Register to Vote FAQ

An inspector may enter a vacant building without the owner being present. However, there must be an adult present during the inspection if the building is occupied.

A cover page is optional.  It may be used to avoid a $20.00 non-standard fee when first page requirements are not meet.

CDD staff issue permits and perform inspections only for property located in Deschutes County outside of the city limits of Bend and Redmond.

To inquire about group training for an agency or organization, please contact Deschutes County Risk Management at skidcar@deschutes.org.

Please go to the Recording Fees section of this site to view our fee schedule.

No. Our office does not provide notary services.

To search our records, please visit our Document Search page and enter a name.  It will be up to you to determine whether a lien is valid.

A new deed will need to be recorded with our office. Our office does not carry legal forms. We are also prohibited in helping you prepare your legal document. Prior to choosing a legal form we highly recommend you consult with your title company, lender and/or an attorney licensed to practice in Oregon before transferring your property.

An original certified death certificate will need to be recorded in our office. This removes the name of the decedent from the County's ownership records. Fees are involved with this process.

Deschutes County has been determined to be in a Wildfire Hazard Zone, therefore, all roofing materials must have a minimum class C fire rating. Fire retardant treated wood shakes and shingles shall be treated in accordance with AWPA C1. Each bundle shall be marked to identify the manufactured unit, the manufacturer, and shall be labeled to identify the classification of the material in accordance with UL 790 or ASTM E108. Please contact the Building Division prior to installing wood shakes or wood shingles to coordinate inspection of the above mentioned requirements.

You will not receive a new deed as the original deed was issued at the time you purchased your property. However, you should receive a satisfaction of mortgage or deed of reconveyance from your mortgage company.

See Mechanical Brochure -> https://www.oregon.gov/bcd/Documents/brochures/2673.pdf

See Structural Brochure -> https://www.oregon.gov/bcd/Documents/brochures/2672.pdf

The building code requires that the permit be posted on the site. County inspectors use the posted permit to verify that they are at the correct location and to keep a field record of the completed inspections.

All cellular and VoIP phone subscribers within Deschutes County's service district who wish to receive Target Notifications. Subscribers’ cellular and VoIP information will be kept in a separate database, so that if subscribers are already in the 9-1-1 landline database their information will not be changed.

The federal government and the state of Oregon have implemented laws and regulations affecting Deschutes County. In addition, the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners have established policies and procedures for County management to follow in serving the citizens of Deschutes County. Further, the Board has entered into contracts and agreements and has expended public funds to provide these services.

Because these activities are very important, an independent internal auditor is needed to evaluate whether management has met its responsibilities in complying with laws, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, and agreements. In addition to evaluating these areas, the internal auditor also recommends areas for improvement to each audited Department.

The internal auditing process can identify areas where economy and efficiency could be improved thereby reducing cost and/or liability to the County. It can also show how losses of assets and taxpayer funds can be prevented. An internal auditing process can make recommendations for better utilization of human resources. 

Independence is paramount in performing the internal audit function since it provides an atmosphere of objectivity and uninhibited appraisal.

The County Administrator is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners and is responsible for management of all County departments. The County Internal Auditor is appointed and serves at the pleasure of the County Administrator in consultation with the Audit Committee and Board. The Audit Committee, formed by policy, is comprised of four to six public citizens and three County officials. They identify and approve the direction of audits as well as meet with County departments on the results of all audits.

The Audit Committee protects the independence of the County’s Internal Auditor by ensuring the findings are not influenced by the County Administrator or the Board of County Commissioners. 

No. All of the information you enter will feed directly into the Target Notification secure database. This information can only be accessed by system administrators and the data will never be sold or distributed to third parties.

You will receive phone calls when the Target Notification system is activated and your address is within the geographic area chosen to receive the notification message. The Target Notification system will only be activated for emergency purposes.

Your local CaCoon nurse will work in collaboration with you and your child's doctor.

