Drone and groan
Amazon’s drones are generating complaints almost as loud as their buzzing. With more flights on the way, residents can do little but make noise.
Baton Rouge welcomed Amazon’s drone delivery launch last year. Now, some residents are pushing back against drones flying over their homes.
Why it matters: The complaints are likely to grow as drone delivery expands nationwide.
The details: Amazon’s drones can be spotted in the sky, buzzing small packages from a Baton Rouge distribution hub to locations within a 7-mile radius.
Last year, city officials and residents were elated by the development, like children waiting to open presents on Christmas morning. But that excitement has worn off for some residents in Broadmoor and nearby neighborhoods, who complain about the steady noise above homes located along the drones’ flight paths.
Terri Dakmak is one of them. The watercolor artist says drones fly over her Broadmoor home every few minutes. On Nextdoor, she’s found plenty of people who agree, including one employee of Greenoaks Funeral Home who says drones whiz overhead during burial ceremonies. Others, though, say the noise is minimal and bearable.
Driving the news: Uber Eats announced Monday that it will launch drone delivery with Zipline in several U.S. markets, aiming for 1 million deliveries per day by 2029. Baton Rouge isn’t on the list—yet. Wal-Mart and many other companies are also delivering by drone.
The catch: Residents who don’t want the drone of drones overhead have little recourse. The FAA completed a nationwide environmental assessment in July 2026 that it may rely on for future approvals, meaning city-specific public comment periods aren’t guaranteed.
Reality check: Local leaders have limited authority over drone operations. They can slow the approval of delivery hubs through planning commissions, but that offers residents little protection.
What we’re watching: Whether Baton Rouge’s complaints foreshadow broader resistance as drone delivery spreads, or whether the machines become background noise, like leaf blowers.
