On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the Nampa Planning and Zoning Commission approved Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery hub at its Franklin Road fulfillment center.
Last week we told you the vote was coming. Now it’s done. Nampa Amazon drone delivery got the green light, and judging by the comments, a whole lot of people are not okay with it.
First, the facts. Here’s what got approved:
A 21,000 square foot drone hub on the edge of the existing Amazon parking lot. Around 12 to 15 MK-30 drones, each one about 85 pounds. They carry packages up to 5 pounds, anywhere within a 7.5 mile radius. That circle is big. It reaches parts of Nampa, Meridian, Star, Middleton, Kuna, and even some of Boise. Flights run every day, from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. The project gives up 114 parking spaces and adds about 30 jobs.
One important catch: the city’s yes is not the final yes. Amazon still needs FAA approval before a single drone leaves the ground. The company says it’s hoping to be flying by the end of the year.
What Nampa thinks about the drone hub
Short answer? Nampa is not having it. The news spread fast on social media and the comments poured in. The mood was overwhelmingly against it, with a heavy side of dark humor. A few themes kept showing up.
What if it falls on me?
This was the loudest worry by far. That 85 pound number stuck in people’s heads. Matthew summed up the nightmare: “Wait till one of those falls out of the sky on your windshield on I84 while you’re doing 70 miles an hour.” Taylor went straight sarcasm: “I can’t wait for an 85lb drone to fall on my house! Yay!” And Kevin reached all the way back to rocket science, quoting Wernher von Braun that what goes up must come down, before adding, “It’s the last part that is concerning.”
The airport thing.
A bunch of folks pointed out the obvious. The hub sits about a mile from the Nampa airport. Rich kept it short: “About a mile from the Nampa Airport, great idea.” Janice pictured the worst of it: “The Jetsons really is coming to real life. So much air traffic at Nampa airport. This seems pretty scary to me.”
This is Idaho, so… target practice.
We’d be lying if we said this wasn’t half the comment section. Jeff cheered, “Now if we shoot down a drone we instantly get a prize.” David called it “Skeet shooting with prizes, hell yes.” Noel declared skeet season “year around.” And Justin gave us the unofficial state motto: “Idahoans, ready, fire, aim.”
Now, a friendly heads up before anyone loads up. Shooting at a drone is a federal crime. The FAA counts drones as aircraft, so taking one down is treated like firing at an airplane. That can mean up to 20 years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000, not to mention an 85 pound machine crashing back down on someone. So no, we are not endorsing target practice. We are just reporting that Nampa thought of it immediately.
Jobs
Plenty of people saw this as one more swap of humans for machines. Jordan put it plainly: “Taking jobs away one day at a time.” Kristen offered the alternative: “Or they could just pay actual people a living wage to do the work. Crazy idea.”
Who approved this, and why? There was real anger pointed at the decision. Maryann asked, “How much was the payoff?” Brian wanted to “check the bank accounts before and after the decision. Asking for a friend.” And Diana hit the nerve a lot of people share: “Why don’t we, who live in Nampa, get to vote on this stuff?”
We’re turning into California.
The familiar one. Dan said it best: “Something about this just seems dystopian. It gives me the ick.” Others tied the drones to Flock cameras, data centers, and home prices climbing, all part of a feeling that the valley is changing faster than anyone voted for.
To be fair, not everyone was against it. A few people said “that’s awesome” or figured it was coming no matter what. But they were drowned out.
One commenter was actually at the meeting
The most useful comment came from Wendy, who said she sat through Tuesday’s meeting. According to her, this is only Phase 1. She claims that once a drone lifts off, it enters FAA airspace and can fly across the valley without sign-off from any other city. She also says Amazon mentioned only two MK-30 accidents, but that she dug up six crashes in about a year and a half, including two drones that reportedly fell from 180 feet in Pendleton, Oregon.
We haven’t independently confirmed every detail in her comment, but it lines up with what we found before the vote. Amazon’s drones have clipped an internet cable in Waco, hit the same crane twice in Arizona, and struck an apartment building in Texas. So the concerns aren’t coming out of thin air.
So what do you think?
These drones are going to fly over a lot of our houses, so we want to hear from you.
Are you ready for a package dropped in your yard in under an hour? Or does the idea of drones buzzing over Nampa all day make your skin crawl?
Drop a comment and let us know. We’re reading every single one.
FAQ
Did Nampa approve Amazon’s drone delivery?
Yes. On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the Nampa Planning and Zoning Commission approved Amazon’s conditional use permit for a Prime Air Drone Delivery Center at its Franklin Road fulfillment center.
When will Amazon drones start flying in Nampa?
Not yet. Amazon still needs FAA approval before any drone can fly. The company says it hopes to be operating by the end of 2026.
How far will the Nampa Amazon drones fly?
Within a 7.5 mile radius of the Franklin Road facility. That reaches parts of Nampa, Meridian, Star, Middleton, Kuna, and Boise.
What hours will the drones operate?
Every day, from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
How big are the drones?
They’re MK-30 models, about 85 pounds each, and they carry packages up to 5 pounds.
Can the approval be appealed?
The Planning and Zoning decision can be challenged within a set window. Residents who want to push back should contact the City of Nampa for the current appeal process and deadline.
