Orlando police seek new drone base at Lake Nona office building
The Orlando Police Department could soon have a new launch point for its drone program at an office building in Lake Nona.
The City Council is scheduled to consider a license agreement Monday that would allow the Orlando Police Department to install two drone docking stations on the roof of a certain office building located in the vicinity of the Lake Nona Town Center.
The agreement with property owner LNT Office V LLC would support OPD’s Drone as a First Responder program. Under the proposal, drones could be dispatched from the rooftop when certain 911 calls come in.
The drone program by OPD was officially launched on June 24. It includes the deployment of 11 Skydio X10 DFR drones across nine sites.
“Unlike traditional drone programs that require officers to transport and set up equipment, DFR drones are housed in permanent docking stations and remain powered and ready at all times,” a news release from OPD said. “When launched, drones fly directly to incident locations using GPS coordinates and transmit live video to sworn officers in OPD’s Crime Center who are certified and licensed to operate drones by the FAA.”
OPD said in a recent Facebook video posted on June 17 that the drones can reach an active scene within seconds, giving officers an aerial view as an incident develops. The department said the technology has already been used in investigations involving stolen vehicles, fleeing suspects and violent crimes, including shootings and aggravated assaults.
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A new era of public safety has arrived in Orlando!
Meet OPD’s Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program – a new tool changing how officers respond to emergencies across the city.
When certain 911 calls come in, DFR drones launch from permanent docking stations and fly directly… pic.twitter.com/LhQjmdfBMs
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 17, 2026
The proposed installation would include two docking platforms, electrical and communications connections, antennas and related equipment. The agreement also calls for a future camera on an antenna pole, with its video feed sent to the OPD Crime Center.
The city would not pay rent for the rooftop space. The initial agreement would last five years, with options for two additional five-year extensions.
OPD would cover the cost of installing and maintaining the equipment and would be responsible for damage caused by its work or operations. The city would also be required to provide liability coverage, either through insurance or its self-insurance program.
Either side could end the agreement with 90 days’ written notice. The property owner could terminate it immediately in certain circumstances, including a threat to the building’s structural integrity, a violation of aviation or privacy laws, or an immediate danger to people or property.
The agreement gives OPD routine rooftop access during normal business hours with advance notice. It also requires the drone equipment to avoid interfering with solar panels or related equipment that may be installed on the roof.
The property owner would provide electrical service but could later seek reimbursement if the drones significantly increased the building’s electricity costs. Any such arrangement would have to be approved in a written amendment.
The city’s agenda lists the item as having no fiscal impact. The agreement still requires review by the City Attorney’s Office, and the copy provided has not yet been signed.
OPD said drones are not used for random patrols or mass surveillance.
With the launch of its Drone as a First Responder program, Orlando joins cities including St. Cloud, Tampa, Miami, New York, Las Vegas, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Phoenix in using drone technology to modernize emergency response.