Short-Term Rental Laws in Bend, OR (2026)
Bend allows short-term rentals but regulates them tightly: every STR needs a land use permit (Type I or Type II) plus an annual Short-Term Rental Operating License. Whole-house rentals in residential zones (Type II) must be at least 500 feet from any other Type II STR, permits are voided on sale of the property, and occupancy is capped at two guests per bedroom plus two. Guests pay a 10.4% city room tax plus Oregon's 1.5% state lodging tax.
Reviewed by the STR Rule Watch research team against 8 official sources. How we verify data
Bend STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Restricted |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | Short-Term Rental Operating License |
| Permit fee | $350 |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Owner occupancy required | No |
| Primary residence only | No |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~11.9% of gross revenue |
| Enforcement | Owner or representative must be reachable 24/7 while the unit is rented and must notify all neighbors within 250 feet of the emergency contact. |
| Current rules effective | 2015-04-15 |
What will guests pay in taxes on a Bend stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for Bend, OR — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
Bend occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| City of Bend Room Tax (10.4%)· collection varies | $46.80 |
| Oregon State Transient Lodging Tax (1.5%)· collection varies | $6.75 |
| Total tax (11.9%) | $53.55 |
| Guest pays | $503.55 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Permits & licensing
Bend requires Short-Term Rental Operating License to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $350, renewed annually.
Two-step permitting. Step 1: STR Land Use Permit (one-time) — Type I $1,314.53 or Type II $3,657.44, each plus a 4% Long Range Planning Surcharge (fees as of May 2026 fee schedule). A few subdivisions (Mt Bachelor Village, Deschutes Landing, Courtyards at Broken Top units 1-8 & 21-32) are exempt from the land use permit but still need the operating license. Step 2: Short-Term Rental Operating License — $350 initial application (the fee recorded in permit_fee_cents) plus an annual Transportation Fee Supplement of $200/yr for whole-house rentals or $108/yr for all others (adopted May 7, 2025, effective July 1, 2025). Annual renewal is $255 + supplement; $55 late fee if renewed within 30 days after expiration.
Zoning & location rules
STRs are allowed citywide but the process depends on zone. Type I (streamlined, no concentration limit): commercial zones (CL, CG, CC, CB, CN), Mixed Employment (ME), Mixed-Use Urban (MU), Mixed-Use Neighborhood (MN), and Mixed-Use Riverfront (MR) inside the Old Mill District; also owner-occupied rentals (max 2 rooms, owner present) and 'infrequent' rentals (under 30 days/year, max 4 rental periods) anywhere. Type II: whole-house STRs in residential zones (SR2-1/2, RL, RS, RM, RM-10, RH) and MR outside the Old Mill District — these require 500 feet of separation from any other Type II STR, measured radially from the property boundary. On multi-unit residential properties (ADU, duplex, etc.), only one unit per property may be permitted (applications after Nov 4, 2021). Single-room-occupancy units may not be used as STRs. Permits do not transfer on sale of the property, and 12 months of non-use voids the permit.
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| City of Bend Room TaxBC Chapter 12.05. Hosts must register a room tax account with the city and file monthly or quarterly; Airbnb collects and remits its bookings' Bend Room Tax at 10.4% of the listing price including cleaning fees. Rentals on an 'infrequent use' permit (under 30 days/year) are exempt from room tax. Room tax compliance is a condition of license renewal. | 10.4% | varies |
| Oregon State Transient Lodging TaxWhoever collects payment for occupancy is responsible for collecting and remitting; platforms (Airbnb/Vrbo) collect for platform bookings, hosts for direct bookings. Applies to stays of 29 nights or fewer; stays of 30+ consecutive days are exempt. Deschutes County's 8% transient room tax does NOT apply inside Bend city limits. | 1.5% | varies |
Enforcement & penalties
Owner or representative must be reachable 24/7 while the unit is rented and must notify all neighbors within 250 feet of the emergency contact. The city maintains a public database of STR contacts and may inspect properties. Progressive discipline for sustained complaints: first violation in 12 months = warning notice; second similar offense = second warning or 90-day license suspension; third similar offense in 12 months = revocation. Immediate revocation for failure to renew, failure to prove use (rented at least once in prior 12 months, unless hardship or long-term-rental exemption), false application information, or loss of the land use permit. After revocation, the owner may not reapply for the same property for 12 months. Operating license terminates on sale of the property (buyer has 60 days to apply for a new one).
Operating without a license or other violations are Class A civil infractions with a maximum civil penalty of $750 per violation, and each day a dwelling is used in violation counts as a separate violation. Non-monetary penalties include 90-day license suspension, revocation, and a 12-month bar on reapplying after revocation.
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Getting legal in Bend: the playbook
Generated from this market's verified rules — each step traces to the sources at the bottom of this page.
- 1
Verify your zoning
Location rules apply: STRs are allowed citywide but the process depends on zone. Type I (streamlined, no concentration limit): commercial zones (CL, CG, CC, CB, CN), Mixed Employment (ME), Mixed-Use Urban (MU), Mixed-Use Neighborhood (MN), and Mixed-Use Riverfront (MR) inside the Old Mill District; also owner-occupied rentals (max 2 rooms, owner present) and 'infrequent' rentals (under 30 days/year, max 4 rental periods) anywhere. Confirm your parcel's zoning with the city before applying — the full zoning rules are detailed above.
