Short-Term Rental Regulations · Central Oregon
Is Central Oregon short-term-rental friendly?
Town-by-town rules
Rules vary by jurisdiction. Bend and Sisters run full permit and license programs with spacing limits, La Pine and Redmond rely on business licensing and tax registration, and unincorporated Deschutes County requires a Certificate of Authority. A Bend mailing address does not prove a property is inside city limits.
Last updated: . Every fact links to its official source.
Town-by-town rules
| Town | Permit required? | Annual cost | Primary-residence / night-cap limits | Lodging tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | All short-term rentals require an operating license. Most also require a land use permit, an active City business registration, neighbor notice, and a 24/7 emergency contact. Exceptions include specified permit-exempt developments. (City of Bend STR permits and licenses (opens in a new tab)) | Type I land use permit fee is $1,380.26 plus a 4% surcharge. Type II is $3,840.31 plus a 4% surcharge. The initial operating license is $360 and annual renewal is $260, each plus a transportation supplement of $204.80 a year for whole-house rentals or $110.59 for all others. (City of Bend STR permits and licenses (opens in a new tab)) | Type II whole-house rentals generally require 500 feet of separation. Infrequent rentals are limited to a maximum of 29 days and four rental periods per year. Owner-occupied rentals are limited to up to two bedrooms. (City of Bend STR permits and licenses (opens in a new tab)) | The City room tax rate is 10.4% of gross short-term rental revenue, except for infrequent-use permits. (City of Bend room tax (opens in a new tab)) |
| La Pine | La Pine requires a city business license for businesses conducted in the City. The City also states transient room tax is required at City, County, and State levels. Address-specific land use review may still be needed. (La Pine business license FAQs (opens in a new tab), La Pine transient room tax form (opens in a new tab)) | The cited materials confirm a business license and tax reporting but do not state a current short-term rental permit fee. (La Pine business license FAQs (opens in a new tab), La Pine transient room tax form (opens in a new tab)) | No current city residency or night cap was stated in the cited materials. (La Pine business license FAQs (opens in a new tab), La Pine transient room tax form (opens in a new tab)) | The City says current rates are on its tax form, but the page itself does not state a rate. City, county, and state taxes may apply, so confirm the total with the City. (La Pine transient room tax form (opens in a new tab)) |
| Oregon City | Short-term rentals in residential zones require a Conditional Use Permit through a Type III land use process. A business license is also required. (Oregon City short-term rental guidance (opens in a new tab)) | The cited guidance points to the planning fee schedule but does not state a current short-term rental-specific fee amount. (Oregon City short-term rental guidance (opens in a new tab)) | The guidance describes bed and breakfast standards, including no more than four rooms in a residential zone or seven rooms in a non-residential zone, and owner or adjacent residence requirements. (Oregon City short-term rental guidance (opens in a new tab)) | The official page says a local transient room tax may apply but does not state a current rate. (Oregon City short-term rental guidance (opens in a new tab)) |
| Redmond | All hosts must secure a City business license. Hosts using platforms other than Airbnb or HomeAway must register as transient lodging providers and remit tax. (City of Redmond transient lodging tax (opens in a new tab)) | The cited materials confirm a business license and tax registration process but do not state a current STR-specific permit fee. (City of Redmond transient lodging tax (opens in a new tab)) | No current city residency or night cap was stated in the cited materials. (City of Redmond transient lodging tax (opens in a new tab)) | The City of Redmond transient lodging tax is 9% and applies inside city limits. (City of Redmond transient lodging tax (opens in a new tab)) |
| Sisters | A new STR requires eligibility confirmation, a Short-Term Rental Permit, then a Business License and Short-Term Rental Operating License within 60 days. (City of Sisters STR program (opens in a new tab)) | The City lists a $500 application fee for a new STR permit. Annual license renewal fees are referenced but not numerically stated on the cited page. (City of Sisters STR program (opens in a new tab)) | No primary-residence requirement or annual rental-night cap was found in the cited materials. The 2024 standards expanded the STR concentration limit to 500 feet. STRs are prohibited in Urban Growth Boundary expansion or annexation areas. (City of Sisters STR program (opens in a new tab)) | The official STR page requires monthly transient room tax reporting but does not state the current numeric rate. (City of Sisters STR program (opens in a new tab)) |
