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Deschutes County board supports text amendment easing rules for temporary hardship dwellings
Summary
After a public hearing, the Board of County Commissioners voted to approve staff‑recommended updates aligning county code to state law: expanded eligibility, a two‑year renewal cycle, allowance for existing buildings in certain zones, and clarified RV requirements.
The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners voted on April 23 to approve a staff‑initiated text amendment (file 247‑25‑00078‑TA) to the county code governing temporary hardship dwellings, a land‑use mechanism that allows a second, short‑term residence on a property when a property owner or relative needs medical or elderly‑care accommodation.
Senior planner Nicole Mardell presented the proposal and told the board staff seeks to align county code with state law while standardizing how hardship dwelling applications are evaluated across zones.
"We're proposing to add eligibility for those that are aged, which comes from state statute, and to allow a medical practitioner's note rather than a doctor's note," Mardell said. She also told the board staff recommends changing the renewal interval from one year to two years, citing code enforcement concerns that some residents are…
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