Short Term Rental Permits and Licenses

The City of Bend limits and regulates short term rentals to balance neighborhood livability with private property rights and our tourism economy.

Want to Start a Short term Rental?

1 Check Eligibility

There must be 500 feet of separation between whole-house short term rental properties that will be rented more than 30 days per year or more than four (4) rental periods within the following zoning districts:

Residential
Mixed Use Riverfront (outside of the Old Mill District boundaries)

These are considered Type II short term rentals according to the Bend Development Code and include accessory dwelling units (ADUs) used as short term rentals.

Use the following map to check if your property may be able to be used as a short term rental:

Short Term Rental Eligibility Map

Note: This map is only a guide and only applies to Type II short term rentals. Please check with the Planning Division—planning@bendoregon.gov or 541-388-5580 ext. 3—and consult your Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) if you are a part of a Home Owner’s Association (HOA).

The 500-ft rule does not apply to the following:

Type I short term rentals:
- Infrequent short term rentals: whole houses rented a maximum of 30 days per year, or up to four (4) rental periods.
- Owner occupied short term rentals: up to two (2) bedrooms of a home rented for any number of days per year.
- Short term rental in Commercial or Mixed-Use zones: whole houses in Commercial or Mixed-Use zoning districts rented for more than 30 days per year.
Permit-Exempt Properties:

2 Get a Land Use Permit

Land use permits are required for all short term rentals except the following properties:

Fees:

Type I short term rental: $882 + 4% Long Range Planning Surcharge*
Type II short term rental: $2,454 + 4% Long Range Planning Surcharge*

*Long Range Planning Surcharge is a fee we collect to help fund efforts to plan for Bend’s future growth.

Processing Time:

Within 30 days from the time application is deemed “complete”.

Begin Land Use Permit Application

Under choose the project type, select Short Term Rental.
Choose a name for the project under Project Descriptive Name.
Finish the remaining steps to complete your application.

Questions about land use permits?

Please contact the Planning Division at planning@bendoregon.gov or 541-388-5580 ext. 3.

See Bend Development Code Chapter 3.6.500 for detailed information regarding short term rental land use permits.

3 Provide 24/7 Emergency Contact Information to Neighbors

Before applying for a Short Term Rental Operating License, you must provide a notice with 24/7 emergency contact information to neighbors within 250-ft of the short term rental property. This could be a mailed or hand-delivered letter, or a sign posted on the property during short term rental use.

If Mailing or Hand-Delivering a Letter

Use this letter template:

Short Term Rental Notice Letter

Use this free tool to create a list of all the property owners within 250-ft:

Deschutes County Property Information: Dial

Instructions on how to use the address information tool [PDF].

If Posting a Sign

The sign must state that the property is a short term rental and include the 24/7 emergency contact’s name and phone number. The sign must be no larger than two (2) square feet in size and readable from the edge of the property.

Properties within the Mount Bachelor Village Resort

Share the 24/7 emergency contact information via email with the Mount Bachelor Village HOA c/o Aperion Management Group at customerservice@aperionmgmt.com instead of posting a sign or sending a letter to neighbors.

Properties within the Courtyards at Broken Top

Share the 24/7 emergency contact information via email with the Broken Top Community Association at gmbtca@brokentop.org instead of posting a sign or sending a letter to neighbors.

4 Obtain an Operating License

After you receive your Land Use Permit, you have 60 days to apply for a Short Term Rental Operating License. Operating licenses are required for all short term rentals.

Fees:

Initial Application Fee: $350
Annual Renewal: $255
Annual Transportation Fee: $100

Processing Time:

3-4 weeks from the time the application is submitted.

Before You Begin Your Operating License Application

Complete the following items. These will be submitted with your application. Note: there is no “Save for Later” feature when working on your application, so it’s important that you have everything ready ahead of time.