| Crook County (unincorporated, incl. Powell Butte) | The county requires lodging tax registration. No separate STR land use permit for Powell Butte was found, so confirm zoning and land use with Crook County Planning. (Crook County transient room tax (opens in a new tab)) | No current STR permit fee was stated in the cited materials. (Crook County transient room tax (opens in a new tab)) | No residency cap was stated in the cited materials. (Crook County transient room tax (opens in a new tab)) | Unincorporated Crook County lodging is subject to an 8.5% transient lodging tax for stays under 30 consecutive days. Prineville city limits are excluded. (Crook County transient room tax (opens in a new tab)) |
| Deschutes County (unincorporated, incl. Sunriver and Bend-area addresses) | Owners renting for 30 days or less in unincorporated Deschutes County must register with the County Tax Office and obtain a County Certificate of Authority. Separate land use permits may also apply. (Deschutes County transient room tax FAQ (opens in a new tab)) | Effective September 1, 2025, the initial Certificate of Authority fee is $300 and renewal is $150. A separate certificate is required for each property. (Deschutes County transient room tax FAQ (opens in a new tab)) | No general residency cap was stated in the cited materials. Resort, HOA, and destination-specific rules may apply. (Deschutes County transient room tax FAQ (opens in a new tab)) | The unincorporated Deschutes County transient room tax is 8% of total gross rent, including mandatory fees. Sunriver recreation fees have special treatment described in the County FAQ. (Deschutes County transient room tax (opens in a new tab), Deschutes County transient room tax FAQ (opens in a new tab)) |
"Not found" means the restriction was not located in the linked official materials reviewed as of the update date. It does not prove that no later, uncodified, parcel-specific, or special-district rule applies.
Good to know
- Bend: Bend is city-regulated and separate from Deschutes County unincorporated rules. (City of Bend STR permits and licenses (opens in a new tab))
- La Pine: La Pine is a separate city jurisdiction within Deschutes County. Verify City, County, and State obligations separately. (La Pine transient room tax form (opens in a new tab))
- Oregon City: Oregon City is outside Central Oregon and follows its own city rules. (Oregon City short-term rental guidance (opens in a new tab))
- Redmond: Redmond city limits control. The City does not administer State or County lodging taxes. (City of Redmond transient lodging tax (opens in a new tab))
- Sisters: Sisters has its own permit and operating-license program, and Deschutes County unincorporated rules do not apply inside city limits. (City of Sisters STR program (opens in a new tab))
- Crook County (unincorporated, incl. Powell Butte): Powell Butte is in unincorporated Crook County. Confirm the parcel jurisdiction before applying the county tax. (Crook County transient room tax (opens in a new tab))
- Deschutes County (unincorporated, incl. Sunriver and Bend-area addresses): A Bend mailing address does not prove a property is inside Bend city limits. Apply these county rules only after confirming the parcel is unincorporated Deschutes County, and check whether a Sunriver address falls under resort rules. (Deschutes County transient room tax (opens in a new tab))
FAQ
Are all Central Oregon jurisdictions governed by Bend?
No. Bend, La Pine, Oregon City, Redmond, and Sisters have city rules. Sunriver and many Bend-area addresses are in unincorporated Deschutes County, and Powell Butte is in unincorporated Crook County.
What is the main county tax distinction?
Unincorporated Deschutes County lists 8% transient room tax. Unincorporated Crook County lists 8.5%. City rates can differ.
Does a Bend mailing address mean Bend rules apply?
Not always. A Bend mailing address does not prove a property is inside city limits. Confirm the parcel before applying City of Bend or Deschutes County rules.
What should be verified?
Confirm the exact city or county boundary, land use permit, operating license, business registration, certificate of authority, and current tax rate.
General information, not legal advice. Short-term rental rules change, so verify current requirements with the jurisdiction before listing.