Amazon plans to bring drone delivery to the Portland metro area in early 2027.
The company filed a pre-application conference request with Portland's permitting department to discuss building a Prime Air Drone Delivery Center at its fulfillment center on North Schmeer Road.
The permit filing was first reported by the Portland Business Journal on Sept. 17 and covered by KOIN 6 News. The filing is an early-stage inquiry, not an approved construction permit.
Amazon spokesperson Farah Jad confirmed the plans, saying the company is "working with local officials and exploring opportunities to expand our fast, reliable drone delivery service to reach customers in Portland and locations around the country."
Each Prime Air site covers roughly 175 square miles, according to Amazon's August news release. The North Schmeer Road fulfillment center sits about seven miles east of downtown Beaverton, placing much of the city within that footprint. Amazon has not confirmed specific neighborhoods or cities that would be served.
What it costs
Prime members get free drone delivery on orders of $50 or more. Orders under $50 cost Prime members $2.99. Customers without a Prime membership pay $4.99 per delivery.
Items must weigh five pounds or less and fit in a large shoebox, according to Amazon. The company says that covers more than 60% of the items customers buy most often. Deliveries arrive in as little as 30 minutes.
How it works
Amazon's MK30 drone holds FAA Part 135 certification, the same framework used for commercial air carriers. In Richardson, Texas, where Prime Air already operates, drones fly within a 7.5-mile radius at a maximum altitude of 400 feet, with operating hours from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Amazon says the drones use onboard cameras for navigation but do not track individuals or record movements.
Not everyone is sold on the service. Residents near active routes in Richardson have described the drones as sounding like "flying lawn mowers," audible indoors even with the television on, according to New York Times reporting cited by Yahoo News. Amazon told The Oregonian that fewer than 1% of inquiries into the program have been noise-related.
What's next
Prime Air currently operates in seven states: Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Texas. Amazon aims to reach nearly 500 cities and towns by the end of 2026.
Jad did not say when drone flights would begin testing in Portland or give a firm launch date beyond early 2027. No hearing date for the pre-application conference has been scheduled.
