Voting FAQ

Yes, with the exception of sewer or drain lines that are made of a material that is not approved within a building. If this is the case, water lines must be installed 1) at a minimum of 12” vertically above the top of the sewer or drain lines 2) the water pipe shall be placed on a solid shelf excavated at one side of the trench with a clear horizontal distance of not less than 12” from the sewer or drain line and 3) water pipes crossing sewer or drainage piping constructed of materials that are not approved for use within the building shall be laid not less than 12” above the sewer or drain lines.

No, per ORS 305.820 and ORS 311.505, Deschutes County Tax Collector only accepts the official post mark date stamp from the United States Postal Service or private express carrier (UPS, FedEx, Etc.)

Property & Permit Research

Your deed may be available online (1985 to present). If the deed was recorded prior to 1985, you will need to request it in writing. Please see the Ordering Copies tab.

Inspection requests can be scheduled until 7AM on the day of the inspection. AM/PM requests will be considered, but are not guaranteed.

In the past, this office had a Fee/Instrument Number (e.g. 93-12345) as well as a Book & Page Number (e.g., 456-1234). Our office now has a system with the year and document number (e.g., 2007-12345).

No. Ownership and other assessment records are kept by the County Assessor.

Yes, an ice barrier is required under asphalt shingles, metal roof shingles, mineral-surfaced roll roofing, slate and slate-type shingles, fire retardant treated wood shingles and fire retardant treated wood shakes.

Electrical conduit after the electrical meter = 18” of earth cover (Please contact your electrical service provider for burial depths between the transformer and electrical meter).

Sewer line = 12” of earth cover

Water line = 30” of earth cover

Gas line = 18” of earth cover

A Deed of Reconveyance is a document that typically releases a security interest held by a lender (i.e., a loan was paid). We recommend you always confirm with the lender that an obligation is satisfied.

See Electrical Brochure -> https://www.oregon.gov/bcd/Documents/brochures/2671.pdf

See Plumbing Brochure -> https://www.oregon.gov/bcd/Documents/brochures/2670.pdf

See Wood Stove Brochure -> https://www.oregon.gov/deq/Residential/Pages/Woodstoves.aspx

Yes. However, the Certificate of Occupancy will not be issued until all supplemental permits have passed final inspection.

• Increases voter participation
• Removes barriers that can keep people from getting to the polls
• Allows more time for people to study issues and candidates before marking the ballot
• Has built-in safeguards that increase the integrity of the elections process
• Saves taxpayer dollars

The Deschutes County CENS service area includes Deschutes County, Crooked River Ranch, and Camp Sherman in the State of Oregon. 

The County code provides the authority for the County Internal Auditor to have full and complete access to County personnel, assets and information. 

Internal audit activities generally include one or more of the following:

1. Determining if the Department’s activities and procedures are efficient and effective,
2. Determining if the Department is in compliance with laws, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, and agreements,
3. Evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of the Department’s internal controls, and/or
4. Investigating matters related to thefts, frauds, and other financial misconduct reported or detected during the internal audit examination process.  

If your registration is current, your ballot packet will automatically be mailed to you. Inside the packet you will find the ballot and a postage-paid return envelope. Once you vote the ballot, seal it in the pre-addressed return envelope. After verifying that the return envelope has your name and current address, sign the return envelope box. Then, simply return the ballot either by mail or at a designated drop site by 8 pm on Election Night.

A risk-based approach is used to select departments for audit. Each year the County Internal Auditor analyzes County departments for a selection of risk factors. The current selection of risk factors includes:

• Administration input,
• Trends in expenditures,
• Trends in revenues,
• Department management input,
• Numbers of employees and turnover, and
• Fund type.

After weighing the factors for their relative significance, an overall risk factor is computed for each area. After consideration of the number of audit-hours (staffing level) available for the year, those departments with the greatest assessed risk are recommended to the Audit Committee for inclusion in the audit plan for the year. 

If you move after you have entered your information into the website you will need to go back into the website and re-enter your information with your new address.

A TDC is a restrictive covenant placed on an eligible property in South Deschutes County. The Covenant prevents the placement of a septic system. Property owners who voluntarily sell a TDC receive compensation in exchange for placing a restrictive covenant (TDC) on an eligible property. Developers are required to purchase TDCs in order to build in the Neighborhood Planning Area, a residential subdivision that is being developed between La Pine and Wickiup Junction that will be served by sewer, water and paved roads.

The Deschutes County  Mental Health Court is a voluntary diversion program with the goal of increasing access and engagement  to treatment for residents with an eligible serious mental illness who have been charged with a crime. The program also promotes skill development and access to services. MHC also supports the long-term well being of the participant while reducing the likelihood that they will commit a new crime in the future. 

Anyone who files a legal action in Deschutes County which requires the creation or modification of a Parenting Plan.

No. The last address that you enter into the website will be the only location that your telephone number is associated with. Your telephone number can only be in the database once, at one location.

