Bend building department

The City of Bend Building Safety Division reviews plans, issues building and trade permits, and inspects construction inside Bend city limits. Deschutes County Community Development handles rural county property outside Bend, so a Bend mailing address alone doesn’t tell you which agency issues your permit.

Office, hours, and contacts

Building Safety is at City Hall, 710 NW Wall Street. Customer resources are available Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and permit inquiries are answered 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 541-388-5580, ext. 2 or [email protected]. The office is closed most major holidays. Planning questions about setbacks, lot coverage, and zoning go to 541-388-5580, ext. 3 or [email protected].

Online Permit Center

Bend’s Online Permit Center handles permit applications, plan review, payments, project status, and inspection requests. The city requires permits for new construction, additions, remodels, and structural, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical work. Bend’s deck guide warns that the portal has no “save for later” option, so have drawings, a site plan, and the residential submittal checklist ready before you start an application.

Contractor registration

To be listed as contractor of record on a Bend permit, a contractor must register with the city through the Online Permit Center. Registration is free, one-time (no renewal), and usually processed the next business day. It requires an active Oregon Construction Contractors Board license number. No city ordinance mandates registration, but unregistered contractors can’t be attached to a permit or do work under it.

Codes in effect

Bend enforces the Oregon specialty codes adopted by the state Building Codes Division along with local provisions in Bend Municipal Code Title 9. The division highlights the 2025 Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code and ASHRAE 90.1-2022 for commercial energy compliance.

Wildfire hardening (R327): The City Council adopted Section R327 of the Oregon Residential Specialty Code on April 15, 2026. It applies to new residential permit applications submitted on or after May 15, 2026, for new detached homes and newly built accessory structures. It requires noncombustible or ignition-resistant roofing, gutters, windows, vents, and siding. R327 does not apply to additions or renovations of existing buildings, or to buildings under the Oregon Structural Specialty Code such as apartments and commercial structures.

What needs a permit

Project	Bend guidance
Deck or porch	Permit needed if more than 30 in. above ground, if it has stairs, or if it includes electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work
Patio cover or pergola	Permit needed if over 12 ft high or over 200 sq ft
Detached accessory building	No structural permit if 200 sq ft or less, within ORSC R105.2 height limits, with no kitchen and no overnight sleeping. A permit is required if over 200 sq ft, if the average highest roof surface exceeds 15 ft, or if it has a kitchen, full bath, toilet, or sleeping space

An exempt accessory structure can still need electrical, mechanical, or plumbing permits. It must also meet Bend Development Code setbacks, lot coverage, and the accessory structure standards in BDC 3.6.200.M. Property in the Waterway Overlay Zone along the Deschutes River or Tumalo Creek, or with a historic designation, may need extra planning review. See the deck permit guide for general background.

Fees (FY 2026-27)

Bend’s fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 sets the building permit fee by valuation. Residential valuations use the state-mandated valuation table.

Valuation	Building permit fee
$1 – $11,000	$243.70
$11,001 – $25,000	$243.70 plus $17.38 per additional $1,000
$25,001 – $50,000	$487.02 plus $12.88 per additional $1,000
$50,001 – $100,000	$809.02 plus $8.56 per additional $1,000
$100,001 and up	$1,237.02 plus $7.14 per additional $1,000

Other charges from the same schedule:

• Building plan review: 65% of the permit fee; fire and life safety review: 40%
• Affordable housing fee: 0.33% of valuation on all building permits
• State surcharge: 12% on building and trade permits
• Long Range Planning surcharge: 4% on Community Development fees
• Residential re-roof permit: $285.26
• Reinspection beyond the first two: $211.92

Inspections

All inspection requests go through the Online Permit Center, and only the applicant or a listed project contact can request one. Bend says inspections are completed within one business day of the request, but same-day service isn’t guaranteed. If the requested date can’t be met, the city reschedules for the next business day. Inspectors may not call ahead, so put your phone number and contact preferences in the request notes. Results are emailed to the applicant and listed contacts. All inspectors are State of Oregon certified, and the city offers drone inspections for roofs, solar, framing, and some other items. Cancel through the inspection section of the permit record in the portal.