Commercial Drone Cleaning for Buildings, Windows & Roofs
Property managers, HOA boards, and facilities teams use drone crews to clean facades, glass, roofs, and rooftop solar without lifts or rigging on some jobs. Here is how it works and what to ask for.
Updated October 1, 2026 · Soar-n-Wash is a directory, not a cleaning company.
Surfaces drone crews clean
- Facades: stucco, painted concrete, metal panel, and curtain wall.
- Exterior glass on multi-story buildings.
- Commercial roofs, including tile, metal, and membrane.
- Rooftop and carport solar arrays.
How a commercial drone job runs
The crew sets up a ground pump, water supply, and tether, then marks a safety zone below the work area. The drone sprays a cleaning solution at low pressure and rinses, elevation by elevation. Expect the operator to ask about tenant notices, parking, and flight restrictions near the site.
Published commercial rates
These are vendor-published rates. Your building's price depends on height, surface area, access, and condition.
- DroneWash+: $0.10 to $0.40 per sq ft for commercial window cleaning, or $250 to $500 per hour; minimums usually $500 to $1,500.
- Exterior Drone Washing: $0.12 to $0.25 per sq ft of glass.
- Vista Drone Cleaning (Miami): $0.12 to $0.25 per sq ft for facades and windows.
Insurance to ask for
Lucid Bots, which makes the Sherpa cleaning drone, requires its customers to carry at least $1 million in commercial general liability and $1 million in aviation insurance. Its operator blog also recommends workers' compensation that explicitly covers aviation work. Ask for a certificate of insurance naming the owner and property manager before work starts.
Procurement checklist
- Drone cleaning operators need FAA authorization; chemical spraying may fall under Part 137. Ask your operator for their certifications.
- Certificate of insurance with general liability and aviation coverage.
- Written scope: surfaces, square footage, elevations, and exclusions.
- Cleaning solution, runoff handling, and plant protection plan.
- Schedule, tenant notice, weather reschedule policy, and safety zone plan.
- Before-and-after documentation and a test area if the job is large.
Limits
Drones don't replace hands-on work like sealing, caulking, or repairs. Very tall buildings, tight urban sites, and windy days may still call for rope access or lifts. See the drone vs rope access guide.
Building washing crews by city
- Phoenix building washing
- Austin building washing
- Denver building washing
- Salt Lake City building washing
- Las Vegas building washing
- Dallas building washing
- Houston building washing
- Los Angeles building washing
- Riverside building washing
- San Diego building washing
- Miami building washing
- Atlanta building washing
- Tampa building washing
- Orlando building washing
- Tucson building washing
- Charlotte building washing
- San Antonio building washing
- Jacksonville building washing
- Nashville building washing
- New Orleans building washing
- Albuquerque building washing
- El Paso building washing
- Raleigh building washing
- Oklahoma City building washing
- Memphis building washing
- Fort Myers building washing
- Sarasota building washing
- Charleston building washing
- Sacramento building washing
- Baton Rouge building washing
- Boise building washing
FAQ
What does commercial drone cleaning cost?
Published commercial rates include $0.10 to $0.40 per sq ft (DroneWash+) and $0.12 to $0.25 per sq ft (Exterior Drone Washing, Vista Drone Cleaning). Minimums often apply.
What insurance should a commercial drone cleaner carry?
Lucid Bots requires its customers to carry at least $1 million general liability and $1 million aviation coverage. Ask for a certificate of insurance naming the owner and manager.
Do commercial drone cleaners need FAA certification?
Drone cleaning operators need FAA authorization; chemical spraying may fall under Part 137. Ask your operator for their certifications.
Do tenants need to leave?
Usually not, but expect a safety zone below the work area and tenant notice. Ask the operator for their site plan.
Can drones do sealing or caulking?
No. Hands-on work like sealing, caulking, and repairs still needs rope access, lifts, or scaffolding.