Yes. If you enter an address that does not exist you will not be in the database and will not be contacted when the Target Notification system is activated.

No. You will only receive phone calls when the Target Notification system is activated and your address is within the geographic notification area chosen. The Target Notification system will only be activated for emergency purposes.

A veteran is a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. If you have questions about determining your eligibility, please call our office at (541) 585-VETS.

Yes.  The County regulations do not apply to the following:

1. Growing medical marijuana only for yourself as authorized by the Oregon Health Authority; 
2. Growing medical marijuana at your own residence where there are 12 or fewer mature plants as authorized by the OHA; 
3. You are not transferring product to an OHA processing site or dispensary; or
4. Up to 4 plants per residence for recreational use as authorized by State statute.

Eligible properties are limited to a single ADU onsite. When establishing an ADU, if a property already contains a lawfully established guest house, temporary hardship dwelling, or similar secondary residential use, they will be required to convert eligible structures to an ADU or to an accessory building which does not contain living quarters through the development review process.

No. All sessions are confidential. The mediator cannot be required to testify in Court about what happens in mediation.

The first step is to call and schedule an appointment to come to our office to apply for your Criminal History Check (CHC) and pick up a packet of paperwork.  To schedule an appointment, contact Geneva Blunt at 541-322-7161 or at Geneva.Blunt@deschutes.org

Snow plowing will commence with the accumulation of four (4) inches of snow. This amount may be modified if a determination is made by the County that warrants initiating snow plowing with less than four (4) inches of accumulation.

There are no fees involved in the Adopt-a-Road program.

Yes, the order applies to all short term rentals in the rural, unincorporated areas of Deschutes County, including Sunriver and Black Butte Ranch.

The clinic at the doc provides a wide range of health and wellness services, including treatment for illnesses and injuries, exams, labs, immunization and other services. The clinic offers convenient hours, some same day appointments and no out-of-pocket costs to patients.

The pharmacy at the doc offers reduced copays for prescriptions: Generic: $2 (30 days), $4 (90 days), Brand in Formulary: $20 (30 days), $40 (90 days), Brand Not in Formulary: $40 (30 days), $80 (90 days)

Any occupancy or right to occupancy by a person other than the owner for 30 consecutive calendar days or less.

In Oregon, ballots are mailed 20 days before Election Day. 

Property tax statements will be mailed no later than October 25th. If you have not received your statement by November 1, please call 541-388-6540.

Deschutes County employees and their eligible dependents who are enrolled in the County Medical Plan who have been diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes are eligible to enroll in the Livongo program. 

An extensive network of preservation agencies at the national, state, and local levels coordinates public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our cultural and historic resources. The National Register of Historic Places was created to catalog and protect properties worthy of preservation because of their significance to our nation’s history, architecture, landscape, archeology, engineering, and/or culture. The Deschutes County HLC maintains a similar catalog of properties that contribute to the historic fabric of the county.

CDD has different service windows for different types of service. A permit technician at CDD’s reception desk determines the appropriate service window for each customer. We then assist customers at their assigned window on a "first come, first served" basis. Under this system, we may serve a customer who has a simple, 5-10 minute transaction at the "express" window, before we serve a customer needing a 30-60 minute planning transaction who arrived earlier, but is second in line for the "planning" window.

Testing for HIV is done by a blood draw or finger stick.

You always have the right to call and inquire as to the status of the case and what the outcome is. When the case is resolved, the Juvenile Department will send you an outcome letter along with a summary of the conditions the youth are obligated to abide by and complete. We will also send victim services survey when the case is closed. It is very important to keep your address updated with the Juvenile Department. If you do NOT wish to receive any communications, please let us know. It is your choice.

You may notice field crews from the Fire, Sheriff, or Police Departments collecting information in your neighborhood. These agencies are interested in obtaining accurate information about your road and house location in order to better serve you in times of emergency. You may already be aware of areas where finding an address has more to do with luck than logic. If you know of any of these areas, you can help by contacting us. In an effort to increase public safety, these high risk areas will be targeted first.

The assessed value of a property shall be the lower of the property’s real market value or the property’s maximum assessed value.

CDD implements State of Oregon statutes and policies and county ordinances adopted to protect human health and safety and the environment. The permits we issue and the inspections we conduct are required to assure that the requirements of those statutes and ordinances are met.

In most cases it will.  In order to enter the Mental Health Court program, the defendant is required to make an initial guilty plea.  Upon successful completion of the program, a defendant’s charges will be dismissed unless another agreement has been made with the District Attorney or if prohibited by law, such as DUIIs. 

Online payments are not available for SkidCar Training. Payment must be provided to the instructor in the form of a check or money order made payable to Deschutes County on the day of the training.

It depends on where your land is located, how big your parcel of land is and what you plan to do. All marijuana-related land use in Deschutes County requires approval. To obtain that approval, you will need to submit a land use application to the County’s Community Development Department.

