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 [...]
February 23rd at 5:30pm in City Council chambers at City Hall
REAL-WORLD HURDLES BY MICHAEL KOHN The Bulletin Developing walkable, bikeable communities in Bend has been a long-time goal of Bend’s city leadership. It’s a well-intentioned plan —_vehicle use drops when basic services are within a short distance from where people live. Beyond commercial development, the city even has specific rules that push builders to create areas [...]
Karon Johnson, Old Farm’s Landuse Chair, provides an easy to understand summary of proposed changes to Bend Development Code below. Note: she doesn’t see anything controversial. Public hearings are scheduled for 9/22, 10/5 and 11/19. 2.4.400(B) and (C) eliminate side and back setbacks for buildings in the Industrial zone unless they’re more than 35’ high, or [...]
On July 9th at 12 P.M., Karen Swenson, Senior Planner, will be leading an informational session on available tools and resources to show compliance with the tree code. Register for the webinar here. Questions about the webinar can be directed Karen Swenson at kswenson@bendoregon.gov.
Thistle & Nest, a developer, is challenging the Bend tree protection code and has submitted two applications to build 28 homes between Pettigrew Road and Daly Estates Road, about 100 yards north of Reed Market Road. They have refused to comply with the code, stating it is not clear and objective. The City replied with a [...]
The City Council recently amended the Bend City Code to no longer allow auto-dependent development in Convenience Commercial Zones. For the Southeast part of town, there are a few undeveloped acres that will be affected by this change: 15th and Reed Market, just North of the gas station Brentwood, West of American Lane 15th and SE [...]
The Bend City Council on June 20 approved parts of City codes that regulate the preservation of trees and when they can be removed. The updated code strikes a balance of incentivizing the preservation of trees while also continuing to build the homes our community needs within the urban growth boundary. The Council will continue to explore additional ways to promote [...]
Public hearing upcoming for code updates More meeting details can be found the Planning Commission webpage and the Bend City Council webpage. Note that the City Council meeting is held on a Thursday in observance of the Juneteenth Holiday. A package of code amendments is going before the Bend City Council on June 20 regulating trees [...]