Drone Delivery FAQs

Amazon and Walmart drone delivery services are known to be operating in the airspace over Richardson.

Can the City regulate drone usage?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) controls national airspace. This means cities cannot restrict drones from flying above a certain altitude or create airspace limitations that would conflict with federal rules. The FAA is the primary authority for operational standards, including airworthiness, altitude, flight paths, and pilot certifications.

Any drone delivery service must have FAA approval to operate before it begins flying or making commercial deliveries in the United States. Drone delivery providers in Texas also have FAA approval to use Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) for commercial operations, which lets drones from different operators reserve airspace and routes so that they stay safely away from each other.

Read the FAA's Package Delivery (Part 135) by Drone Guidelines.

How high can delivery drones fly?

The FAA limits the altitude of most drones to 400 feet above ground level (AGL). This limit is in place to keep airspace safe and prevent conflicts with manned aircraft, such as airplanes.

Per the FAA, Delivery drones can fly up to 100 miles per hour; however, most operate between 40-70 mph.

View the FAA's Airspace 101 Rules of the Sky Guidelines.

Do drones record video or take pictures?

Based on available information, although the drones used by Amazon and Walmart are equipped with cameras, they do not record video or capture images. The drones operate autonomously and use low-resolution camera sensors solely for navigation and safety purposes, helping ensure reliable and secure delivery operations.

Is drone delivery safe? 

Drone delivery services must follow stringent processes, including extensive audits and inspections of their aircraft, software, operations, procedures, personnel, and more by the FAA to meet the agency's standards for safety.

Where can I send a complaint about drone operations? 

Under federal law, authority over U.S. airspace rests exclusively with the federal government. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the agency responsible for oversight, and it is the only entity with the authority to regulate aircraft operations and flight patterns, including drones.

Complaints to the FAA may be submitted through https://www.faa.gov/noise/inquiries.

If you are able to identify which company the drone is associated with, you can share your concerns through the following:

• Complaints regarding Amazon drone deliveries may be directed https://www.amazon.com/hz/contact-us/foresight/hubgateway.
• Walmart-related concerns may be directed to https://www.walmart.com/help/store-feedback.