Deschutes County advances housekeeping code changes; board discusses RV rules, residential facility updates and telecom standards

The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners on April 8, 2026 opened public hearings and approved first readings of two ordinances updating county code to clarify codification practices and to incorporate housekeeping changes prompted by state and federal law.

County Counsel Dave Doyle introduced ordinance 2026-010 to clarify form and style across the Deschutes County Code and to reference ORS 173.160; the board approved the first reading by title and scheduled second reading and adoption in two weeks.

Senior planner Kyle Collins presented a broader housekeeping package (file 247-26-000007-TA; ordinance 2026-006) that the county described as a combination of scrivener corrections, statutory updates and clarifications across Title 18 (zoning) and Title 19 (Bend urban area). Key changes Collins outlined include:

- Updating local rules to reflect House Bill 2809 and House Bill 2898 so that in qualifying natural-hazard events an RV may be used as a temporary dwelling for up to five years with the required permitting process, extending an earlier two-year allowance.

- Removing an older county limitation that restricted RV occupancy in manufactured-dwelling parks, mobile-home parks or RV parks (the county will continue to maintain a 30-days-in-60 standard for general RV-dwelling uses outside those parks where state law permits longer occupancy).

- Correcting prior omissions so residential homes and residential facilities—state-defined treatment or behavioral-health residential uses—are allowed where statute requires and will be governed by a consolidated summary table of standards to reduce administrative confusion.

- Adding Title 19 references for temporary hardship dwellings so standards are consistent across County Code titles.

- Codifying federal ‘‘spectrum act’’ requirements (Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012) for telecommunications co-location so applicants and staff see the timing and limited standards for colocating antennas on existing towers.

Collins said the Planning Commission held a public hearing in February and voted 7–0 to recommend approval. No members of the public provided testimony at the county hearing. The board approved first reading of ordinance 2026-006 by title only.

During deliberations, commissioners and staff discussed the changing role of RVs in the county’s housing mix—acknowledging both authorized year‑round RV occupancy in certain locations and unauthorized encampments—and asked Community Development Department (CDD) staff to produce outreach and an explanatory webpage to clarify where and how RVs may be occupied legally and the permitting steps required. Planning manager Will Groves said a consolidated webpage and a media outreach blast could be produced quickly, or the board could add the item to the department work plan for fuller outreach.

Commissioners also raised broader concerns about aging manufactured- and mobile-home parks, noting that upgrading or expanding existing parks often triggers expensive requirements (fire flow, road improvements, septic capacity) that can make rehabilitation financially difficult. Staff recommended a work session to outline options; commissioners discussed potential state-level approaches including rule changes or legislation to address density and infrastructure barriers.

Next steps: both ordinances were approved for first reading; the county will return for second readings and adoption in two weeks. Community Development staff said they will pursue public education on RV occupancy and consider a work session on manufactured‑home park policy and infrastructure.

Votes and motions recorded during the meeting are reflected in the actions summary below.