- 2
Check the covenant layer
HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
- 3
Apply for the Short-Term Rental Operating License
Budget $350, renewed annually. Two-step permitting. Apply through the city — the official application page is linked in the sources below.
- 4
Set up tax collection & remittance
Platforms don't collect everything here: City of Bend Room Tax (10.4%), Oregon State Transient Lodging Tax (1.5%) are remitted by the host. Register with the taxing authority before your first booking and calendar the filing deadlines.
- 5
Calendar the renewal before you forget it
This permit renews annually (budget $350 again). Most cities take weeks to process renewals and don't send reminders — our Host plan emails you at 60/30/7 days out.
- 6
Know the cost of getting it wrong
Operating without a license or other violations are Class A civil infractions with a maximum civil penalty of $750 per violation, and each day a dwelling is used in violation counts as a separate violation. Non-monetary penalties include 90-day license suspension, revocation, and a 12-month bar on reapplying after revocation. Full enforcement details and penalties are covered above.
Recent rule changes in Bend
November 19, 2025
Ordinance NS-2541 omnibus Development Code update
A broad BDC cleanup ordinance touched BDC 3.6.500 (e.g., retitling the decision-maker to Community Development Director). Substantive STR standards — permit types, 500-ft separation, occupancy, transfer/void rules — were unchanged.
Official source →June 4, 2025material
Ordinance NS-2530 amends operating license chapter (BC 7.16)
Council amended BC 7.16, clarifying that advertising or offering an STR without a license is prohibited (any media), tightening proof-of-use documentation for renewals, and codifying a long-term rental exemption: owners with a 12-month-plus residential lease can renew without proving STR use for up to three consecutive renewals.
Official source →May 7, 2025material
Transportation Fee Phase 2 adds annual STR supplements
City Council adopted Phase 2 Transportation Fee rates effective July 1, 2025, including Short-Term Rental Supplements assessed on all new operating licenses and renewals: $200/year for whole-house rentals, $108/year for all others. Applies even to land-use-permit-exempt properties (Mt Bachelor Village, Broken Top, Deschutes Landing).
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in Bend?
Airbnb is legal in Bend, OR, but with significant restrictions — check the zoning and eligibility rules on this page before listing. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Bend?
Yes. Bend requires a Short-Term Rental Operating License to operate a short-term rental, which costs $350 and must be renewed annually. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a Bend short-term rental permit cost?
The Short-Term Rental Operating License costs $350 (annual renewal). Two-step permitting. Step 1: STR Land Use Permit (one-time) — Type I $1,314.53 or Type II $3,657.44, each plus a 4% Long Range Planning Surcharge (fees as of May 2026 fee schedule). A few subdivisions (Mt Bachelor Village, Deschutes Landing, Courtyards at Broken Top units 1-8 & 21-32) are exempt from the land use permit but still need the operating license. Step 2: Short-Term Rental Operating License — $350 initial application (the fee recorded in permit_fee_cents) plus an annual Transportation Fee Supplement of $200/yr for whole-house rentals or $108/yr for all others (adopted May 7, 2025, effective July 1, 2025). Annual renewal is $255 + supplement; $55 late fee if renewed within 30 days after expiration.
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Bend?
Yes — Bend does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Bend?
Hosts in Bend are subject to: City of Bend Room Tax (10.4%), Oregon State Transient Lodging Tax (1.5%) — roughly 11.9% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.
›Does Airbnb collect taxes automatically in Bend?
No — in Bend hosts are responsible for registering, collecting, and remitting the listed occupancy taxes themselves. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Bend?
Operating without a license or other violations are Class A civil infractions with a maximum civil penalty of $750 per violation, and each day a dwelling is used in violation counts as a separate violation. Non-monetary penalties include 90-day license suspension, revocation, and a 12-month bar on reapplying after revocation. See the enforcement section on this page for full details.
›When did Bend's current short-term rental rules take effect?
The current ordinance took effect on April 15, 2015. See the change timeline on this page for amendments since, and the sources section for the official text.
Bend's STR rules changed 3 times recently.
Get an email the moment Bend changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
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More resources
- How to get a short-term rental permit in Bend
- Bend short-term rental taxes explained
- Can I Airbnb in Bend?
- All Oregon STR laws by city
- Occupancy tax calculator
- Compare STR permit costs across cities
- Bend ranks among most expensive str permit cities
- Bend ranks among strictest str cities
- STR city rankings: strictest, cheapest permits & more
- What is transient occupancy tax?
- Best STR compliance tools, compared
- Latest STR rule changes nationwide
Sources
- City of Bend — Short Term Rental Permits and Licensesretrieved July 20, 2026
- Bend Development Code 3.6.500 — Short-Term Rentalsretrieved July 20, 2026
- Bend Code Chapter 7.16 — Short-Term Rental Operating Licenseretrieved July 20, 2026
- Bend Code 1.40.080 — Classification of Civil Infractions (penalty amounts)retrieved July 20, 2026
- Oregon Department of Revenue — State Transient Lodging Taxretrieved July 20, 2026
- Airbnb — Occupancy tax collection and remittance in Oregon (Bend Room Tax)retrieved July 20, 2026
- Deschutes County — Transient Room Tax (unincorporated areas only)retrieved July 20, 2026
- City of Bend Ordinance NS-2530 (amending BC 7.16), adopted June 4, 2025retrieved July 20, 2026
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Bend and a qualified professional before operating.