The CaCoon nurse can:

• Help you find information about your child's condition.
• Screen your child for any concerns regarding development, nutrition, hearing, vision, or other health issues.
• Partner with you to advocate for your child and family.
• Help your family locate financial assistance to pay for your child's care.
• Refer you to parent and family support organizations.
• Refer you to local resources for early intervention - physical, occupational and speech, and preschool.
• Work with any other service providers to address your concerns.

A person could become infected with the HIV virus if they came in contact with infected fluids from another person. The fluids that pass the HIV virus are semen, vaginal fluids, blood and breast milk. People can NOT get HIV from hugging, kissing, sharing drinking glasses, and shaking hands with someone who has HIV.

• Evaluates the architectural and historical significance of buildings, structures, sites, and districts.

• Recommends buildings, structures, sites, and districts to the Board of County Commissioners and Sisters City Council for designation as local landmarks.

• Reviews all building, demolition, moving, and sign permits for designated buildings, structures, sites, and districts.

• Promotes educational opportunities highlighting the value, benefits, responsibilities, and requirements of historic preservation.

• Facilitates program administration and special projects that provide opportunities to expand the scope and benefits of the historic preservation.

Properties are valued/appraised as of the January 1st directly preceding the fiscal tax year.

My Premise Health is a secure online and mobile tool/app that connects you with your healthcare experience by providing easy online appointment scheduling, virtual visits, access to secure message your providers, health records, visit history, test results and more.

We are working to improve public safety within Deschutes County. For some time, emergency service agencies, County/City agencies, school districts, delivery services, and other organizations that rely on accurate location information have found:

• Roads that do not exist on maps of the area
• Some road locations and road names are shown incorrectly on local maps.
• There are multiple rural homes using a single easement or driveway to access a main road.
• Some residence addresses are not in the correct number range or on the wrong side of the road.

These problems can cause a delay in service; a potentially dangerous situation in an emergency. All of these issues and their possible solutions have been discussed by concerned agencies. It was the consensus of this group that these public safety issues should be addressed immediately.

The internal audit process consists of planning, data gathering, testing, summarizing, evaluating, and reporting. As part of the planning stage, an initial meeting is held with the Department to be audited. The culmination of fieldwork results in a draft audit report, which includes the audit's purpose, scope of work, background, overall evaluation, and applicable findings. (Findings are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations, internal control weaknesses, and areas where economy and efficiency can be improved.) Each finding should have five elements to it including: condition, criteria, cause, effect, and recommendation.

After the fieldwork is completed, a thorough quality review of the audit workpapers and draft report is performed to ensure that work was performed as planned and is properly documented. The draft report is reviewed to ensure that conclusions and findings are supported by evidence obtained through inquiry, observation, and third parties.

A draft audit report is presented to County Department management for review and discussion. Under Deschutes County policy (GA-15 - Responding to Report, Study and Audit recommendations), the auditee is allowed two weeks to provide a written reply to the findings and recommendations. Once the response is received, the County Internal Auditor reviews it for adequacy and possible rebuttal. If none is warranted, management's response is attached as an exhibit to the audit report. The audit report is then issued. Copies are routinely issued to affected management, the Audit Committee, the County Administrator, and the Board of County Commissioners. 

At the Audit Committee meetings (each quarter), reports are discussed with the applicable Departments that have been audited. Within a year after the audit is issued a follow-up is performed to determine the status of the recommendations.

Yes. No matter where you are physically located, you will only receive calls for emergencies that affect the address entered into the website. So if you are on vacation in a different state you will still receive a phone call if the address you entered is affected by an emergency.

Every dog in Oregon is required to be licensed per ORS 609.100. When a dog reaches the age of six months or develops permanent canine teeth, whichever is longer, a license is required.

You may register to vote online.  Visit the Oregon Secretary of State - Elections Division found in the links section toward the bottom of this page.

