Pop. 106,926 · Deschutes County
Bend Code Chapter 5.50 sets nighttime (10:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.) and daytime (7:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.) noise limits measured at a neighbor's property. In residential zones the limit is 65 dBA day / 60 dBA night. Amplified sound plainly audible at a residence's property line is prohibited at night.
Bend Code 5.50.025 prohibits construction, excavation, demolition, alteration, or repair of a building, street, sidewalk, driveway, sewer, or utility line between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Power lawn and construction tools are likewise exempt only between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Bend treats a barking or noisy animal as an animal nuisance under Bend Code 5.20.040, which lists an animal that 'disturbs any person by frequent or prolonged noises.' The general noise chapter (BC 5.50) also reaches animal noise that is unnecessarily loud or disturbs sleep.
Aircraft noise in Oregon is preempted by federal law and ORS Chapter 836, which gives the Oregon Department of Aviation regulatory authority over airports. Local ordinances cannot restrict overflight noise or set in-air sound limits.
Oregon DEQ adopted statewide industrial noise standards under OAR 340-035-0035, setting maximum allowable decibel limits for new and existing industrial sources. While DEQ enforcement was defunded in 1991, the rules remain on the books and are referenced statewide.
Bend Code 5.30.000 says fireworks use must conform to Oregon law and bans sale, possession, or use by anyone under 18. Oregon law (ORS 480.110–480.165) bans consumer use of any firework that flies into the air, explodes, or travels far on the ground — so bottle rockets, Roman candles, firecrackers, and most aerials are illegal without a state permit.
Bend Code 5.30.005 prohibits open burning of yard debris (branches, leaves, pine needles), refuse/garbage, construction or demolition waste, and field/ditch/weed burning anywhere inside city limits, year-round. Only specific fires — like small recreational fires and approved cooking pits — are allowed.
Recreational fires are allowed in Bend year-round. Bend Code 5.30.005 caps approved fires at 3 feet in diameter, and Bend Fire & Rescue guidance says fires should be no bigger than 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall, kept at least 25 feet from buildings and tall fences, burning only clean dry firewood.
Oregon law requires defensible space around structures in wildfire hazard zones, with the State Fire Marshal adopting uniform statewide standards under SB 762. Landowners must remove flammable vegetation near homes.
Oregon SB 762 (2021) directs the State Forestry Department to create a statewide wildfire hazard map classifying property risk and triggers defensible space and home hardening rules administered through state agencies.
Bend Code 5.20.025 prohibits any animal from running at large. A dog is 'at large' when off its owner's premises and not under complete, tethered control by an adequate leash or bridle. Off-leash is allowed only in areas the Bend City Council has designated, where dogs must remain under control.
Under the Bend Development Code's keeping-of-animals standards, a residential lot of at least 5,000 sq ft may keep up to four chickens (hens only — no roosters). Larger livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, and swine require 5 acres or more, and horses need about 1 acre for the first horse plus a half-acre per additional horse.
Oregon prosecutes animal hoarding under ORS 167.325 through 167.333, with felony charges available when 11 or more animals are involved or domestic animals are neglected. The criminal framework applies in every county.
Oregon Department of Agriculture requires all beekeepers with five or more hives to register annually under ORS 602.090. Registration funds apiary inspection and pest monitoring programs that apply uniformly throughout the state.
Oregon law preempts cities and counties from enacting or enforcing breed-specific dog ordinances. ORS 609.319 prohibits any local regulation that classifies dogs as dangerous or restricts ownership solely on the basis of breed.
Oregon ORS 609.305 to 609.335 prohibits keeping non-native cats, bears, primates, crocodilians, and venomous reptiles as pets. The ban applies statewide and supersedes any conflicting local exotic pet ordinance.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife rules under ORS 496.012 and OAR 635-056 prohibit placing food to attract deer, elk, bears, or cougars. The statewide ban supersedes local feeding ordinances and applies on all property.
Under Bend Development Code 3.2.500, fences in a residential front setback may be no more than 3.5 feet tall, while fences in side and rear setbacks may reach 6 feet. Outside of setbacks, fences may be up to 8 feet. Clear-vision rules also restrict anything between 2 and 8 feet tall near intersections and driveways.
