 90 days before expiration.

Frequently asked

Is there an exam? No. Subpart E sets eligibility and fee requirements only.

Can my teenager use my radio? Yes. Immediate family members you authorize may operate your stations, with no age limit in the rule. You stay responsible, and for operators under 18, the licensee alone is responsible for improper operation of a repeater or base station (95.1705(b)–(c), 95.1743).

Can a friend use my radio? Only to send an emergency message, unless they hold their own license (95.1705(c)(3)).

Where do I check the current rules? The eCFR updates Part 95 as amendments take effect. Our pages show the date we last checked.

General information, not legal advice. The eCFR text of 47 CFR Part 95 is the authority.

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