Yes. Bend allows up to two ADUs on any lot with a single-unit home, townhome or manufactured home under Bend Development Code (BDC) 3.6.200(B): the first up to 800 sq ft, the second up to 500 sq ft, no extra parking and no owner-occupancy rule (Ord. NS-2532, effective July 18, 2025). One building permit covers Planning and Building review; the City quotes 4-8 weeks. Expect roughly $3,000-$4,000 in permit and plan-review fees plus a $1,086 City transportation SDC (FY2025-26) and a separate Bend Park & Recreation District parks SDC. A free pre-approved plan is available.
Zoning & Size Requirements [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Yes — Bend allows ADUs. A detached ADU can typically be up to 800 sq ft under current Oregon and Bend zoning rules.
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| Allowed Zones | Any residential (and some commercial) lot or parcel whose primary use is a single-unit dwelling, townhome or manufactured home (BDC 3.6.200(B)(1); City ADU Resource Hub). Not allowed on a lot created by a middle housing land division or inside a cottage development (3.6.200(B)(1)(a)). Special rules apply in NorthWest Crossing and historic districts. ORS 197A.425 requires the City to allow at least one ADU per detached house. |
| Max Size (Detached) | 800 sq ft floor area for a single ADU; where two ADUs are built, one may be up to 800 sq ft and the other up to 500 sq ft (BDC 3.6.200(B)(3)(a)). Floor area is measured inside the exterior walls, stairs count once, and space under a ceiling lower than 5 ft is excluded (B)(3)(b). An attached garage or storage room does not count if it has no interior access to the ADU or provides the ADU's parking space (B)(3)(d). A unit over 800 sq ft is reviewed as a duplex, not an ADU. |
| Max Size (Attached) | Same as detached: 800 sq ft for a single ADU, or 800 sq ft + 500 sq ft when two are built (BDC 3.6.200(B)(3)(a)). Attached ADUs need one-hour fire separation and must meet the Oregon Residential Specialty Code for two-family dwellings (City ADU Building Codes Quick Guide). |
| Max Size (JADU) | N/A - Oregon has no junior ADU category. Bend's 2025 amendments instead allow a second kitchen inside the main house under BDC 2.1.1100(F) with a recorded use-compliance covenant; it is not a dwelling unit and needs no ADU permit. |
| Max Height | No ADU-specific limit; the zoning district's height cap applies (BDC 2.1.800): 35 ft in the UAR, RL, RS and RM-10 districts, 40 ft in RM, 50 ft in RH. |
| Max Units | Up to two ADUs per lot or parcel (BDC 3.6.200(B)(2)(a), Ord. NS-2532, effective July 18, 2025); either may be attached or detached. Small dwelling unit developments (BDC 3.8.300) are limited to one ADU (B)(2)(b). A second ADU that pushes the lot past the zone's maximum density is refused if the sewer main is at or over 80% full in dry weather, leaves under 2 ft of freeboard in a manhole in wet weather, or drives a force main over 10 ft/sec (B)(4). |
Setback Requirements [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Bend sets no ADU-specific rear setback — the setbacks row explains what governs instead — and parking requirements vary by unit size or location. Owner-occupancy is not required — you can rent it out without living on the property.
