Amazon wants to build a drone delivery hub in North Portland. The proposed site's coverage area could extend into Tigard and Tualatin.

The company filed a pre-application conference request with Portland's permitting department to build a Prime Air Drone Delivery Center at a fulfillment center on North Schmeer Road. The Portland Business Journal first reported the permit filing Sept. 17. The request is an early-stage inquiry, not an approved construction permit.

Each Prime Air site covers roughly 175 square miles, according to an Amazon news release published Aug. 19. The North Schmeer Road facility sits about seven miles east of downtown Beaverton, the Beaverton Beat reported, placing much of the west metro within that footprint.

Amazon hasn't named specific cities. The company has not confirmed which neighborhoods or communities would fall inside the service area, the Beaverton Beat reported Sept. 24.

"We are currently working with local officials and exploring opportunities to expand our fast, reliable drone delivery service to reach customers in Portland and locations around the country," Amazon spokesperson Farah Jad said in a statement to the Portland Tribune published Sept. 24.

The Portland Business Journal reported the service could launch in early 2027. Jad did not give a firm date to OregonLive or the Portland Tribune. Amazon declined to answer questions about timing, which parts of the metro would be served, or why Portland was chosen, Your Oregon News reported.

Prime Air drones deliver items weighing five pounds or less in as little as 30 minutes, though most orders currently arrive about an hour after checkout, according to Amazon. Eligible items include groceries, electronics, cosmetics and medications. Prime members get free drone delivery on orders of $50 or more. Smaller orders cost $2.99 for members and $4.99 for non-members.

The service already operates from 11 sites across 10 U.S. metro areas, including Phoenix, Houston and Dallas. Amazon said it plans to reach nearly 500 cities and towns by the end of 2026.

In Richardson, Texas, where Prime Air is active, drones fly within a 7.5-mile radius between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Residents there have described the aircraft as sounding like "flying lawn mowers," audible indoors even with a television on, according to Yahoo News citing New York Times reporting. Amazon said in its August news release that drop-off sound levels are below those of an idling delivery truck and that fewer than 1% of inquiries about the program have been noise-related.

No hearing date for the Portland pre-application conference has been scheduled.