Hillsborough commissioners approve land-use change to allow drone landing field at Ruskin Amazon site

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners on May 13 approved a land-use modification to permit a drone-based aircraft landing field at an existing Amazon facility in South Shore Corporate Park near I‑75, removing a county code requirement for public access and reducing setback requirements for the drone operations.

County staff told commissioners the proposed aircraft landing field is a permitted use within the property’s planned development but that the land‑development code’s existing requirements — written before widespread drone use — carried conditions that did not fit the applicant’s operations. "It's an exciting application, but the land use portion is not particularly exciting," attorney Kevin Riali said, adding the proposal asks the county to waive a 200‑foot setback and the public‑access requirement so the facility can operate within the existing development footprint.

The modification seeks to treat the site as other light‑industrial uses in the PD by allowing a 30‑foot setback from property lines rather than the code’s larger aircraft setbacks and by removing the requirement that an aircraft landing field be open to public use. County staff told the board they do not object to the requested changes and noted additional federal approvals remain required. "Also, your approval today doesn't approve the operations. You still have to get FAA approval, which will require a NEPA permit… and compliance with all state and federal laws," Riali said during the hearing.

Why it matters: The change lets a private operator modify a county land‑use condition to accommodate small vertical‑takeoff drones used for package delivery, aligning the PD rules with the applicant’s proposed operations while preserving the county’s review of aviation‑related safety and federal permits.

What the board decided: Commissioner Wellstell moved approval and Commissioner Cameron Cepeda seconded; the board voted in favor (recorded vote: 7–0). The approval amends PD development standards to remove the public‑access requirement and allow reduced setbacks specific to the drone landing field; operational approvals and any FAA/NEPA clearances remain a separate process.

Details and context: The site is an approximately 80‑acre parcel in Pocket G‑1 of South Shore Corporate Park. County staff said the PD permits aircraft landing fields but includes enhanced setbacks and public‑access requirements developed before modern drone delivery operations. The applicant described the proposed aircraft as small vertical‑takeoff drones with no runway and limited noise or public‑use needs, arguing the PD’s runway‑oriented rules were not necessary.

What’s next: The applicant must pursue federal approvals with the Federal Aviation Administration and complete any required NEPA environmental review before operating drone deliveries. County staff will monitor future permitting and any operational filings.

Speakers quoted in this story spoke at the May 13, 2025 Hillsborough County Land Use meeting.