This service is provided to you free of charge by the Deschutes County 9-1-1 Service District. However, please be aware that text message charges may apply depending on your mobile service agreement and service carrier. Contact your mobile service provider for details.

Ask your defense attorney to refer you to the Mental Health Court program. You may also contact the MHC coordinator directly to inquire about participation: Lisa Rosen at (541) 322-7500.

SkidCar Training is available to members of the general public for a $100.00 fee. The program is free for current Deschutes County employees, volunteers and interns.

The Victim Advocate can provide information to best understand the flow of your case and possible outcomes. Court proceedings are open to the public and the involvement and participation of victims is encouraged. To contact the Victim Advocate, call the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Victims’ Assistance Program at (541) 383-4394 and ask for the Victim’s Advocate for Juvenile cases.

Often, youth acting out behaviors are a symptom of other things going on in the home. Lifestyle issues (including diet and activity level), family disruptions and life stressors in the home can contribute to your child being “out of control”.

We see a variety of definitions for the phrase "out of control". On one hand some parents complain of defiance and non-compliance and on the other hand some parents report stories where their home has been severely damaged and they are fearful for their lives. If destruction of property is occurring or there are threats of violence or personal injury, report these incidents to the police or in the case of emergencies call 911. There are several ways to approach the problem of an out of control child. The following are some ideas which might prove helpful:

• Parental Support groups
• Parent education
• Family Counseling
• Seek a medical assessment (talk with your physician)
• Seeking an out of home placement for the child (private providers, family/friends)
• If a crime has been committed, contact the police

If you have further questions, you can call Deschutes County Juvenile for information about existing community resources to refer or consult our Community Resources page for local resources.

In general, setbacks are the required distance between a structure and a property line. Natural features such as rivers and rimrock also require setbacks from structures. Structures that do not require building permits are still subject to setbacks. As outlined in the brochure in the Supporting Documents section of this page, fences may be allowed within required setbacks subject to additional restrictions.

Real Market Value or "RMV", is the amount in cash that could reasonably be expected to be paid by an informed buyer to an informed seller.

Legal lots in the Regional Problem Solving study area in South Deschutes County that are up to 2 acres in size and that are not developed with a dwelling and septic system, but could be developed if the owner chose to do so.

Shapefiles and the file geodatabase are updated weekly on Sunday nights.

Families with children and young adults from birth through age 20, who have chronic health conditions or disabilities. Eligibility is not tied to family income or insurance status. There is no cost to families for CaCoon services.

This project is a cooperative effort between emergency service agencies:

• 9-1-1
• Fire Department
• Sheriff’s Department
• Police Department

Other agencies such as the Bend La Pine School District, City of Bend, and Deschutes County will also be involved in compiling information to locate and serve Deschutes County residents.

• Anyone who has had sex without a condom
• Anyone who has shared needles or "works" to inject drugs
• Anyone who has had a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) such as Chlamydia, Syphilis, or Herpes
• All pregnant women

If both parents agree to discuss financial issues, the mediator can help with that discussion. Creating the parenting plan however is the first priority.

Each eligible lot will receive one credit. A lot will receive an additional one-half credit if it is located in the High Priority Deer Migration Corridor mapped by the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.

Absentee ballots are available 45 days before the election. You may request an early absentee ballot from your county election official either in person, by mail, or by fax. You will need to include your name, residence address and, if different, your mailing address. An Absentee Ballot Request Form is available on our website under Voting Absentee or Registering to Vote.

You will need to obtain a valid rabies certificate from your veterinarian or organization that gave the rabies vaccine to your dog. If you do not have a rabies certificate in your possession, please contact the veterinarian’s office where the vaccine was given. They will be able to provide a duplicate copy for you to submit with your application.

If you would like information or resources about specialized health services and want to know more about CaCoon, call Deschutes County Health Services at (541) 322-7400 and ask to speak with a CaCoon nurse. Families may request CaCoon services. Referrals also come from physicians, specialty clinics, school, and other community agencies.

