If you’ve looked up lately and spotted something that isn’t a bird or a plane, you’re not imagining it. Amazon Prime Air started drone deliveries out of Nampa on October 30.
Some neighbors love it. Some can’t stand it. Most of us just want to know what’s actually going on. So here’s what we know, what we don’t, and where to take your questions.
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What Happened on October 30
Amazon launched Prime Air drone delivery from its Nampa hub off East Franklin Road, right next to the fulfillment center. Nampa joins a growing list of Prime Air cities, including Phoenix, Detroit, San Antonio, Kansas City and Houston.
The drones don’t stop at the Nampa city limits, either. More on that below.
How Amazon Drone Delivery Works
- The drone: The MK30. It weighs about 83 to 85 pounds at takeoff.
- The package: Up to 5 pounds, or about the size of a large shoebox.
- The range: About 7.5 miles from the Nampa hub, covering roughly 170 to 175 square miles.
- The hours: Daytime only, from 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset.
- The speed: Amazon’s goal is delivery within 30 minutes of your order.
- The drop: At a community meeting in May, Amazon said customers need to be home and pick a drop-off spot.
What It Costs
Prime members get free drone delivery on orders of $50 or more. Smaller orders cost $2.99. If you don’t have Prime, it’s $4.99.
Where the Drones Can Reach
This isn’t just a Nampa thing. The drones fly anywhere within about 7.5 miles of the Franklin Road hub. That circle reaches into Meridian, Star, Middleton, Kuna and part of Boise. So even if you don’t live in Nampa, you may still see them overhead.
How It Got Approved
Amazon presented the plan at a community meeting at the College of Western Idaho on May 7. On May 26, Nampa Planning and Zoning approved a conditional use permit 6-1. The permit covers a 21,000-square-foot facility with 114 parking spaces.
Here’s the part that confuses a lot of people. The city decides how the land is used. The sky belongs to the FAA. Amazon says Prime Air holds an FAA Part 135 air carrier certificate and that every flight is FAA-authorized.
As of November 2, the FAA’s public index of drone environmental reviews showed no document for Idaho. Since July 28, the FAA can clear hubs like this one through an internal review, with no public site document or comment period.
Why Some Neighbors Like It
Amazon pitches the drones for small, urgent orders like medicine and household basics. In May, the company projected about 30 jobs and 12 to 15 drones at the Nampa site.
Some neighbors are curious and plan to give it a try. One local told reporters he’d order something just so his kids could watch it land.
The Questions Neighbors Are Asking
- Privacy: The drones use cameras to spot people, pets and obstacles. Amazon says the system only scans the delivery area. It also says flight video isn’t actively watched and gets deleted once the drone returns.
- Liability: Residents at the May meeting asked who’s responsible if a package lands when nobody’s home, and what customers agree to.
- Internet: One resident asked whether the drones could slow down streaming, gaming or Zoom calls.
- Noise: No noise measurements for Nampa have been made public.
- Safety: Neither Amazon’s specs nor its FAA filings list a parachute. Drone news site DroneXL reported two unplanned MK30 landings in September, in Waco and Baton Rouge.
- Hours: In May, Amazon said flights would start 30 minutes before sunrise. At launch, it was 30 minutes after sunrise.
What We Still Don’t Know
- How many drones are flying out of Nampa right now
- What conditions the city put on the permit
- How loud the drones are at ground level here
Where to Take Your Questions
- The permit and the facility: City of Nampa Planning and Zoning
- Flights and airspace: The FAA
- Your order or a delivery problem: Amazon customer service
Love it or hate it, the drones are here, and this story isn’t over. We’ll keep following it and let you know what we find.
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FAQ
When did Amazon drone delivery start in Nampa?
Amazon Prime Air launched drone deliveries in Nampa on October 30, 2026.
How far do Amazon’s drones fly from Nampa?
About 7.5 miles from the hub off East Franklin Road. That’s roughly 170 to 175 square miles, reaching parts of Meridian, Star, Middleton, Kuna and Boise.
How much does Amazon drone delivery cost?
It’s free for Prime members on orders of $50 or more and $2.99 on smaller orders. Without Prime, it’s $4.99.
What can Amazon drones deliver?
Packages up to 5 pounds that fit in a container about the size of a large shoebox.
What hours do the drones fly?
From 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset.
Who approved Amazon’s drone site in Nampa?
Nampa Planning and Zoning approved a conditional use permit 6-1 on May 26, 2026. The FAA regulates the flights themselves.
Meet Judit & Isaac
Hi, I’m Judit, and this is my son Isaac. We’re the team behind All Things Nampa and Top Idaho Real Estate. I have helped Treasure Valley home buyers and sellers since 2004, and Isaac is a Nampa native and third-generation Nampa REALTOR®. We created All Things Nampa to keep our community informed, connected and up to date on what is happening locally.
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