The Bend Development Code is a set of regulations that guide development and land use within Bend. It mainly applies to private property and covers zoning, land use, building heights, setbacks, and other aspects of urban planning—essentially what can be built in Bend. The Bend Development Code implements the Bend Comprehensive Plan.

The Sign Code, which lives in Chapter 9.50 of the Municipal Code, regulate signs that are visible from streets or which are visible from one site to another. The code provides reasonable regulations for the design, construction, placement and maintenance of signs to protect the public health, safety and general welfare of the community. The intent is not to regulate content, only the number, type, location, height and size of signs.

The Bend Development Code changes over time when the Bend City Council adopts new policies to meet community-driven Council goals, such as reducing barriers to building housing or supporting sustainable development, as well as when state adopts new rules. Due to changes that occur in the City's land use policies, as well as evolving requirements of State and Federal law, the Development Code is dynamic and regularly updated.

Active Code Updates

These are proposed amendments that will be reviewed by and voted on by the City Council. The official public engagement process is ongoing and public comments are being received until the record is closed.

Info graphic with text explaining the Land Use process.

Short-Term Rental Code Update

  • CityView File Number: PLTEXT20250659 
  • Staff Contact: Pauline Hardie
  • Stage in the process:
    •  Planning Commission Work Session: February 9, 2026
    • Planning Commission Hearing (type III-CC Quasi-Judicial Recommendation to City Council): February 23, 2026

Proposed amendments to BDC 3.6.500, Short-Term Rentals. The amendment would modify how the Neighborhood Commercial (CN) zoned properties are regulated by requiring STRs to meet the standards applicable to their underlying Comprehensive Plan land use designation of Medium Density Residential (RM). Specifically, the amendment would require:

  • Type II administrative review with public notice,
  • Compliance with the 500‑foot separation standard, and
  • A limitation of one STR per property.

Tree Code amendments

  • CityView File number: PLTEXT20250658
  • Staff Contact: Pauline Hardie
  • Stage in the process:
    • Planning Commission Work Session: January 12, 2026
    • Planning Commission Hearing (Recommendation to City Council): January 26, 2026
    • City Council Public Hearing and First Reading: March 4, 2026 
    • City Council Second Reading: March 18, 2026
  • The amendments to the BDC propose the following:
    • Add exemptions to the tree preservation requirements.
    • Replacement Trees: Allow mitigation replacement trees to count towards the 40% parking lot tree canopy required by the Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) rules.
    • Allow a deferral of installation of replacement trees under certain conditions.
    • Create a discretionary path for on-site root protection zones.

    Recently Adopted Code Amendments

    Below is a list of code changes that were recently adopted by the Bend City Council and are now in effect.

    Auto-Dependent Uses
    Legislative Code Amendments to Facilitate Housing
    Sign District Update
    Flood Plain Code Update
    Tree Preservation Code Update
    2025 Amendments to Bend Code Chapter 9.50 Signs
    2025 Bend Development Code Amendments to Facilitate Housing Development
    2023-2025 Code Update

    Historic Versions of the Development Code

    The Bend Development Code is always updated to show the most recent code changes adopted by Council. If you have a land use application submitted on a date prior to the effective date of Bend’s current development code, the applicable codes will be those in place on the date the application was submitted.

    Previous versions of the Bend Development Code can be found on the Bend Development Code website. Click "Track" and go to "historic versions."