You can also contact the Oregon Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs office at:
Phone: (503) 494-8303
Email: occyshn@ohsu.edu

Preserving significant parts of our past gives us a sense of our "roots," and helps us remember where we came from and see where we want to go. Historic buildings, structures, sites, and districts are the tangible aspects of our history that people can feel and touch. Without historic resources dotting our landscape, the community of Deschutes County would have no sense of place.

The loss of the 1917 Pilot Butte Inn in 1973 focused attention on historic landmarks in Deschutes County and rallied support to preserve important historic resources for future generations.

The best way to figure out whether you're eligible for veterans' benefits is to speak to a veteran’s service officer. Veterans’ service officers can explain eligibility requirements for various state and federal benefits. If you decide to apply they can help you though the entire claims process. Please call our office at (541) 585-VETS.

Deschutes County cannot offer variances to any requirements outlined in Oregon State Statute (ORS), which include ADU provisions such as the number of allowed ADUs, siting standards, square-footage limitations, and various other criteria.

Yes, individuals who use an insulin pump can still use the Livongo program. Insulin pumps do not require a specific meter for them to function as designed, however, several of pumps have direct integration with specific meters. This integration enables the blood glucose reading to be automatically sent from the meter to the pump which saves the individual the extra step of entering their blood glucose value that they get from a stand alone meter into the insulin pump. 

Pump supplies are separate and different from blood glucose checking supplies and are outside of our service. An individual using an insulin pump may choose to join the Livongo Program and use our meter and receive our blood glucose checking supplies - but still go through their current method to obtain supplies specifically for their insulin pump. 

CDD’s operation is paid for entirely by fees. Many fees are set by the State of Oregon. Some are set by the county. All fees are calculated to cover the estimated cost of time required for our staff to process an application and inspect work, plus other costs such as office overhead, transportation and data management. In addition, we calculate building permit fees based on the average building cost per square foot.

Divorce and marriage filing fees for Deschutes County cover the cost of providing three mediation sessions.

Property owners and managers of properties affected by the restrictions should take reasonable steps to terminate the current occupancy of any guests not exempted by the order. No new occupancies in violation of this order may be rented. 

A parent cannot have their child placed in detention. Strict legal standards determine when a juvenile offender is eligible for detention. Only the court or the court’s designee can authorize placement of a youth into a juvenile detention facility.

The test is looking for HIV antibodies which the body makes when it is trying to fight an HIV infection. A person who has been exposed to HIV will most likely develop antibodies within three months of becoming infected.

Sanctions will be used in proportion to the gravity of the non-compliance. (Examples of non-compliance include: Missed treatment appointments or court dates, dishonesty, positive urinalysis, and a poor attitude in treatment or in court).  Sanctions may include additional court appearances, development of lists or other written plans to deal with treatment-interfering behavior, time required to sit in court, community service, jail time, and other appropriate sanctions. If the defendant commits a new crime or has repeated willful violations, they may be terminated from the program. 

If you have not received your ballot within a week after they are mailed, call your county election office. They will check that your voter registration is current. If it is, they will mail you a replacement ballot provided the request is received with sufficient time for mailing.  Otherwise, you may pick up a replacement ballot in person at your county election office.

The maximum assessed value shall equal 103 percent of the property’s assessed value from the prior year or 100 percent of the property’s maximum assessed value from the prior year whichever is greater.

Supporting Documents section here toward the bottom of the page.
County Clerk's Office
Post Offices
City Halls
County Libraries
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Arterials and Collectors (those carrying the highest volume of traffic) will receive attention first.  The Snow/Ice Plan identifies priority snow zones and the process used to address snow and ice events on the county road system. 

You may be required to attend the Seminar for Divorcing Parents. Parents who have attended the seminar will be better prepared for mediation.