| Rear Setback | No ADU-specific setback; the underlying zoning district's rear setback applies (City ADU Zoning Quick Reference Guide: 'Building Setbacks: follow your zoning district's rules'). A detached ADU must sit at least 6 ft from any other dwelling on the lot, measured footprint to footprint (BDC 3.6.200(B)(5); exempt when each structure was legally built before April 1, 2016). |
| Side Setback | No ADU-specific setback; the underlying zoning district's side setback applies (City ADU Zoning Quick Reference Guide). Confirm the district table with the Planning Division (541-388-5580 ext. 3). |
| Front Setback | No ADU-specific setback; the underlying zoning district's front setback applies (City ADU Zoning Quick Reference Guide). Lot coverage and floor-area-ratio limits of BDC 2.1.700 also apply. |
| Parking Required | None. The City's ADU Zoning Quick Reference Guide states 'No minimum on-site parking spaces required', and ORS 197A.425(1)(b)(B) bars Oregon cities from requiring ADU parking. If you do not change the existing driveway, no driveway or apron work is required. |
| Owner Occupancy | Not required. BDC 3.6.200(B) has no owner-occupancy rule and ORS 197A.425 prohibits one (short-term-rental use excepted - see Bend's STR permit rules). |
| Min Lot Size | None. BDC 3.6.200(B) sets no minimum lot size, and the zone's maximum-density standard does not apply to ADUs 'due to their small size and low occupancy'. Lot coverage and FAR limits in BDC 2.1.700 still apply. |
Permit Process & Fees [7][8][9][10]
An ADU permit in Bend goes through a standard permit review. Typical timeline: The City's published estimate is 4-8 weeks of building-permit review, depending on application completeness and how fast you answer plan-review comments (City ADU Resource Hub). Permit fees: Roughly $3,000-$4,000 for a 600-800 sq ft ADU at FY2025-26 rates: building permit $1,212.58 for the first $100,000 of valuation + $7.00 per extra $1,000, plan review 65%, 12% state surcharge, 0.33% affordable-housing fee, plus trade permits. The City emails project estimates.
| Approval Process | By right. One building permit application in the City's CityView online permit portal covers both Planning and Building Safety review; no Minimum Development Standards Review or land-use application is needed (City ADU Zoning Quick Reference Guide). Properties on septic must first file a Septic Authorization Form with Private Development Engineering. |
| Review Timeline | The City's published estimate is 4-8 weeks of building-permit review, depending on application completeness and how fast you answer plan-review comments (City ADU Resource Hub). |
| Permit Fees | Roughly $3,000-$4,000 for a 600-800 sq ft ADU at FY2025-26 rates: building permit $1,212.58 for the first $100,000 of valuation + $7.00 per extra $1,000, plan review 65%, 12% state surcharge, 0.33% affordable-housing fee, plus trade permits. The City emails project estimates. |
| Impact Fees | City SDC schedule FY2025-26 (effective July 1, 2025): an ADU pays a $1,086 transportation SDC; the City's water and sewer SDCs are listed 'not applicable' for the ADU category (versus $11,890 for a new house under 600 sq ft). Rates are indexed every July 1. The Bend Park & Recreation District charges its own parks SDC on top; an SDC deferral program is available (development@bendoregon.gov). |
| Plan Check | Included in the 4-8 week building-permit review; the plan-review fee is 65% of the building permit fee. Drawings must label which rooms belong to the ADU and which to the main house. |
| Pre-Approved Plans | 1 free pre-approved plan set (shed or gable roof), developed by the City of Eugene and offered by Bend at no cost; the plans cannot be modified and you still pay permit fees and SDCs. The City says more plans are planned. |
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Construction Costs [11][12]
Building an ADU in Bend typically costs $225,000-$350,000 ($280-$440 per sq ft); a garage conversion runs $60,000-$150,000.
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| Average Build Cost | $225,000-$350,000 |
| Cost per Sq Ft | $280-$440 |
| Garage Conversion | $60,000-$150,000 |
| Prefab ADU (Installed) | $180,000-$280,000 |
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Rental Income Potential [13][14]
A 2-bedroom ADU in Bend rents for around $1,900-$2,400/mo, an estimated 6-9% gross rental yield (estimate).
