Is short-term rental legal in Bend, OR?
Bend issues STR operating licenses with land-use approval — and applies concentration limits in residential zones (a cap on the share of homes on a block that may hold STR approval), making existing licenses sticky and new ones scarce in the core neighborhoods.
Rules checked October 2026
Run the Bend verdict on your facts
| What counts as a short-term rental | Bend issues STR operating licenses with land-use approval — and applies concentration limits in residential zones (a cap on the share of homes on a block that may hold STR approval), making existing licenses sticky and new ones scarce in the core neighborhoods. |
|---|---|
| Permit / license | STR Operating License + Land-Use Approval — issued by City of Bend |
| Fee | License and land-use fees together run several hundred dollars |
| Renewal | Operating license renews annually |
| Primary-residence rule | No primary-residence rule; concentration and zone decide. |
| Whole-home rental | Whole-home rental is the standard licensed product. |
| Night cap | — |
| Guests / occupancy | Per license |
| Minimum stay | None |
| Zoning | Concentration caps by area + zone eligibility — the block's existing STR count is part of your application. |
| Density / scarcity | Concentration limits on STR approvals in residential areas |
| Fines | Unlicensed operation draws city fines and license ineligibility |
| Taxes | City room tax registration accompanies the license. |
| Platform duties | License numbers in listings. |
| State layer | No state preemption. Portland permits by type; Bend and the coast towns run density caps; some counties license in unincorporated areas. |
What trips hosts in Bend
- Bend's concentration rule means your approval depends on your neighbors' licenses — a fact pattern buyers miss until the denial letter explains it.
The private layer still applies
These are the city's rules. Your HOA, condo board, lease or mortgage can say no on top of them — that layer is printed as a warning in the checker, never merged into the city's verdict.
Sources: Bend Code Ch. 7.15 / Development Code STR provisions · City of Bend STR program. Rules checked October 2026.