Beginning on Sept. 1, the County will accept land use applications for:

• Medical marijuana processing and dispensaries and
• Recreational marijuana production, processing, wholesaling and retailing

Applicants must complete a land use application, review and approval process to legally move forward with their intended use (processing, production, wholesaling, retailing, etc.). 

You will receive a victim impact loss documentation packet by mail. To request restitution be paid to you, complete the requested information and supply supporting documentation in a timely manner.

It varies, but generally between 4-6 weeks, depending on processing at the state level.  To ensure it happens as quickly as possible, make sure you fill out your forms completely and accurately.  Errors or omissions on forms can delay the process as much as 1-2 months.  If State finds errors, they may contact you directly by mail – please check your mail!

When you sell your TDC you are selling the right to develop your lot with a septic system and residence, but you are not selling the land. You may choose to hold onto the deed – and still own the land – or you may decide to sell your property in a separate transaction. After selling your TDC, the following uses will be allowed on your property:

• A non-residential accessory building, e.g. a storage shed (subject to size limitations)
• Fencing that meets wildlife passage standards or is otherwise limited in area
• Wood cutting and vegetation management
• Seasonal RV camping (self-contained sanitation required; installed electric pedestals allowed)
• RV ramada
• Horses and other livestock – with limitations
• Combining your lot with an adjacent lot or parcel
• Open space

The following uses will not be allowed on your property:

• On-site sewage disposal system
• Commercial dog kennels

Please contact Planning staff if there is an existing building or use on a property that does not appear to be allowed under current zoning, since these situations are very property-specific.  A nonconforming use is one that was lawfully established but violates current zoning requirements. In general, a land use application is always required to verify or alter a nonconforming use.

The length of the license depends on the expiration of the rabies vaccine for your pet. When obtaining a dog license online, you will only see license options that pertain to your current situation.

Examples:

1. The dog has a rabies certificate that expires in six months. A pro-rated dog license can be issued for six months. When the license expires, the dog will need to get a new rabies vaccination and then the owner has the option to renew the license for 1-3 years.
2. Owner wants to renew a dog license. Rabies expires one year from the date you are renewing online, then a 1-year license rate will apply.
3. If the rabies certificate expires 18 months from the date of the license, the owner can purchase a 1-year license. When the license expires, they will then license the dog until the rabies expires by purchasing a pro-rated 6-month license. The dog will then get a new rabies vaccine which is good for three years, allowing the purchase of up to a 3-year Deschutes County Dog License. 
4. Owner wants to renew a dog license. Rabies expires two years from date or renewal. Owner can choose to license the dog for 1 or 2 years.
5. Owner wants to license a new dog. The rabies certificate has an expiration date of 28 months from date of issue. Owner can choose to license the dog for 1 or 2 years. If the owner chooses a 2-year license, then after the two years they can renew the license for four months pro-rated.
6. The dog just received a 3-year rabies vaccination, the owner can choose either a 1-, 2-, or 3-year license for their dog.

Unfortunately, some people will have to change their addresses. This could happen for any of the previously mentioned reasons. If you have found that your address is one that must be changed, please try to remember that this is necessary for the safety of you and your family. All changes have been considered carefully and individually by concerned agencies and found to be a potential risk to overall public safety in Deschutes County. We regret any inconvenience this change may cause you, but we know you will recognize the importance of these corrections.

See the hours of operation in the main web pages or within the contact information on the right.

Any hotel, motel, inn, tourist home or accommodation, lodging house, dormitory, private home, mobile home space, trailer park, camp site, or portion thereof, Etc..

Not everything should be preserved. Just because a place is old doesn’t mean it should be saved. To be considered for designation, the resource must represent and reflect elements of the county’s culture, social, economic, religious, political, architectural, or aesthetic heritage.

More than 50 buildings, structures, sites, and districts have been designated for heritage preservation in rural, unincorporated Deschutes County and within the City of Sisters. These include churches, schools, bridges, homesteads, cemeteries and travel corridors.  Historic designation has many potential benefits for the community including improved public profile, heightened local pride, increased property values, attraction of new business and residential investment, and preservation of the area’s unique "look" and heritage.

Go to the Property Tax Payments Page for complete information.

A road must be checked and approved by the Road Department before a permit or liability release form can be sent to the applicant.

Rapid HIV testing will give you the result within 20 minutes. Results for conventional HIV testing (blood draw) can take 7 to 10 days.

Designation is a form of protection for significant buildings, structures, sites, and districts. Once designated for heritage preservation, a historic resource may not be extensively modified or removed without review by the HLC. However, designation does not mean freezing a historic resource in time. Preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse enables resources to remain a part of the county’s living history.

If you are registered to vote by the 21st day before the election but now have a different address, contact the county election office about your voting options.

That depends on zoning and the type of development you are proposing. Coordinated Services and Planning staff will look at your lot on a zoning map to determine if any land use applications are required. When land use questions have been resolved, construction and septic permits can be issued.

