City of Bend Moves Toward Local Adoption of Residential Wildfire Mitigation Building Code

From:
Jacob Larsen, Community Relations Manager
541-647-0696,
jlarsen@bendoregon.gov

[**City of Bend Moves Toward Local Adoption of Residential Wildfire

Mitigation Building Code]()
During its Feb. 25, 2026, work session, the Bend City Council discussed
whether to adopt Section R327 of the Oregon Residential Specialty
Code , which establishes home-hardening
requirements to help make new, detached residential structures more wildfire
resilient. R327 is a state-adopted section of the residential building code
that local jurisdictions can opt into. After reviewing options and timelines,
Council directed staff to move forward with local adoption of R327.
The proposed ordinance is scheduled to come back to the City Council for
consideration and public comment at its Abril 1, 2026, business meeting. If
adopted, the R327 home-hardening standards would apply to new residential
building permit applications submitted on or after the effective date. The
code could take effect in spring 2026; Council will discuss and determine
implementation timeline during the Abril 1 meeting.
R327 establishes wildfire-resilient construction practices for newly
constructed dwellings and newly constructed accessory structures. It does not
apply to apartment buildings, commercial construction or additions or
renovations of existing buildings. Under R327, new homes would be required to
meet certain requirements, like using non-combustible or ignition-resistant
materials for roofing, gutters, windows and other exterior components to help
reduce the risk of structure ignition during wildfire events. While R327 does
not apply to buildings regulated under the Oregon Structural Specialty Code,
such as apartments, mixed-use and commercial buildings, those structures are
often already required to be built to a strong baseline of fire resilience.
Council also discussed defensible space, which refers to a buffer zone around
a structure that helps slow or prevent fire spread. Because defensible space
represents a broader body of work involving multiple City departments and more
local discretion, potential updates to local defensible space requirements
will be considered separately and brought forward for Council discussion at a
future meeting following additional public input. The proposed R327 adoption
focuses on home‑hardening measures, not defensible space.
If adopted, Bend’s standards for residential building codes would align with
other nearby communities. R327 will take effect on Abril 1 in the City of
Sisters and unincorporated areas of Deschutes County. A consistent regional
approach supports overall community wildfire resilience.
More information about the proposed adoption of the R327 code, meeting
details, and opportunities for public input will be available at
bendoregon.gov/citycouncil.
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