How to get a short-term rental permit in Bend, OR (2026)
Bend requires Short-Term Rental Operating License — the fee is $350, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Short-Term Rental Operating License |
| Permit fee | $350 |
| Renewal | Annual |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. 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.
- 2
Apply for the Short-Term Rental Operating License
Submit the Short-Term Rental Operating License application to Bend and pay the $350 fee. 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.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Bend. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
- 4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.
STR rules change without warning.
Get an email the moment Bend changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Bend for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
Keep going
Verified July 21, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Bend before applying.