• Department of Motor Vehicles (Bend Office) 388-6322
• Voter Registration (County Clerk’s Office) 388-6547
• Post Office 800-275-8777
• Utility companies
• Bank
• Creditors
• Insurance companies
• Physicians and Dentists
• Magazine subscriptions
• Personal correspondence

Pursuant to Oregon State Statute (ORS), ADUs are specifically limited to rural residential exception areas, which does not include resource zones such as the Exclusive Farm Use (EFU), Forest Use (F1, F2), or Open Space and Conservation (OS&C) Zones.

Yes, individuals who are 15 years or older and have a learner’s permit are eligible to participate in SkidCar Training.

Refunds are not provided on dog licenses in Deschutes County once the license has been issued regardless if you move out of the County or your dog passes away. Please take this into consideration when purchasing a multi-year license.

You will receive a voters' pamphlet from the Secretary of State for statewide elections. Many counties also produce a local voters' pamphlet which is either included with the state pamphlet or mailed separately. In special elections, the county may include the pamphlet with the ballot.

Visit the National Archives and Records Administration website to request your records online, or come into the Deschutes County Veterans Service Office to fill out Standard Form-180.     

We require a minimum of two litter pickups a year but more frequent pickups are welcome.

Staff will research County property and permit records upon a request for verification of eligibility by an interested property owner. This request may be written or by phone. There is no fee for the request. Staff will check County records and confirm the number of TDCs for which a property qualifies.

Many lots in Deschutes County were created before our current zoning regulations were adopted, and are smaller than the minimum lot size required in a zone.  For example, the Rural Residential (RR10) Zone requires a 10-acre minimum size for new parcels, but many existing properties in this zone are smaller than 10 acres. Properties with this situation can be developed as allowed under current zoning, but cannot be divided any smaller.

All costs associated with the Livongo program are covered at 100% through your County Medical Plan. 

In 2015, the HLC adopted the Deschutes County & City of Sisters Historic Preservation Program 2015-2020 Strategic Plan.  The strategic plan provides a framework for shaping the county and City of Sisters’ preservation programs and services over the next five years and creates a blueprint for allocating Certified Local Government (CLG) grant funding.

Other future projects include on-going research and designation of eligible sites and districts as local landmarks, public education and community outreach programs, and the integration of historic preservation with community planning and development activities.

Deschutes County Health Services offers the following locations for HIV testing:

• Deschutes County Health Services Main Clinic: 2577 NE Courtney Drive, Bend, 97701, (541) 322-7499.
• Becky Johnson Center: 412 SW 8th Street, Redmond 97756, (541) 617-4775.

All tests are confidential.

• If your tax lot is split by multiple taxing code areas, you will receive one statement for each code.
• Similarly, personal property and utility property may reside in multiple taxing code areas.
• If you own both a manufactured structure and the land on which it resides, but the names are not identical.

The Board's primary area of oversight is the rural and unincorporated areas of Deschutes County. The City of Bend has already issued guidance: https://www.bendoregon.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=45975.

All services provided at Deschutes County Health are based on a sliding scale dependent on income.

First a TDC Report is ordered to ensure that the property is free of liens. The County will pay for these reports. Any liens will need to cleared by the seller, except for mortgage liens. Recording the Restrictive Covenant described above is the final step. The documents necessary to complete a TDC transaction will be prepared and recorded by the County after receiving your signature. A check will be sent to you upon recording of the Restrictive Covenant.

Anyone representing the youth is permitted to talk with you only if you agree. You do have the right to refuse to speak to an attorney or private investigator for the alleged youth offender. If you decide that you would like to speak with the juvenile's attorney or private investigator, you may request to have a Deputy District Attorney present.

The HLC is staffed by the Deschutes County Planning Division of the Community Development Department with offices located in Bend.  The staff and commissioners are happy to answer any questions you may have about historic preservation. Lists of locally and nationally designated historic resources are available upon request. The HLC business meetings and public hearings are held quarterly. The public is welcome to attend. Exact dates and times of meetings are available by calling the Planning Division office at 541-388-6575.

The Geographic Information Systems Data is licensed to the user for the exclusive use of their company or agency. No redistribution of digital data is allowed. Details of the County's policy are dictated by a formal licensing agreement.

Yes.

Look for a link on the home page to change your contact information, mailing address, phone number, or email address. All address changes must be in writing.

State law, as well as the Board of County Commissioner's policy on the expenditure of the County's limited resources, prohibits the County from plowing Local Access Roads  - which have not been adopted for County maintenance.

Of course any illegal drug or alcohol use by a child or adolescent is reason for concern. Whether it is your child's first incident or there have been other occasions, now is the time to intervene and get help from a professional. Level of use is broken down into five categories:

1. Experimental use (one time use)
2. Social use (two or more incidents, very irregular use and possibly some negative consequences)
3. Habitual use (regular use, daily, weekly or monthly and possibly some negative consequences)
4. Abuse (regular use and has experienced negative consequences associated with its use), and
5. Addiction (regular use and has experienced significant consequences associated with its use, has difficulty stopping and may be in denial).