Most residential fences in Bend need no building permit if they stay within standard heights, but a permit is required for any fence over 7 feet, for concrete/CMU block fences over 4 feet, and for retaining walls over 4 feet or carrying a structural load (BDC 3.2.500).
Oregon's partition fence statutes (ORS Chapter 96) impose statewide rules requiring adjoining landowners to share costs of livestock fencing in livestock districts. The law applies uniformly and preempts inconsistent local cost-sharing rules between neighbors.
Oregon's residential pool barrier requirements come from the Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC), adopted statewide under ORS 455.040. Local governments cannot weaken these minimum safety standards for pools, hot tubs, and spas serving one- and two-family dwellings.
Bend requires every short-term rental to hold a city operating license (Bend Code Ch. 7.16) and, in most zones, a land use permit (Bend Development Code 3.6.500). Whole-house Type II STRs must keep 500 feet of separation from other whole-house STRs; owner-occupied room rentals are exempt from that density buffer.
Oregon imposes a 1.5% statewide transient lodging tax on all short-term rentals under 30 days, applying universally to hosts and intermediaries regardless of city. Local lodging taxes may apply additionally.
Under Bend's parking code, trailers, campers, boats, and other non-motorized vehicles may not be parked on a public street or lot for more than 72 hours unless attached to a motor vehicle. RV slide-outs may not block a sidewalk, and commercial vehicles over 26,000 lbs are barred from residential zones 9 p.m.–7 a.m.
Oregon law uniformly governs how abandoned vehicles are tagged, towed, stored, and disposed of statewide. ORS Chapter 819 sets notice, lien, and auction procedures that local agencies must follow when removing vehicles from public or private property.
Deschutes County enforces the Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) Appendix G for residential swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs, which requires a barrier at least 48 inches above grade with self-closing, self-latching gates that open outward away from the pool. Public, semi-public, and HOA pools are additionally regulated by the Oregon Health Authority under OAR Chapter 333, Division 60, which requires a four-foot enclosure with self-closing, lockable self-latching gates and latch controls at least 42 inches above grade. Deschutes County Community Development (Building Division) issues residential pool permits and verifies barriers at final inspection.
Oregon's uniform building code under ORS 455 requires structural and plumbing permits for in-ground and most above-ground pools. The Building Codes Division sets minimum standards that cities and counties must apply.
Oregon's domestic-kitchen exemption under ORS 616.706 lets home producers sell certain non-potentially-hazardous foods directly to consumers without a food establishment license, subject to a $50,000 annual sales cap and labeling rules enforced statewide by ODA.
Oregon licenses family child care homes through the Department of Early Learning and Care under ORS 329A.250-329A.450. State law preempts local zoning that would prohibit registered or certified family child care in residential dwellings.
Oregon allows rainwater collection from impervious rooftop surfaces without a water right under ORS 537.141. The statute explicitly exempts rooftop harvesting, providing universal authorization across the state for residential and commercial uses.
On forestland, the Oregon Forest Practices Act (ORS Chapter 527) preempts local tree-cutting regulation. ORS 527.722 prohibits cities and counties from adopting rules governing forest practices on lands subject to the Act, leaving regulation to the State Board of Forestry.
Deschutes County, Oregon regulates floodplain development under Title 18, Chapter 18.96 (Flood Plain Zone) of the Deschutes County Code. The Community Development Department serves as the NFIP Floodplain Administrator for unincorporated Deschutes County under FEMA Community Identification Number 410055 (countywide panel suffix 41017C). Special Flood Hazard Areas are mapped along the Deschutes River, Little Deschutes River, Crooked River, Whychus Creek, Tumalo Creek, and Paulina Creek, where snowmelt, ice jams, and high desert canyon flooding produce flood risk. The current Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Deschutes County and Incorporated Areas have an effective date of September 28, 2007.
Oregon's Beach Bill (ORS 390.605-390.770) and Statewide Planning Goals 16-19 give the state primary control over development on ocean shores, estuaries, dunes, and coastal headlands. Local plans must conform to these goals, which DLCD enforces.
