by Delivery drones could soon be flying over east Fort Worth.
The Fort Worth Zoning Commission approved a plan to allow
Zipline drone deliveries
originating from the Walmart store at 2900 Renaissance Square, near the intersection of Vaughn Boulevard and East Berry Street.
At their July 9 meeting, commissioners approved a zoning change to allow for a special use permit for drone deliveries.
City Council members will consider the special use permit at their Aug. 19 meeting.
Walmart has partnered with Zipline and Wing Aviation LLC for retail drone deliveries. Wing, which
started its local delivery service in June 2024
at the Walmart at 8520 N. Beach St., also provides service from 19 Walmart locations, including two stores in North Richland Hills.
“It’s an exciting time for Walmart,” Ryan Trimble, vice president of Allyn Media, who represented Walmart, told commissioners.
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Walmart store lead Mike Burgess said that drone deliveries will aid the retailer as the company’s e-commerce sales have risen 9% over 2024.
Carolyn Cook, a civil engineer with Kimley-Horn & Associates Inc., said the drone service will operate from two parking lot locations on the Renaissance Square property, requiring the construction of an underground electrical line. One site will be used to fulfill orders, while the other will be a recharging station.
Zipline’s construction at the Renaissance Square Walmart is scheduled to be completed in mid-July, according to a
filing
with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The $750,000 project will include the installation of a new foundation for a 5,000-square-foot area and the drone system.
Stephanie Cook, a Zipline representative, said the company started delivering blood and medical products in Rwanda in 2016 and now operates 1.5 million commercial drones.
Zipline has more than 15 approved permits to operate at Walmart stores, three of which are currently operational with at least five under construction.
“It’s exciting to see the reception from customers,” she said.
Zipline plans to unveil its drone delivery service at other Fort Worth-area stores, including:
- Walmart, 4101 State Highway 121, Bedford
- Walmart, 1836 S. Main St., Weatherford
- Walmart, 951 SW Wilshire Blvd., Burleson
Twenty aircraft will operate from the Renaissance Square Walmart. Drones will be audible at about 53 to 63 decibels — comparable to the sound of car traffic from 300 feet away, Stephanie Cook said. Onboard sensors look for obstacles, but cameras do not have high-enough resolution features to observe or record people in their yards.
About 80% of most Walmart items can be delivered by drone since they weigh 8 pounds or less.
Fort Worth is the first major U.S. city to have commercial drone deliveries and has
limited authority
over drones, according to the municipal government.
The city can issue special use permits that help regulate elements of drone heliport sites as well as noise and privacy restrictions.
The Federal Aviation Administration has regulatory authority over drones, including safety and airspace management. Drones are often restricted to operate below 400 feet above the ground.
Eric E. Garcia is a senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at
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