Treatment for substance abuse can range from outpatient to residential treatment. Your first step should be to obtain a drug and alcohol assessment for your child from a qualified professional. See the information on local substance abuse service providers on our Community Resources page. Please contact us at (541) 388-6671 if you have further questions.

All availability is reflected in the current schedule. Availability will be updated upon notification from the instructor. If there are no openings available, please continue to check our website for updates.

An occupation or profession carried on within a dwelling, and/or residential accessory structure by a resident or employees. An accounting business, hair stylist, therapist, seamstress, and piano teacher are examples of home occupation. Certain home-based businesses are allowed outright, whereas others may require a conditional use permit depending on how intensive the use is, the base zone, and type of business. For more information, see the Home Occupation Brochure in the Supporting Documents Section of this page.

Guest houses are a distinct use category in the Deschutes County Code. Guest houses are defined as “living quarters within a detached accessory building located on the same lot as the main building for use by temporary guests of the occupants of the main premises, not rented or otherwise used as a separate dwelling. A guesthouse shall contain no kitchen, kitchenette or other cooking facilities.”

Guest houses are not allowed in all zones and are subject to separate land use, building safety, and onsite wastewater standards from those governing ADUs. Additional questions concerning guest house development should be directed to the Deschutes County Planning Division.

The VA Muskogee Regional Office manages claims for educational benefits. They can be reached at 1-888-442-4551. Or visit: https://www.va.gov/education/ for information.

No, the center is staffed and operated by Premise Health and is managed just as any licensed medical office in the community.

Once accepted into MHC, the typical participant attends review hearings about once every 30 days.  As a person makes progress in their treatment, the review hearings are decreased to about once every 60 to 90 days.  If a participant suffers a setback, the review hearings may be increased again. If necessary, participants may be notified to appear at special court hearings at any time.

Yes, there are two Oregon Veterans' Homes, located in The Dalles and Lebanon. These homes are run by the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs. 

Yes, reports need to be filed, even when there is no rental activity and may be filed on a monthly or quarterly basis depending on the amount of tax due (see below).

See the information provided on this web page.

Arterial and collector roads (those carrying the highest volume of traffic) have the highest priority and will be plowed first within each snow zone. Once arterials and collectors have been cleared, local roads and subdivisions are plowed. For more information on prioritization, please reference the Snow/Ice Plan.

Unfortunately, there are certain circumstances that may force the cancellation of a class. These include, but are not limited to:

• Inclement weather
• Instructor availability
• Mechanical difficulties
• Insufficient number of participants (minimum of two participants must be present)

Call your local police department to file a runaway report. If you do not live in an incorporated city and live in Deschutes County, call Deschutes County Sheriff's office at (541) 388-6655 and ask how to file a runaway report.

If police pick up your child for running away he will NOT be placed in detention, (unless he or she is an out of state runaway). Out of State runaway youth can be placed in detention until arrangements can be made to return the runaway to his or her home state

Data can be downloaded in the following formats:

• CSV
• File Geodatabase
• GeoJSON
• KML
• Shapefile

An API link is also available for users interested in embedding data in other applications via Geoservices or GeoJSON.

You may contact MHC Coordinator, Stephanie Koutsopoulos, at Deschutes County Behavioral Health, (541)-322-7520.

Insert only your voted ballot (not another person’s ballot) inside your ballot return envelope. If we receive an envelope with more than one ballot inside, all enclosed ballots will be rejected and not counted.

A building is ready for final inspection when all work covered by the permit has been completed. Minor items that are not required to be complete are interior trim, interior painting, flooring (unless needed to install required plumbing fixtures or appliances), Etc..

eXPRS™ is a State system, so there is very little that Deschutes County staff can do (we are users of this system just like you are).  On the eXPRS™ login screen, check if there is anything in RED WRITING describing known issues.  If you got locked out and need to reset your password, follow the instructions on the screen, or contact (844) 874-2788 or technical.triage@state.or.us.

If you are a runaway and a police report has been filed, you should either return home or turn yourself in. You can turn yourself in to any police officer. If you are fearful of returning home there are resources you can access in the community and people you can talk to for help. Suggested agencies are Cascade Youth & Family at 1-800-660-0934 or Deschutes County Behavioral Health at (800)875-7365.

If you have been picked up by the police for runaway you will NOT be placed in detention, unless you are an out of state runaway. Out of state runaways can be placed in detention and held until arrangements can be made to return the runaway to his or her home state. If you have further questions, you can call Deschutes County Juvenile Community Justice at (541) 388-6671. After hours you can also call the National Runaway Hot line at (800) 621-4000.

Your personal health information will remain confidential and your data will be kept secure. Premise Health operates in accordance with HIPAA and works diligently to protect all health records. Premise Health will not share any personal health information without your permission. At no time is your personal health information shared with your employer.