Declaration of Notice to Neighbors
- If you provided a letter to neighboring property owners, submit a photo of the prepared envelopes and a copy of the letter with your application.
- If you posted a sign on the property, submit a photo of the posted sign with your application.
- If the property is in the Mount Bachelor Village Resort or Courtyards at Broken Top, submit proof of emailed notification with your application. This can be either a screenshot, or a forwarded or cc’d email.
Fire Safety Self-inspection Checklist and Reply Card
Short Term Rental Acknowledgement
Parking Diagram
- Create a parking diagram to share with your tenants so they understand where to park at the property during their stay. The parking diagram must also be available in a prominent location within the property.
- If the property has a garage available for parking, you must submit a dated photo of the garage showing that it is available for the short term rental tenant to use.
Proof of Good Neighbor Guidelines Posting
- Post the Good Neighbor Guidelines within the property or in online advertising materials and submit an image of the posting with your application.
[Optional] Designate an Authorized Agent
- An authorized agent is a property management company or other entity or person who can act on your behalf. The authorized agent may or may not also be the 24/7 emergency contact.

If the authorized agent changes at any time, you must submit a new Authorization Form via email to licensing@bendoregon.gov.

Ready to Apply?

Begin Operating License Application

Instructions for submitting an operating license application [PDF].

We will notify you if there is anything missing in your application. You will then have 30 days to complete. If the application is not completed in that time, your application will be withdrawn, fee may be refunded, and the Land Use Permit will be voided.

Missed a deadline?

If you fail to apply for an Operating License within the required timeframe, then your Land Use Permit will be voided. Once this happens, you will have to reapply for the Land Use Permit and will be subject to the current rules and regulations of the permit—including the 500-ft density buffer for Type II whole-house short term rentals.

Questions about operating licenses?

Please contact the Licensing Division at licensing@bendoregon.gov or 541-388-5580 ext. 8.

See Bend Code Chapter 7.16 for detailed information regarding short term rental operating licenses.

Renew Your Operating License

Fees:

Annual Renewal: $255
Annual Transportation Fee: $100

Processing Time:

3-4 weeks from the time the application is completed. Note: make sure your Room Tax reporting is current and up-to-date to avoid extending the processing time.

When to Renew:

Annual operating license renewals are required, and notifications are sent automatically from the Online Permit Center Portal 60 days prior to your operating license expiration date. The notices are sent via email or mail, depending upon the communication preference you specified when you set up your account.

You have up to 30 days after your license expires to submit your renewal application, but you will have to pay a $55 late fee. If you don’t renew your operating license before the 30 days, it will expire and your land use permit will be voided.

Before You Begin Your Operating License Renewal

Declaration of Notice to Neighbors
Proof of Notice to Neighbors
- If you provided a letter to neighboring property owners, submit a photo of the prepared envelopes and a copy of the letter with your application.
- If you posted a sign on the property, submit a photo of the posted sign with your application.
- If the property is in the Mt Bachelor Village Resort or Courtyards at Broken Top, submit proof of that notification with your application.
Fire Safety Self-inspection Checklist & Reply Card
Short Term Rental Acknowledgement
Proof of Use
- Short term rental properties must be used at least one night within the 12 month licensed period in order to renew your Operating License. Submit room taxes as proof of use monthly or quarterly.
- Whole-house Unlimited and Owner-Occupied Room Rentals: You need to have a registered room tax account and submit your room tax reports monthly or quarterly through our Online Permit Center Portal.
- Whole-house Infrequent Use Rentals: You don’t need to pay room taxes because your permit limits short term rentals to no more than 30 days a year and no more than 4 rental periods—for example, two weeks in summer and two weeks in winter. You must upload proof that your property was used as a short term rental in the past 12 months, such as rental receipts, bookings, or contracts.
- If you have a Type-I STR Permit for both Infrequent Use and Owner-occupied Room Rentals: You must pay room taxes for the room rentals and upload proof of use for the infrequent whole-house rentals.
- Long-term Rental Exemption: You do not need to prove the property is used as a short term rental to renew your license if the property is currently being rented under a long-term residential lease (for 12 months or more). In this case, you must submit proof of the lease, following the Oregon Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. You can use this exemption for up to three license renewals. After that, you’ll need to go back to proving the property’s use for each annual renewal. Room tax reporting is not required for long-term rental activity, but any short term rental activity must still be submitted.

