Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing

The city of Bend, Oregon has undertaken major zoning reforms that make it easier to build small-scale housing such as micro-apartments, courtyard housing, and small unit developments.

The changes came after a state law that required cities to allow more housing types in single-family neighborhoods. But Bend went further than other cities, also creating scaled system development charges (SDCs) that make it more affordable to build small homes.

According to Strong Towns, “One of the biggest shifts in Bend’s approach to housing was the elimination of citywide parking mandates—an unglamorous change with big implications.” Eliminating parking requirements gives builders more flexibility and creates the opportunity to put more units on a lot. “Instead of paving over more land to park cars, Bend is focusing on building housing in places that are already connected.”