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FCCUnited StatesKids walkie talkies

Do kids walkie talkies need FCC certification?

Updated

Short answer

Yes, plus CPSC rules because they are toys.

A walkie talkie transmits, so it needs FCC certification whatever its size or price. Most kids sets operate on the Family Radio Service (FRS) channels and are certified under 47 CFR part 95 subpart B. Users need no license for FRS, but 47 CFR 95.335 bars operating any Personal Radio Service transmitter that is not certified. Cheaper toys on 49 MHz are certified under Part 15 instead.

What changes the answer

  • FRS design rules. FRS radios must transmit only on the FRS channels in 95.563, have a non-removable antenna, and meet the other design limits in 95.587. A radio that can also transmit on GMRS or other services cannot be sold as FRS (95.591).
  • 49 MHz toy radios. Low-power 49.82 to 49.90 MHz units are Part 15 intentional radiators under 15.235 and need certification under 15.201(b).
  • Children's product. A walkie talkie sized, themed or marketed for kids 12 and under is a children's product, and as a toy it falls under ASTM F963-23, adopted as the mandatory toy standard in 16 CFR 1250. That means third-party testing at a CPSC-accepted lab and a Children's Product Certificate.
  • Batteries. Toys that meet the battery accessibility and labeling rules of 16 CFR 1250 are exempt from Reese's Law under 16 CFR 1263.1(c). Button cells still need secured compartments under the toy standard.

What to do

  1. Get the FCC ID from the factory and check the grant in the FCC equipment authorization database: rule part (95B for FRS or 15C for 49 MHz), frequency range and model.
  2. Label the radio with the FCC ID under 47 CFR 2.925.
  3. Test the toy at a CPSC-accepted lab for ASTM F963-23, lead in paint and substrate, and phthalates in accessible plasticized parts.
  4. Issue a Children's Product Certificate and eFile its data with the entry, required since July 8, 2026 under 16 CFR 1110.13.
  5. Add permanent tracking labels to the toy and its packaging, and any age or small parts warnings the toy rules require.
HTS lines for walkie talkies
  • 8525.60.10.30

    8525: Transmission apparatus for radio-broadcasting or television, whether or not incorporating reception apparatus or sound recording or reproducing apparatus; television cameras, digital cameras and video camera recorders

    Transmission apparatus incorporating reception apparatus / Transceivers / Hand-held

    Hand-held transceivers, the usual line for FRS radios.

    General rate
    Free
  • 8525.60.10.20

    8525: Transmission apparatus for radio-broadcasting or television, whether or not incorporating reception apparatus or sound recording or reproducing apparatus; television cameras, digital cameras and video camera recorders

    Transmission apparatus incorporating reception apparatus / Transceivers / Low-power radiotelephonic transceivers operating on frequencies from 49.82 to 49.90 MHz

    Low-power radiotelephonic transceivers operating on 49.82 to 49.90 MHz.

    General rate
    Free
  • 9503.00.00.73

    9503: Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys; dolls' carriages; dolls, other toys; reduced-scale ("scale") models and similar recreational models, working or not; puzzles of all kinds; parts and accessories thereof

    "Children's products" as defined in 15 U.S.C. § 2052 / Labeled or determined by importer as intended for use by persons / 3 to 12 years of age

    Toys for ages 3 to 12. Some toy sets with a nominal radio function are classified as toys; check CBP rulings.

    General rate
    Free

Next steps

Frequently asked questions

Do kids need a license to use FRS walkie talkies?
No. FRS is licensed by rule, so users do not apply for a license. The radio itself must be certified.
Can I sell walkie talkies that cover FRS and GMRS channels as FRS radios?
No. 47 CFR 95.591 bars the sale of hand-held radios that operate under FRS and another licensed or licensed-by-rule service. Radios with GMRS capability must be certified for GMRS.
Does a CPC cover the FCC part?
No. The CPC covers CPSC rules only. FCC certification is a separate grant from a TCB, and you need both.

Sources

  1. 47 CFR part 95, Personal radio services, eCFR, National Archives
  2. 47 CFR 95.335, Operation of non-certified transmitters prohibited, eCFR, National Archives
  3. 47 CFR 95.587, FRS additional requirements, eCFR, National Archives
  4. 16 CFR 1250.2, Requirements for toy safety, eCFR, National Archives
  5. Children's Products business guidance, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

This is general information drawn from the official sources linked above. It is not legal advice. Rules change and often turn on the facts of your product, so confirm your test plan with an accredited lab and your obligations with qualified counsel before you import or sell.