City of Bend Expands Pre-Approved Plan Program to Increase Housing Options and Reduce Costs

From:
Claire Conklin, City of Bend
541-408-1785,
cconklin@bendoregon.gov

City of Bend Expands Pre-Approved Plans Program to Increase Housing Options

and Reduce Costs
The City of Bend is continuing its commitment to making housing more
accessible and affordable through the expansion of its Pre-Approved Plan
Program. This initiative builds on several years of focused efforts to reduce
barriers, streamline permitting and lower costs for homeowners interested in
building Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
When the program first launched, the City introduced a single pre-approved
Accessory Dwelling Unit design at no cost. This initial offer served as a
pilot, allowing staff to gather valuable feedback from the community while
testing the effectiveness of a streamlined approach.
The City is proud to announce the addition of four new pre-approved plan sets.
This is in direct response to feedback and recognizing that one size does not
fit all. These designs will be made available at no cost to property owners
for site-specific permitting within Bend, offering greater flexibility and
more choices to meet a wide range of needs.
At the core of the program is a simple but powerful concept: reusing building
plans that have already been thoroughly reviewed and approved for compliance
with building codes. By eliminating redundant review steps, the program
significantly shortens approval timelines and reduces permitting costs, making
it easier and more efficient for property owners to bring new housing units to
life.
“With more options, reduced costs, and faster approvals, the expanded Pre-
Approved Plan Program represents a significant step forward, said Housing
Production and Incentives Coordinator Kerry Bell. “This will help create the
housing solutions our community needs.”
The plans extend beyond traditional Accessory Dwelling Unit use. While they
meet all criteria for Accessory Dwelling Units, they are also ideal for a
variety of other housing applications, including cottage cluster developments
and detached duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes. This versatility makes them
especially well-suited for small-scale Middle Housing Land Division projects,
an increasingly important tool in expanding housing supply.
For more information on the program visit the City of Bend Pre-Approved
Plans Program.
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