Bend Short-Term Rental Regulations

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Permit & Licensing

Type I

This permit type does not require primary residence.

Type II

This permit type does not require primary residence.

Application Process

Land use permit first (Type I or Type II by zone; decided within 30 days of a complete application), then a Short Term Rental Operating License applied for within 60 days of the land use permit — Initial Application Fee $360 plus the Transportation Fee Supplement ($204.80/year for units authorized for whole-house rental use, $110.59/year for all others), processed in 3-4 weeks

Note: Document requirements vary by permit type. See individual permit sections above for eligibility details.

Tax Obligations

Combined rate: 11.9% of gross rental income.

Collection: Transient lodging providers and transient lodging intermediaries must collect and remit the state transient lodging tax; they may withhold 5 percent of the state lodging taxes collected as an administrative fee

Filing: Quarterly: Q1 due April 30, Q2 due July 31, Q3 due October 31, Q4 due January 31

Rental Limits

Bend does not impose an annual cap on the number of nights you can rent. Each individual stay must be less than 30 consecutive days.

Zoning & Restrictions

• There must be at least 500 feet of separation between properties zoned RL, RS, RM, RH, and MR outside of the Old Mill District boundary (noted as Type II in Figure 3.6.500.C).
• Short-term rentals in the Commercial (CL, CG, CC, CB, CN), Mixed Employment (ME), Mixed-Use Urban (MU) and Mixed-Use Neighborhood (MN) zones, and in the Mixed-Use Riverfront (MR) zone within the Old Mill District boundary (Type I), are exempt from these concentration limits

Insurance & Safety

Insurance

Bend does not require short-term rental operators to carry specific insurance. Standard homeowner policies often exclude short-term rental activity, so many hosts obtain dedicated short-term rental or landlord liability coverage.

Safety & Operating Requirements

• A notice carrying 24/7 emergency contact information must go to every neighbor within 250 feet — by mailed or hand-delivered letter, or by a sign posted on the property during short-term rental use — and a copy of the letter with a photo of the envelopes, or a photo of the sign, is submitted with the license application

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• Late renewal fee: $60
• Oregon state lodging tax: 5% penalty for late payment; 20% penalty if a return is not filed within 30 days of the due date
• Operating a short-term rental in violation of BC 7.16: Class A civil infraction — each day of violation is a separate violation
• Class A civil infraction: maximum civil penalty $750
• Renewal is not accepted more than 30 days after the operating license expires — the license lapses and the land use permit is voided, so a new land use application is required

Compliance Checklist

Follow these steps to legally operate a short-term rental in Bend:

1. Determine your permit type. Bend has 2 permit types. Identify which applies to your property (Type I, Type II).
2. Meet safety requirements. A notice carrying 24/7 emergency contact information must go to every neighbor within 250 feet — by mailed or hand-delivered letter, or by a sign posted on the property during short-term rental use — and a copy of the letter with a photo of the envelopes, or a photo of the sign, is submitted with the license application.
3. Apply for your STR permit. Submit application. Fees vary by type: Type I $1,380.26 land use + 4% surcharge + $360 operating license; Type II $3,840.31 land use + 4% surcharge + $360 operating license. See permit types above to determine which applies.
4. Register for tax accounts. Set up lodging tax accounts with Oregon Department of Revenue.
5. Collect and remit taxes. 11.9% on all bookings.
6. Renew annually. $260 + Transportation Fee Supplement ($204.80 whole-house use / $110.59 all others).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Bend?

Yes. Bend requires a short-term rental permit to operate an Airbnb or Vrbo, and there are 2 permit types. See the permit types above to find which applies to your property.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Bend?

Permit costs in Bend vary by type: Type I $1,380.26 land use + 4% surcharge + $360 operating license; Type II $3,840.31 land use + 4% surcharge + $360 operating license.

Does Bend require a short-term rental to be your primary residence?

No. Bend allows non-owner-occupied short-term rentals, so investment properties can qualify provided you hold the required permit.

How many days a year can you short-term rent in Bend?

Bend does not cap the total number of nights per year. Its short-term-rental rules apply when a stay is less than 30 consecutive days.

What taxes do you pay on a short-term rental in Bend?

Short-term rental stays in Bend are subject to a combined 11.9% in lodging taxes. This combines 10.4% City of Bend Room Tax (all rentals except those with an infrequent-use permit) + 1.5% Oregon State Transient Lodging Tax. Hosts are legally responsible; many booking platforms collect and remit them automatically on the host's behalf.

What are the penalties for short-term rental violations in Bend?

Penalties run up to $750/day (see the Penalties section for the full schedule).