Renew Operating License

Instructions for submitting an operating license renewal application [PDF].

We will notify you if there is anything missing in your renewal application. You will then have 30 days to complete it. If the application is not completed in that time, your application will be withdrawn, fee refunded, and the Land Use Permit will become void.

Questions about operating licenses?

Please contact the Licensing Division at licensing@bendoregon.gov or 541-388-5580 ext. 8.

See Bend Code Chapter 7.16 for detailed information regarding short term rental operating licenses.

Submit Room Tax

All short term rentals—except those with an infrequent use permit—must pay a room tax of 10.4% of the gross revenue received for short term rental activity.

Depending on the amount of revenue you receive from your short term rental property, you will need to submit room tax reports and the taxes themselves on a monthly or quarterly basis.

How to Register and Submit Your Room Tax

Report an Issue

Tenants and owners of short term rentals are encouraged to follow our Good Neighbor Guidelines, outlining the importance of being a good neighbor while visiting Bend. If you believe they are not, or you have other issues to report, visit the reporting page here:

Report an Issue

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a short term rental?

What are the different types of short term rentals?

Are "vacation home rentals" and "short term rentals" the same thing?

What if I only rent out one or two bedrooms while I live in the house?

If you, as the owner, rent out one or two bedrooms in your home while you are present, this is considered an Owner-Occupied Short Term Rental. The bedrooms must be within the structure you occupy and cannot be in a detached or attached accessory dwelling unit or guest house. If you wish to rent out more than two bedrooms while you are present, you will need to apply for a standard Short Term Rental Land Use Permit and operating license. There is no limit on the number of days an Owner-Occupied Short Term Rental permit can be used within a calendar year; however, if rented for more than 30 days per year, it is subject to Room Tax.

What if I only rent out my home for a few days per year?

What are the parking requirements for a short term rental?

What are the requirements for land use approval?

For Type II applications: There must be at least 500 feet of separation between properties permitted as whole-house short-term rentals. This 500-foot separation is measured radially from your property boundary and includes all properties wholly or partially within that radius. If any property within 500 feet of your property is an approved whole-house short-term rental, your property cannot be approved as a new whole-house short-term rental.

Example of STR 500 foot radius

Can I utilize both my main house and my accessory dwelling unit as Short Term Rentals?

A separate permit is required for each, even if they are on the same legal lot.

For Type II short term rentals—whole-house properties that will be rented more than 30 days per year or more than four (4) rental periods within Residential and Mixed-Use Riverfront zoning districts (outside of the Old Mill District boundaries), only one unit on a property with multiple dwellings (i.e. ADUs, duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, multi-unit, cottages, etc.) can be permitted as a short term rental. Refer to Bend Development Code 3.6.500 A.2.

What if I sell my property and hold a Short Term Rental permit approved under the current Development Code?

The Short Term Rental Permit (for applications filed after April 15, 2015) is issued to you as the owner and does not transfer with the property. When you sell or transfer your property, the land use approval will be voided.

Note: once a property with multiple Short term Rentals is sold, any future Short term Rental request is limited to one unit, per Bend Development Code 3.6.500 A.2. If the buyer wants to use the property as a short term rental, they must apply for a new Short term Rental land use permit and, if approved, a new Operating License. See Bend Development Code 3.6.500.F for more details.

For approved Vacation Home Rental permit applications submitted on or before April 15, 2015, the land use approval runs with the land (i.e. the home still has land use approval to be used as a vacation rental). Legal non-conforming uses documented by the City with a letter may also continue after a sale or transfer to a new owner. The operating license, however, is issued to the property owner and is not transferable. If the property is sold, the new owner has 60 days from the closing date to file for a new operating license.

If you are unsure whether you hold a Vacation Home Rental Permit or a Short Term Rental Permit, please contact the Planning Division at 541-388-5580 ext. 3 or bendplanning@bendoregon.gov.

How do I maintain my Short Term Rental Land Use Permit?