After you enroll, you will be shipped the Livongo Welcome Kit that outlines all the information you need to get started. You will have immediate access to the Livongo website at https://my.livongo.com where you will set-up your personalized program. You should also download the Livongo mobile app for convenient access to community curated content, blood glucose logbook, charts, and discoveries. 

Postmarks Count! Ballots that are mailed, postmarked by the United States Postal Service (USPS) by 8 pm on Election Day and received by the Clerk’s office by the 7th day after Election Day will be accepted.

With over 900 miles of road to clear and thousands of driveways accessing County road facilities, the Road Department cannot direct limited snow/ice resources to the clearing of individual driveways and still provide adequate service to the clearing of roads and travel lanes.  We apologize for the inconvenience that is created when berms are places across driveways.  The Road Department does provide a medical exemption for elderly and disabled residents.  Applications for a medical exemption may be obtained by contacting the Road Department at 541.388.6581 or road@deschutes.org.

Track your ballot on www.oregonvotes.org/myvote. You may also call your county elections office and ask if your ballot has been received. A record is kept of each voter whose ballot has been returned.

You are permitted to cancel or reschedule up to 7 days before the training using the link provided in your confirmation email. If you are unable to locate your confirmation email, or need to reschedule within 7 days of the training, please contact Deschutes County Risk Management for assistance at skidcar@deschutes.org.

Yes, even though these 3rd party intermediaries should be collecting and remitting the transient room tax on your behalf, we still need for you to report the total gross rent (nightly rental rate, cleaning fees, and any other mandatory fees) that they used to calculate the tax, as well as any gross rents that you did on your own. The online reporting form allows you to back out the amount of gross rent from these online platforms so the tax will not be collected twice. These companies only send one check for multiple accounts with no specific identifying information. We’ve been told that the information is confidential between the property owner and them. We need your assistance to continue to get the necessary geographical/financial statistics as well as a way to validate their payments.

See our helpful “Contact” sheet in the forms section of this website.

• The total tax levied on personal property becomes delinquent whenever any installment is not paid on or before the due date. The Tax Collector may send a notice of delinquency showing the total amount due, including interest, when any tax payment is not made.

If no payment is made in response to the delinquency notice, the Tax Collector must;

• Issue a property tax warrant (a lien and a $53.00 fee applied to account).

If payment for warrant is not received, the Tax Collector may:

• Seize and sell your property
• Attach a lien to your real property
• Garnish your bank account(s)

You are required to furnish your full name, date of birth, signature, and residence address (and mailing address, if different than your residence address). Your residence address must be the address where you reside - not a post office box.  You will also be asked to provide your political party preference.

The federal "Help America Vote Act 2002" now requires individuals registering to vote in federal elections to provide identifying information with their voter registration card.  These federal requirements require a person registering to provide the following identifying information with the voter registration card:

• If you have a current, valid Oregon DMV Driver’s License/ID, that number must be provided on the voter registration card;
• If you do not have a current, valid Oregon DMV Driver’s License/ID, you must check the appropriate box on the registration card and provide the last four digits of your Social Security number;
• If you do not have a current, valid Oregon DMV Driver’s License/ID or a Social Security number, you must check the appropriate boxes on the registration card and provide a copy of one of the following:
  • A current and valid photo identification that shows your name. If an expiration date is provided on the photo identification that identification must not have expired; or
  • A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address. The address listed must match the residence or mailing address submitted on your voter registration card.

The conversion of an existing residence to an ADU must be completed simultaneously with the permitting process to construct a new residence. The existing structure must meet all the relevant planning, onsite wastewater, and building requirements. All necessary conversion permits must be finalized during the new primary dwelling review. Applicants should be aware that depending on when and how the original residence was constructed, there may be additional challenges and expenses associated with residential conversions to meet all relevant ADU standards.

If you do not sign your return envelope, you will receive notification from the Clerk's office.  You may come into the Clerk's office and sign your envelope prior to 5:00 pm on the 14th day after Election Day so your ballot can be counted.

No one can sign the return envelope on behalf of a voter, even if there is a power of attorney in place. The ballot will not be counted.

The order doesn’t prevent an owner from using their own timeshare, but it would restrict them from renting their timeshare to another party. 

We do not automatically confirm that we receive timesheets.  If you see your claims in eXPRS move from “pending” to “approved” status, you know we got it (we process this after every submission deadline).  If you bring your timesheet in to our office, we can make a copy and date-stamp that it was received so you have proof.  If you want to check whether we received your fax or secure email, contact 541-322-7554 or psw.timesheets@deschutes.org

Both you and the agent are responsible, as set out in the County's ordinance. Most rental companies routinely collect and remit the tax when a unit is in their program. However, if you occasionally rent your condo out personally, then you must register with the county separately and collect and report accordingly.

Only mailboxes physically hit by County equipment will be reinstalled by the County. Mailboxes knocked down by flying snow or slush will not be reinstalled by the County. It is the mailbox owner's responsibility to install and keep the mailbox and post in a condition to withstand side cast snow and gravel. Snowplow operators make every effort to avoid causing damage, but are not held responsible for substandard mailboxes or posts.