| Avg Rent (1 Bedroom) | $1,600-$2,000/mo |
| Avg Rent (2 Bedroom) | $1,900-$2,400/mo |
| Short-Term Rental | Restricted. Any short-term rental needs a City STR permit and annual license (BDC 3.6.500; BC 7.16). |
| Est. Annual ROI | 6-9% gross rental yield (estimate) |
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Recent Law Changes
What's Changed Recently
- Verified Sept 2026 against the adopted 2025 ordinance text, the City's code-updates page, the FY2025-26 fee and SDC schedules and the City's ADU Resource Hub; the code pages themselves were read from archived copies because bend.municipal.codes and bendoregon.gov block automated access
- Ord. NS-2532 (file PLTEXT20250128), adopted June 18, 2025 and effective July 18, 2025, amended BDC 3.6.200(B) to allow two ADUs per lot (800 sq ft + 500 sq ft), added the sewer-capacity test for a second unit, allowed a second kitchen in a house with a recorded covenant, and created a 'rowhouse' housing type. The Planning Commission (April 28, 2025) removed a draft requirement that one of the two ADUs be attached, so both may be detached
- Ord. NS-2541 (the 2023-2025 Code Update, adopted Nov 19, 2025, effective Dec 19, 2025) is a housekeeping package; its text was not read for this update, so any wording change it made to 3.6.200(B) is not reflected here
- SDC schedule for FY2025-26 (Council resolution of June 18, 2025, effective July 1, 2025): ADU transportation SDC $1,086, City water and sewer SDCs not applicable to ADUs; the ADU category definition was updated to track the two-ADU code change. Building permit fees were reissued in the same Fiscal Year 2025-26 Fee Schedule
- Oregon HB 2138 (2025 session, passed June 2025): Sections 7-12 make any recorded CC&R or HOA rule that blocks an ADU or middle housing inside an urban growth boundary void and unenforceable, operative Jan 1, 2027; the City's own ADU guide already tells owners the City does not enforce private covenants
- The state ADU mandate was renumbered: former ORS 197.312(5)-(6) is now ORS 197A.425. It still requires Bend to allow at least one ADU per detached house and bars owner-occupancy and extra-parking requirements (short-term rentals excepted)
- A Short-Term Rental Code Update (file PLTEXT20250659) went to the Planning Commission in February 2026; it concerns STRs on Neighborhood Commercial (CN) lots (Type II review, 500-ft separation, one STR per property) and does not change the residential-zone ADU rules above
Tips for Building an ADU in Bend
- Size the second unit early: the 800 sq ft cap applies to one ADU and 500 sq ft to the other, and a second unit that pushes the lot over the zone's maximum density triggers a sewer-capacity check (BDC 3.6.200(B)(4)) - ask Private Development Engineering about the main serving your street before you design for two
- Floor area is measured inside the exterior walls; a garage or storage room attached to the ADU stays outside the 800/500 sq ft count if it has no interior door to the ADU or holds the ADU's parking space (3.6.200(B)(3)(d))
- Use the City's free pre-approved plan (shed or gable roof) to shorten plan review; it cannot be altered, so a designer still has to fit it to your lot and prepare the site plan
- The City's SDC deferral program lets you postpone SDCs; ask development@bendoregon.gov for the current ADU SDC total (City transportation SDC plus the Bend Park & Recreation District parks SDC) before you finance the build
- Renting the ADU short-term is a separate Type II STR permit with a 500-ft separation rule and only one STR unit per lot; long-term rental needs no extra permit
- Cost basis: build cost is a 2025 Bend real-estate guide's range for an 800 sq ft site-built ADU ($225,000-$350,000, licensed-builder estimates); per-sq-ft is that range over 800 sq ft; garage conversion is Angi's national range (May 2026); prefab is the Bend site-built range less Angi's 'up to 20%' prefab saving. Rents are Zumper Bend medians of Sept 20, 2026 (1BR $1,695, 2BR $1,900); the upper ends allow for new detached units. Permit fee is a worked example at FY2025-26 rates and the state valuation table (about $176/sq ft), before any FY2026-27 increase
- Cost basis (2026-09-20 re-verification): short term allowed: Restricted. Any short-term rental needs a City STR permit and annual license (BDC 3.6.500; BC 7.16). In residential zones it is a Type II permit with a 500-ft separation from other STR properties, only one unit on a lot with an ADU can hold an STR permit (applications after Nov 4, 2021), and permits end when the property is sold.
ADU Builders in Bend
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Sources & References
All data on this page is sourced from official government records and verified market data. View our full methodology.