In order to maintain your Short Term Rental Land Use permit, two conditions must be met:

You must use the property as a short term rental every 12 months. This is verified annually by providing proof of use documentation with your operating license renewal. You may also use the long-term rental exemption.
You must obtain and maintain an annual Short Term Rental Operating License.

If you sell your property, the land use approval will terminate and become void.

How do I show proof of use as a short term rental?

If you use your property as a short-term rental for 30 days or more in a 12-month period, you must submit Room Tax, which serves as the primary proof of use. If you rent your property for fewer than 30 days in a 12-month period, you will need to provide alternative documentation of proof of use, such as a rental receipt or a rental contract.

Proof of Use Long-Term Rental Exemption: If you provide proof of a long-term residential lease of 12 months or more, drafted in compliance with the Oregon Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, they will not need to prove use of the property as a short-term rental for their license renewal. This exemption can be used for up to three license renewal applications. After that, licensees must revert to the proof of use requirement for annual renewal of the operating license.

I have a property within Mount Bachelor Village. Do I need a Short Term Rental Land Use Permit and operating license?

You do not need a land use permit for properties within Mount Bachelor Village, however you may need an operating license.

Properties that are members of the Mount Bachelor Village Rental Program do not need individual operating licenses because they are covered under the operating license obtained by Mount Bachelor Village. If your property is not a member of the Mount Bachelor Village Rental Program, you will need to obtain an individual operating license.

Do I have to collect room tax on my short term rental?

Are all short term rental permit types required to have an operating license?

What fees am I required to pay for a short term rental?

If you want to operate a short term rental, here are the fees you need to pay:

Land Use Permit Fee:
- Type I: $882.00 per application + 4% Long Range Planning Surcharge*
- Type II: $2,454.00 per application + 4% Long Range Planning Surcharge*
Initial Operating License Fee: $350
Operating License Renewal Fee: $255 annually
Transportation Fee: $100 annually
Room Tax: 10.4% of gross sales

*The 4% surcharge is used to fund the City’s Long Range Planning program.

Late Application Fee: $55 (if you submit your application after the 60-day window)

Refund/Withdraw of Short term Rental Application: Up to 75% of the application fee is refundable, depending on when the application is withdrawn during the application process.

Appeal of Short term Rental Operating License Decision: $200.00 per appeal

How do I appeal a decision?

Can I limit the number of guests who can stay at my short term rental at a time?

How many parking spaces do I need to provide?

How do I keep my Vacation Home Rental permit that was issued under the prior Development Code?

Does the Vacation Home Rental permit transfer with the property if I sell it?

Yes, if your permit was approved before April 15, 2015, it runs with the land (i.e. stays with the property). The new owner must get a new operating license within 60 days of buying the property.

For permits approved after April 15, 2015, the permit is tied to the owner and becomes void if the property is sold.

If you are not certain whether you hold a Vacation Home Rental Permit or a Short Term Rental Permit, please contact the Planning Division at 541-388-5580 ext. 3 or planning@bendoregon.gov.

How do I show proof of short term rental use?

Why can’t I increase the size of my rental property?

Comprehensive information on the City of Bend’s Short Term Rental program can be found in the following code sections:

Development Code Chapter 3.6.500 | Bend Code Chapter 7.16

Contact

Want to Start a Short term Rental?

1 Check Eligibility

2 Get a Land Use Permit

Fees:

Processing Time:

Questions about land use permits?

3 Provide 24/7 Emergency Contact Information to Neighbors

If Mailing or Hand-Delivering a Letter

If Posting a Sign

Properties within the Mount Bachelor Village Resort

Properties within the Courtyards at Broken Top

4 Obtain an Operating License

Fees:

Processing Time:

Before You Begin Your Operating License Application

Ready to Apply?

Missed a deadline?

Questions about operating licenses?

Renew Your Operating License

Fees:

Processing Time:

When to Renew:

Before You Begin Your Operating License Renewal

Questions about operating licenses?

Submit Room Tax

Report an Issue

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Services

Room Tax

Report an Issue