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Deschutes County moves to adopt Oregon R3-27 wildfire‑resilient building code for new homes
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners approved first reading and signaled intent to adopt Oregon residential code section R3-27 countywide for new construction, citing wildfire risk and insurance concerns; second reading is scheduled in two weeks with a proposed effective date of April 1 under emergency adoption.
The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners opened and closed a public hearing Jan. 14 on proposed text amendments to adopt Oregon residential specialty code section R3-27 for new residential construction and then moved the ordinance forward on first reading with a vote to proceed toward emergency adoption with an April 1 effective date.
Staff and public witnesses told the board the change is a local option now available after the Oregon Legislature rescinded a statewide hazard map and associated rules and allowed local adoption under Senate Bill 83. Kyle Collins, senior planner, described R3-27 as a package of home-hardening standards covering roofing, exterior walls, glazing, vents and eave soffits that applies only to new construction (not remodels, additions, most manufactured homes, or small accessory structures). Collins said studies and state guidance suggest the measures could increase traditional construction costs by a conservative range of 2% to 11%, depending on size and materials, but that many builders already use some of the components.
Several public commenters urged countywide adoption. Amy Sabadini, a Bend resident, said the standards “buy time for our first responders” and called for universal application so homeowners and insurers can rely on consistent expectations. Craig Rankert, of the Project Wildfire Neighborhood Coalition, described building to R3-27 as “a long-term investment in safety” and urged immediate adoption so new homes would be more wildfire resistant. Lon LeMeeve and Robin Church, representing Project Wildfire Neighborhood Coalition leadership, and Roger Johnson, CEO of Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District No. 2, also testified in favor, citing wildfire experience, insurance stability, and community resilience.
Board discussion focused on where the standards should apply and the timing for implementation. Because the state building codes division issues code packages and the county cannot adopt partial elements, staff recommended taking the entire section R3-27 or not adopting it. The draft ordinance the board considered would apply the standards universally across unincorporated Deschutes County for all new residential construction and include an emergency adoption so the effective date would align with the state code update cycle on April 1.
Commissioner-level deliberations acknowledged uncertainties about exact cost impacts — especially because permit valuations differ from market values — and emphasized the potential insurance and safety benefits of consistent regional adoption. After public comment and deliberation, a motion to approve first reading of ordinance 2026-002 to adopt the discretionary wildfire mitigation residential building code standards pursuant to Senate Bill 83 was moved and seconded and the board voted to move forward. Staff said they will return for a second reading in two weeks, at which point the board can adopt by emergency to set April 1 as the effective date.
What’s next: Staff will return for second reading and final adoption. If the board adopts by emergency, the code would be effective April 1 to align with statewide code rollouts and to give in-pipeline projects the ability to finish under existing standards.