- Bend Development Code 3.6.200 - Residential Uses, subsection B (ADU), read from the June 20, 2025 archived copy (current through Ord. NS-2523) Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-20
- City Council Issue Summary, Ordinance and Exhibit A (amended BDC 3.6.200(B)) - file PLTEXT20250128, first reading June 4, 2025 Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Development Code and Sign Code Updates - City of Bend (2025 Amendments to Facilitate Housing Development: adopted June 18, 2025, effective July 18, 2025) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- ADU Code Requirements (Zoning and Building Quick Reference Guides) - City of Bend Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Bend Development Code 2.1.800 - Building Height Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-20
- ORS 197A.425 - Accessory dwelling units (formerly ORS 197.312(5)-(6)) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Accessory Dwelling Unit Resource Hub - City of Bend (permit path, 4-8 week review, fees, SDC deferral) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Units - City of Bend Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Fiscal Year 2025-26 Fee Schedule, Exhibit B, Section 2 Community Development (building permit and plan review fees) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- SDC Schedule FY2025-26, Exhibit A (residential categories incl. Accessory Dwelling Unit) and Exhibit B category definitions; Resolution effective July 1, 2025 Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- ADU Guide Bend Oregon: 2025 Rules, Costs & Permits (Bend real-estate guide; builder cost estimates) industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Angi - How Much Does an ADU Cost? (national ranges, May 30, 2026 version) industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Zumper - Average Rent in Bend, OR (last updated September 20, 2026) industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Bend Development Code 3.6.500 - Short-Term Rentals (read from the April 17, 2024 archived copy) Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Oregon 2025 Legislative Session Overview (HB 2138) - DLCD Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-19
- HB 2138 (2025) Enrolled - Oregon Legislature Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build an ADU in Bend?
Yes. ADUs are allowed in Any residential (and some commercial) lot or parcel whose primary use is a single-unit dwelling, townhome or manufactured home (BDC 3.6.200(B)(1); City ADU Resource Hub). Not allowed on a lot created by a middle housing land division or inside a cottage development (3.6.200(B)(1)(a)). Special rules apply in NorthWest Crossing and historic districts. ORS 197A.425 requires the City to allow at least one ADU per detached house. in Bend. The maximum size for a detached ADU is 800 sq ft floor area for a single ADU; where two ADUs are built, one may be up to 800 sq ft and the other up to 500 sq ft (BDC 3.6.200(B)(3)(a)). Floor area is measured inside the exterior walls, stairs count once, and space under a ceiling lower than 5 ft is excluded (B)(3)(b). An attached garage or storage room does not count if it has no interior access to the ADU or provides the ADU's parking space (B)(3)(d). A unit over 800 sq ft is reviewed as a duplex, not an ADU.. Owner-occupancy is not required, so you can rent out the ADU.
How much does an ADU cost in Bend?
ADU construction in Bend typically costs $225,000-$350,000. Garage conversions run $60,000-$150,000, and prefab ADUs cost $180,000-$280,000.
How much can I rent an ADU for in Bend?
Average ADU rents in Bend are $1,600-$2,000/mo for a 1-bedroom and $1,900-$2,400/mo for a 2-bedroom unit.
Do I need parking for an ADU in Bend?
None. The City's ADU Zoning Quick Reference Guide states 'No minimum on-site parking spaces required', and ORS 197A.425(1)(b)(B) bars Oregon cities from requiring ADU parking. If you do not change the existing driveway, no driveway or apron work is required.. Check with Bend planning department for the latest Oregon ADU parking rules, as many states have relaxed requirements in recent years.
How long does it take to get an ADU permit in Bend?
The permit review timeline in Bend is The City's published estimate is 4-8 weeks of building-permit review, depending on application completeness and how fast you answer plan-review comments (City ADU Resource Hub).. Permit fees: Roughly $3,000-$4,000 for a 600-800 sq ft ADU at FY2025-26 rates: building permit $1,212.58 for the first $100,000 of valuation + $7.00 per extra $1,000, plan review 65%, 12% state surcharge, 0.33% affordable-housing fee, plus trade permits. The City emails project estimates.
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