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Interim Official Control
On June 2, 2026, Redmond City Council held a public hearing on the Interim Official Control (IOC) limiting commercial drone land uses while final regulations are developed through a public process.
Following the hearing, Council voted to amend Ordinance 3257 to further prohibit commercial drone port land uses in the Manufacturing Park MP) and Industry (I) zones.
A new public hearing on the amended IOC will be held at 7 p.m. during the City Council regular business meeting on Tuesday July 21, 2026. Comments may be submitted in person or by emailing cityclerk@redmond.gov.
There has been an increased interest in establishing commercial drone operations in Redmond. These operations would create facilities or ports where drones could be stored, charged, and could load up, launch, and return after making deliveries of packages like restaurant food or consumer goods.
On April 21, 2026, Redmond City Council adopted an Interim Official Control (IOC) to limit the development of commercial drone ports while final regulations are developed through a public process. Read the memo and ordinance as adopted by the City Council.
Prior to the IOC, the City did not have regulations in place concerning commercial drone facilities. Absent such regulations, the City could not effectively manage the impacts drone facilities have in Redmond.
On June 2, 2026, Redmond City Council held a public hearing on the Interim Official Control (IOC) limiting commercial drone land uses while final regulations are developed through a public process.
Following the hearing, Council voted to amend Ordinance 3257 to further prohibit commercial drone port land uses in the Manufacturing Park MP) and Industry (I) zones.
A new public hearing on the amended IOC will be held at 7 p.m. during the City Council regular business meeting on Tuesday July 21, 2026. Comments may be submitted in person or by emailing cityclerk@redmond.gov.
There has been an increased interest in establishing commercial drone operations in Redmond. These operations would create facilities or ports where drones could be stored, charged, and could load up, launch, and return after making deliveries of packages like restaurant food or consumer goods.
On April 21, 2026, Redmond City Council adopted an Interim Official Control (IOC) to limit the development of commercial drone ports while final regulations are developed through a public process. Read the memo and ordinance as adopted by the City Council.
Prior to the IOC, the City did not have regulations in place concerning commercial drone facilities. Absent such regulations, the City could not effectively manage the impacts drone facilities have in Redmond.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are emerging as a technology with many uses by a range of users, such as governments, businesses, and individuals. Some applications include:
Surveying and aerial photography
Detecting and monitoring fires
Finding lost hikers or guiding rescue teams
Delivery of packages or take-out from restaurants
Currently the City of Redmond Police Department has a drone program, which started in 2019. In April 2024, the Department implemented a cutting-edge Drone as First Responder (DFR) program to respond to 911 calls.
The City is now working to establish guidelines for drone use in Redmond due to recent interest expressed by businesses in providing delivery services using drones. The City’s ability to regulate drone operations is generally limited to land use controls (zoning regulations) and business licensing. Once the drones are in the air, the City’s ability to regulate drone use is limited, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) generally has control of the airspace.
With this in mind, please share your feedback with us to help inform the City’s land use and business licensing regulations, which aims to support the City’s goals of economic vitality, as well as safety and privacy.
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