Oregon DEQ requires erosion and sediment control plans on construction sites of one or more acres under the 1200-C NPDES permit and OAR 340-041. State law sets minimum BMPs that bind operators statewide regardless of local code.
Oregon DEQ administers federally delegated NPDES stormwater permits statewide. Construction sites disturbing one or more acres and regulated MS4 cities must comply with DEQ's 1200-C and Phase I/II MS4 permits regardless of local rules.
Oregon's statewide building code under ORS 455.040 governs structural separation distances tied to fire safety, while zoning setbacks remain local. The Oregon Residential Specialty Code sets fire-rated wall requirements based on lot line proximity that no municipality may weaken.
Structure height in Oregon is governed by the statewide Oregon Structural Specialty Code and Residential Specialty Code adopted under ORS 455.040. These set maximum heights by construction type and occupancy that cities cannot lower for code purposes, though zoning height limits remain local.
Commercial drone operations in Oregon are governed by FAA Part 107 plus ORS 837.300-837.390. Public agency UAS must register with the Oregon Department of Aviation, and ORS 837.385 preempts most local commercial drone regulation.
ORS 837.300-837.390 govern recreational drone use in Oregon, banning weaponized UAS, restricting flights over critical infrastructure and private property, and largely preempting local drone-specific ordinances except those tied to law enforcement use.
ORS 653.025 sets a three-tier statewide minimum wage and ORS 653.017 preempts cities and counties from adopting different local minimums.
ORS 653.601 mandates paid sick leave statewide, and Paid Leave Oregon under ORS Chapter 657B provides paid family and medical leave benefits.
ORS 653.412 to 653.485 require large retail, food, and hospitality employers to provide advance schedules and predictability pay.
Oregon issues concealed handgun licenses through county sheriffs under ORS 166.291, with statewide eligibility, training, and reciprocity standards.
Oregon law preempts most local firearm regulation but permits limited city and county rules in public buildings and on adjacent grounds.
Open carry of firearms is generally lawful in Oregon, but limited local ordinances may restrict loaded carry in incorporated public places.
Oregon allows firearms in private vehicles, but concealed loaded handguns inside a vehicle generally require a concealed handgun license under ORS 166.250.
Oregon does not mandate E-Verify use by private employers and has no statewide statute requiring electronic employment eligibility verification beyond federal I-9 rules.
Oregon enacted the nation's oldest statewide sanctuary law, ORS 181A.820, barring state and local agencies from using resources to enforce federal civil immigration law.
Oregon law requires landlords to have a qualifying reason to terminate most month-to-month tenancies after the first year. ORS 90.427 enumerates landlord-based and tenant-based just causes and mandates relocation assistance for no-fault terminations.
Oregon was the first U.S. state to enact statewide rent control. Under ORS 90.323 and 90.324, annual rent increases are capped at 7% plus the consumer price index, with a maximum ceiling adjusted yearly by the Department of Administrative Services.
ORS Chapter 215 establishes Exclusive Farm Use zones that limit non-farm development and preserve agricultural land statewide.
ORS 30.930 to 30.947 protect farm and forest practices from most nuisance and trespass claims when conducted on land zoned for those uses.
HB 2509 bans most single-use plastic checkout bags statewide and requires a minimum charge for paper or thicker reusable bags at retailers.
SB 543 prohibits restaurants and food vendors from using polystyrene foam containers and bans the sale of polystyrene foam packing peanuts statewide.
ORS 459A.876 limits when restaurants and convenience stores may distribute single-use plastic straws, requiring customer request first.
Oregon ORS 105.880 to 105.890 declares unenforceable any deed restriction, covenant, or HOA rule that prohibits or unreasonably restricts the installation of solar energy systems on residential property.
Oregon requires electrical and structural permits for residential solar installations under the statewide building code. The Building Codes Division publishes a Simplified Solar Permit available to qualifying systems in every jurisdiction.
Oregon prohibits the sale or distribution of tobacco and inhalant delivery systems to anyone under age 21 under ORS 431A.175.
Oregon has no statewide flavored tobacco ban, but ORS 431A.190 authorizes counties and cities to adopt stricter local tobacco rules.
Oregon licenses tobacco and inhalant delivery system retailers and bans online or mail-order sales of vapor products to consumers.