Yes, Deschutes County Code allows an attached garage space in addition to an ADU which does not count towards the 900-square-foot "useable floor area" regulation. Attached garages do not have specific size limitations, but development plans will be considered on a case by case basis. Attached garages cannot contain separate rooms or partitions which could be confused for additional living spaces. Garages can contain certain appliances such as washing machines and dryers, but cooking facilities are not allowed.

No. If you do not want to be affiliated with a political party, you may check the box that states "Not a member of a party." You may not designate or change a party affiliation after the 21st day before the primary election.

A judge can impose a maximum probation period of five years and shall not extend beyond the juvenile's 23rd birthday. The length of time depends on the seriousness of the offense, the risk to reoffend, the need for supervision, and the youth's compliance with the conditions of probation.

Interest and penalties will be assessed. Failure to include the certificate number on rental advertisements is a Class A violation.

These two sections on the timesheet are required for any timesheet submitted on or after 7/1/16.  If either of these two sections are left blank, that timesheet will NOT be processed for payment.  Service Goal is the goal that this service is helping the client to achieve, such as “Increase community inclusion” or “Help Johnny increase independence with hygiene.”  Talk to your Employer if you are unsure of the service goal; the client’s ISP may speak to this.  Progress Notes explain how you helped the person to meet their goals, and/or any other information that is relevant for the Service Coordinator to know, such as “I worked with Johnny on his mobility issues.  During our work I noticed that he is having more problems getting in and out of the tub” or “Lisa and I worked on keeping her house clean.  We worked on Lisa’s bathroom, living room, and kitchen.  Lisa is quickly learning how to work with a vacuum and can now plug the vacuum in and do small rooms.  She gets tired when working on large rooms and still has a hard time not running over the cord.  She also needs reminding to roll the cord back up when she is done.”

Although not required, each candidate has the opportunity to submit a picture and statement regarding his or her candidacy. The text of the statements is printed as submitted.

All steps of the process are open to observation by the public. The major steps include:

• Preparation for mailing (about one month before the election).
• Ballot reception and signature verification (during the two weeks before the election).
• Opening envelopes and preparing ballots for counting (may start 7 days before election day).
• Counting ballots (election day).

You may check your registration status on the Secretary of State's website in the links section toward the bottom of this page.

Oregon State Statute (ORS) and the Deschutes County Code requires that lawfully established ADUs must contain no greater than 900-square-feet of “useable floor area,” measured as follows:

• One Story Structures: The footprint of the entire ADU structure, minus non-"useable floor area" components such as attached garages, decks, or porch covers. Outside these specific exemptions, no additional components of ADUs will be exempted from the “useable floor area” measurement.
• Two Story Structures: The footprint of the entire ADU structure, plus the stair area for the first floor, minus non-"useable floor area" components such as attached garages, decks, or porch covers. Outside these specific exemptions, no additional components of ADUs will be exempted from the “useable floor area” measurement.

The Employer is responsible for hiring, training, scheduling, and dismissing PSW’s.  The Employer is also responsible for ensuring PSW’s are performing duties in alignment with the client’s goals and Individual Service Plan (ISP).  Employers must sign all timesheets, attesting that the information on the timesheet is true and accurate.  Being an Employer does NOT impact personal taxes.

If you have questions about exemptions to the order and if your property qualifies, please email admin@deschutes.org. 

1. Coordinate with OLCC to complete a Land Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS)
2. Obtain any require building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, etc. permits from the Building and Safety Division
3. Coordinate with the Environmental Soils Division to obtain any necessary permits for onsite wastewater treatment

Yes, PSW credentials expire after 2 years.  To find out when your credentials will expire, check your green “Approved to Work” sheet or log in to the registry at www.or-hcc.org to find “Credential Recheck Due.”
To renew, make an appointment with Geneva Blunt call 541-322-7161 or Geneva.Blunt@deschutes.org.  Make sure you do this 70 to 90 days BEFORE your expiration date to allow processing time.  If you fail to renew your credentials before they expire, you will NOT be approved to work and will NOT be authorized to receive pay.

Please see our Emancipation page.

A recreation fee is a charge assessed by a destination resort for use of recreation facilities such as the SHARC in Sunriver or the recreational facility at Black Butte Ranch or Eagle Crest.

This is NOT a “write-off” of each property owner’s assessment for guests’ access to these facilities. The recreation fee can be an exempt-from-tax fee, but it would have to be a separate “after tax” charge to the renter and not included in the regular nightly rate (this exemption only benefits the renter as they pay less tax and does not benefit the owner in any way). Whatever amount of tax is charged to the renter needs to be returned back to the County.

• Option 1: If the recreation fee is charged separately after the tax is calculated, please include this fee in gross rent and take the allowable deduction.
• Option 2: If you choose to include the recreation fee in your nightly rental rate, DO NOT take the recreation fee deduction as it does not apply.

