Bend to Limit Short term Rentals!

Central Oregon has become a destination for many travelers over the years. Between that, and the explosion in popularity of AirBnb, the City has been keeping an eye on regulating and trying to keep a balance between enough places for visitors to stay, and enough housing for locals. We are currently experiencing a nationwide housing shortage, and Bend is no different. As city officials try to problem solve for local housing issues, one way they are attempting to help is by further regulating the ability to get a permit for a short term rental (airbnb/vacation rental).
 
Proposed Changes to Short Term Rental Regulations:
So Bend already has quite a few regulations regarding short term rentals, and the city is now proposing more amendments and more changes to regulate this industry. Currently you have to have a space of 250ft from the nearest short term rental to have the possibility of being approved with the city. They are proposing changing that from 250' to 500' and making it a little more difficult and spreading the short term rentals out a little bit further. They are also considering an "abandonment of use" clause, which means if you have a short term rental permit, and then you put a long term tenant in there for a year or longer you may lose that short term rental permit. These new code changes, like the current STR regulations, only apply in residentially zone areas, so commercially use is separate.
Those are the two main changes currently, but more may be announced and discussed. If you'd like to find out more information you can watch the next city council planning commission meeting August 22nd of 2022 it is available over zoom and also recorded. I know I'll be watching, and I hope to see you guys there! And of course, I will give you the updates as they come.