Land Use History

Planning and zoning regulations are relatively new to Deschutes County.

1965: An initial zoning ordinance was established for part of the county. This ordinance was repealed by the voters of the county in 1968.

1971: The county began work on a comprehensive plan and in 1972 adopted a zoning ordinance that applied countywide.

1975: The State of Oregon adopted Statewide Planning Goals. These are goals and guidelines required to be addressed by each city and county as part of their planning programs. The Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) is appointed by the Governor to administer the Statewide Planning Goals.

1979: In November the county adopted a comprehensive plan addressing the Statewide Goals. Compliance with the goals is determined through an acknowledgment process by LCDC.

1981: The county received initial acknowledgment of its comprehensive plan from LCDC. The comprehensive plan and implementing ordinances (Subdivision/Partition, Zoning Procedures and Sign ordinances) are updated and changed regularly to reflect community attitudes, changes in state law, unanticipated needs and changes growth brings.

Present: About 50% of the county population lives outside of the incorporated cities of Bend, Redmond and Sisters. Additionally, there are about 6,500 seasonal or second homes in the county. The County has increased in population about 78% since 1990 (present population +/- 110,000). Given natural change (births and deaths) and out migration the growth translates to a voting population turnover of over 65% since the 1990 census. This rapid change in population creates major challenges in public involvement, facilitation of the public process and meeting the needs of both property owners proposing development and concerned citizens effected by development.