Portland City Council made the first step Wednesday toward restricting aerial drone delivery services, a system that Amazon has begun rolling out in cities across the country. Councilors voted overwhelmingly to “consider” a moratorium on building facilities that support delivery drones.

“You may disagree with the idea of having a moratorium, you may love the idea of having a moratorium,” said Councilor Sameer Kanal, who introduced the policy with fellow District 2 Councilor Elana Pirtle-Guiney. “But this resolution is simply asking you if you think we should be allowed to consider one.”

This is the first step required to eventually adopt a citywide moratorium on any kind of land development. Pirtle-Guiney said an eventual moratorium would give councilors time to update city code to regulate these new types of facilities.

“A moratorium, to be clear, doesn’t say this can never happen,” said Pirtle-Guiney. “It just says we’re pausing anything happening here until we can set code.”

The decision follows news of Amazon planning to launch its drone delivery program in Portland next year. The company applied for a land use permit last month to build a drone delivery base at its North Portland warehouse, located in District 2. The company was scheduled to have its first meeting with the city’s permitting department to review the request next week. But Amazon canceled the meeting Tuesday and has yet to reschedule, according to a city spokesperson.

News of the company’s drone plans drew swift condemnation from some Portlanders who live near the Amazon warehouse, located in the East Columbia neighborhood just north of the Columbia Slough. They raise concerns about noise pollution, invasion of privacy, environmental impacts and other issues experienced by neighbors in other states, like Texas, who have already been invaded by delivery drones.

“The cost of voting today is practically nothing,” said Jessica Marquez, a representative of the Kenton Neighborhood Association, speaking to councilors Wednesday. “If these operations are approved, council can’t easily undo it, and every application and company that follows will point to the precedent set by Amazon.”

Amazon’s drone program promises rapid delivery of lightweight items — under 5 pounds — within a 7.5-mile radius of a distribution center. It currently operates in 11 U.S. cities.

Eleven councilors voted to consider the moratorium Wednesday. Councilor Loretta Smith was absent.

Per state land use policy, Wednesday’s vote allows the city to officially discuss and vote on a moratorium in no fewer than 45 days.

Amazon did not immediately respond to OPB’s request for comment.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/10/14/portland-oregon-amazon-delivery-drones/