Oktoobar 14, 2026 · Resolution · 2026-374

Authorize the City Attorney to provide written notice to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development of intent by City Council to consider a moratorium on the development of facilities necessary to support commercial unmanned aircraft systems

Soo koobid af fudud

City starts process to consider pausing commercial drone facility construction

State law says the city must warn a state land-use agency 45 days before it can adopt a moratorium, which is a temporary ban on building. This vote tells the City Attorney to send that notice about facilities that support commercial drones. It does not create a ban or change any building rules; it also lets the Council President handle related paperwork and legal steps, but not decide on the ban.

Decision: Passed, 11 to 0. One councilor was absent.
Who it affects: Companies that want to build facilities for commercial drones, and neighbors who have contacted council about these facilities.
Next: After the 45-day notice period, council can consider whether to adopt a temporary ban. Council expects public testimony as part of that decision.
Official record

Waxaa qoray AI iyadoo ka duulaysa diiwaanka rasmiga ah, si toos ah ayaana loo hubiyay. Oktoobar 14, 2026

Full title: Authorize the City Attorney to provide written notice to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development of intent by City Council to consider a moratorium on the development of facilities necessary to support commercial unmanned aircraft systems
Status: Adopted
Document number: 2026-374
Introduced by: Councilor Sameer Kanal Councilor Elana Pirtle-Guiney
Requested council date: October 14, 2026
Purpose and background: This legislation authorizes the City Attorney to provide written notice to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) of the City Council's intent to consider a moratorium on the development of facilities necessary to support commercial unmanned aircraft system. ORS 197.520 requires the DLCD receive 45 days notice before any such moratorium can be adopted by City Council. This legislation expresses Council's intent to consider a moratorium, but does not itself adopt a moratorium or amend the City's development regulations. This legislation also delegates authority to the Council President to take any additional procedural, administrative, intergovernmental, or legal action related to Council's consideration of such a moratorium that would otherwise require the authorization of the full Council; this does not include authorization to make policy choices such as whether or not to impose a moratorium.
Financial and budgetary impacts: Not applicable.
Economic and real estate impacts: Not applicable.
Community impacts and community involvement: Council offices have received a high volume of constituent outreach related to the development of facilities necessary to support commercial unmanned aircraft systems in the last month. For example, since September 28, messages to District 2 Councilors regarding these facilities have represented the single most common topic received through ZenDesk. This legislation seeks to be responsive to this outreach. Council anticipates significant community involvement in the decision process on whether or not to impose a moratorium, including outreach to Councilors individually, written and oral testimony, and other forms of communication. The choice of whether or not to impose a moratorium will have significant community impacts. However, this resolution providing notice of forthcoming consideration of a potential moratorium has the community impact of creating a pathway to public participation as noted in the paragraph above.
100% renewable goal: The impact on the City's 100% renewable goal of facilities necessary to support commercial unmanned aircraft systems is unknown at this time. More research is needed to determine the impact.

Qoraalka oo dhan

WHEREAS, ORS 197.520 establishes procedures for a city considering adoption of a moratorium on construction or land development, including written notice to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD); and WHEREAS, the Portland City Council wishes to consider whether a temporary moratorium should be adopted on the development of facilities necessary to support commercial unmanned aircraft systems; and WHEREAS, providing notice to DLCD initiates the 45-day notice period required by ORS 197.520 and does not itself adopt a moratorium or amend the City's development regulations; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Attorney is authorized and directed, on behalf of the City of Portland, to provide written notice to DLCD pursuant to ORS 197.520 of the City Council's intent to consider such a moratorium; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that, for purposes of Council's consideration of whether to adopt a moratorium on the development of facilities necessary to support commercial unmanned aircraft systems, Council delegates to the Council President authority to take or authorize any additional procedural, administrative, intergovernmental, or legal action related to that consideration that would otherwise require authorization of Council, including directing the City Attorney's Office to act on behalf of the City; this delegation does not include authority to adopt the moratorium or take any action that applicable law requires to be approved by the governing body itself.