Richardson, Texas, residents say Amazon Prime Air flights disrupt daily life as the company plans to expand delivery from areas in seven states to about 500 U.S. locales by year-end. Amazon says fewer than 1% of feedback received in 2026 concerned noise.
Residents in Auburn Hills and Ferndale, Michigan, have also complained. In Richardson, one resident told the New York Times she counted 52 drones overhead on what she called a slow day; local rules permit deliveries between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Amazon says the drones’ perceived sound is comparable to a residential HVAC unit.
The FAA says cities cannot set airspace limits that conflict with federal rules. Its nationwide environmental review, completed in July, concluded drone package delivery would not have a significant environmental impact, but said operators are responsible for addressing identified issues such as noise and encouraged them to respond to community concerns. Residents have protested at an Amazon distribution facility and asked local governments to reject approvals for planned drone facilities.
