Allowing RVs as Dwellings on Rural Properties is a Good Step. And Yet.

As of last week, it’s now legal for people in rural areas of Deschutes County to rent a portion of their property to someone living in an RV. The Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners approved this change in line with a state bill from the 2023 legislative session that authorized the use of RVs as dwelling units in rural areas zoned “rural residential.” According to county staff, some 7,500 properties in Deschutes County would qualify to be part of the program.

The decision was a departure from the position taken by the County’s planning commission, which advised against it due to concerns around handling code violations and fire risk.

In light of the ongoing concerns around fire risk on public and private lands, where people have been living long-term — and where fires have indeed been started as a result — this is a move in the right direction. We need more places where someone can park an RV and access things like water and sanitary facilities safely and in line with public health guidelines.

But is this program perfect? No. Will it solve our housing crisis. We’re dubious.

The bill that prompted this went into effect in January 2024, and county staff have been working through the details of the Deschutes County program since then. The guidelines include a requirement for a gravel or concrete pad to surround the RVs, and a buffer of 20 feet of non-combustible groundcover, which stand to help cut down on fire risk. Since the guidelines only allow one RV on each property — which can’t be used as a short-term rental — neighbors should not have to worry about new RV park-like facilities showing up near their homes.

If a property owner already has the other required infrastructure in place — including a setup to connect the RV to an existing septic system, proper water supply and electrical hookups — then the $900 permit fee and inspection process may seem fairly reasonable to pay to get someone housed on their property. The requirement of a rental agreement means there are at least some provisions made for the protection of both landlord and tenant.

But for those who don’t already have any infrastructure in place, the costs of a concrete pad, groundcover, and electrical and sanitary facilities is going to add up. After putting all of that in place, renting out your RV pad in the rural county — and aiming to recoup or cover those costs — is going to make it more likely you’ll rent to a retired couple from the Midwest than those who have recently been campers on public lands in the woods.

The County Commission’s decision was the right one, and it puts us one step closer to diversifying our housing supply and availability. But with the median home price in Bend at $879,000 as of this writing, it’s naïve to think this won’t be yet another way that existing homeowners will be able to capitalize on their properties and cater to those with higher incomes, rather than truly serving the poor. While we hope to see the program serving those who might be otherwise living in less-developed areas where fire risk is greater, we are not exactly holding our breath.

This article appears in Source Weekly May 15, 2025.