• Deschutes County Voters' Pamphlet
• Audio version of Deschutes County Voters' Pamphlet
• TTY (800) 735-2900
• Upon request, enlarged print official ballot style pages
• Online assistance
• Upon request, individualized assistance can be arranged

The order doesn’t prevent an owner from using their second home, but it would restrict them from renting their second home to another party. 

In “No Show” revenue taxable? Yes, this type of revenue is taxable. This occurs when a guest pays an operator a fee equal to one night’s lodging for failing to cancel a reservation in a timely manner. The fee is calculated and assessed based on the guest’s privilege of the right to use or possess a room which the guest has paid for and presumably waived or forfeited, this privilege is taxable.

When a client is authorized to receive in-home attendant care, the client/guardian may choose to receive that service by:
- Contacting an agency provider, and the agency will send their staff into the home to work with the client 
     AND/OR
- Become an Employer, and hire their own PSW’s to come into the home to work with the client.
For agency providers, it is the agency’s responsibility to obtain client/guardian signatures on invoices and submit those invoices directly to Deschutes County for payment.  For PSW’s, it is the responsibility of both the PSW and Employer to ensure timesheets are complete and accurate (including signature of PSW and Employer), and to submit timesheets to Deschutes County.  PSW’s are also responsible for entering their times into eXPRS.  For details about how to get a PSW paid, see the “Instructions-Approved to Work” form below.

Yes, the amount charged by an Operator for Deschutes County Transient Room Tax shall be separately stated on all records of Operator and on all invoices and receipts rendered by Operator and shall be specifically identified as “Deschutes County Room Tax.” The amount listed by an Operator on the Operator’s records, invoices, and receipts as “Deschutes County Room Tax” shall not include any other taxes, fees, charges or assessments.   

Deschutes County has 30 days to deem an application complete; 150 days to issue a final local decision. It’s important to note that land use decisions can be appealed to a Hearings Officer, Board of County Commissioners, Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA), Oregon Court of Appeals, and Oregon Supreme Court. If a decision is appealed to LUBA and beyond, it is difficult to forecast a timeline.

Short term rental bookings for stays that begin after April 1 are prohibited through May 15, regardless of when they were booked, unless they fall into one of the exempted categories outlined in the order.

Please see information on our Expunction page.

The County has three pieces to the tax with different restrictions.  The first 6% tax was enacted by the voters in 1975 and 1980.  It is split between the Sheriff’s office (80%) and Tourism (20%).  The County has an agreement with the Central Oregon Visitors Association (COVA) to market and promote tourism in Deschutes County.  COVA receives the balance of their share of the first 6% after deducting a small amount for the Fair and Expo Center.

The next 1% was approved by voters in 1988 and is dedicated to tourism.  The entire amount after administrative expenses is distributed to COVA for the marketing and promotion of tourism. 

An additional 1% was approved by voters in November 2013 and became effective on July 1, 2014.  The new 1% is split 70% to the Fair and Expo Center for marketing purposes and 30% to the general fund for general purposes.  

Pursuant to Oregon State Statute (ORS) and the Deschutes County Code, ADUs will only be allowed within rural residential exception areas, which do not include unincorporated communities such as Tumalo, Terrebonne, or Sunriver. Additional development opportunities may be available in these areas contingent on individual site characteristics, zoning standards, and onsite wastewater requirements.

Please see information on our Juvenile Records page

In general, the Planning Division will rely on DIAL, the Deschutes County online property information resource, for official determinations regarding property sizes. However, if an applicant has supplementary information such as a survey filed with the Deschutes County Surveyor’s Office which shows differing property sizes, they are encouraged to present that information to the Planning Division for consideration. Ultimately, any decisions regarding discrepancies on property size from the information listed on DIAL will be considered on a case by case basis.

Prior to release of the Statewide Wildfire Hazard Map by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), all ADUs must meet additional fire hardening building standards as identified in Section R327 of the Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) and additional defensible space standards as identified in the Deschutes County Code or in consultation with the relevant fire protection district for the property.

After release of the Statewide Wildfire Hazard Map, only those properties identified as having a "high hazard" and/or located within a "wildland urban interface (WUI)" will be subject to additional mitigation standards.

The process to adopt a new version of the Statewide Wildfire Hazard Map is currently underway, however it is unclear when this will be completed. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Oregon State Fire Marshal have indicated that a final version of the map may be available in late 2024.

All property tax information is handled by the Deschutes County Assessor’s Office: https://www.deschutes.org/assessor

To qualify for ADU development, properties must be verified as legal lots of record. Many properties were created as part of lawfully established partitions or subdivisions, and as such constitute legal lots of record. Additionally, other properties may have previously gone through a formal lot of record verification process with the Deschutes County Planning Division. However, some properties may have unclear creation history and may be required to apply for a formal lot of record verification prior to development of an ADU. Please contact the Deschutes County Planning Division for specific information and details regarding individual properties.