A property owner must sign and record a Restrictive Covenant with the County Clerk for each lot where a TDC is sold. This document indicates the allowed and prohibited uses on the property. The restrictive covenant will "run with the land." Future property owners will be responsible for meeting its terms.

If the defendant commits a new crime or has repeated willful violations, they may be terminated from the program. The original charges are then referred back to criminal court where they will be sentenced. The charge will then remain on the defendant’s record

Measure 50, passed in 1997, cut taxes, introduced assessed value growth limits, and replaced most tax levies with permanent tax rates. It transformed the system from one primarily based on levies to one primarily based on rates.  Read more about Measure 50 on this page including utilizing the Graph It feature.

If restitution has been court ordered or agreed to in a Formal Accountability Agreement (FAA), you will receive notification. The payments will be mailed to you. It is very important you keep your address updated with the Juvenile Department. While every case is different, it is important to know that a youth's ability to pay restitution can vary from one person to another.

As of July 1, 2023, the cost for a license in Deschutes County increased to cover cost of administering the dog licensing program. The license fee was last changed in 2013. The County now offers discounts for multi-year licenses as well as senior citizen discounts (62 & over) on spayed and neutered dogs.

You can request that the PCP share your records with the doc by completing your provider’s record sharing process. Additionally, you may request your records from Premise Health be shared with your PCP or specialist.

Yes, you or your property manager are required to register your rental unit with the Deschutes County Tax Office, (541) 388-6540. A Deschutes County Certificate of Authority number is then issued (DCCA #). The certificate number must be displayed on all rental advertisements for properties with 6 or less individual units for rent. This includes ads appearing in newspapers, magazines, newsletters, flyers, Internet sites and other advertising mediums.

Data subscriptions have been discontinued in favor of free data downloads via data.deschutes.org.

Property may be needed as evidence if the case goes to trial. For this reason, the police will not ordinarily release your property back to you until the District Attorney advises them in writing that it is no longer needed. Sometimes it is possible to photograph urgently needed property and then release it before trial - contact the Deputy District Attorney assigned to the Juvenile Division at (541) 322-7666 for more information.

When parents know there will be a disagreement about how they are going to share in raising the children they should:

1. Ask their legal counsel to request mediation services or use the Request for Mediation form available on the Deschutes County Circuit Court website.
2. Call the mediation office at (541) 385-1719 to schedule a mediation appointment.
3. Important! If you are concerned about your personal safety in a mediation setting let the mediator know prior to scheduling a mediation appointment.

Final approval to work depends on many items being complete and cleared.  You will first receive approval of your Criminal History Check, but this is only ONE piece of many and does NOT approve you to start working.  When ALL of your requirements are cleared, your Employer will receive a phone call from their Service Coordinator notifying them you are approved to work.  Both PSW and Employer will then receive green “Approved to Work” notices in the mail.

Your child's education is important! A good place to start is by scheduling a meeting with school officials. Try to identify and address all barriers to your child's success. Ask for help from friends, other family members or a pastor if you attend church. As you take on this task, commitment, good communication and coordination is necessary on your part.

Once a defendant has been officially accepted into MHC and a guilty plea has been entered, they cannot opt-out.  Should a defendant wish to discontinue their participation in the program, it will be treated the same as a termination. 

The application of sanding material shall be made only at intersecting roadways requiring the stopping of vehicles, horizontal curves, grades exceeding 8% and bridges. 

• The first time you register to vote in Deschutes County
• Your name changes
• Your signature changes
• You change your party affiliation
• Your residence and/or mailing address changes

The County’s ordinances apply to unincorporated Deschutes County and not land within the city limits of Bend, La Pine, Redmond, or Sisters.

A plot plan is required to provide CDD with essential information. We must assure that setbacks from property lines and the existence and relative positions of structures such as buildings, septic systems and wells comply with state and county standards.

No. With very limited exceptions, state law does not allow CDD to issue building permits without an approved site evaluation. Generally, a lot is not buildable until we know that a septic system is feasible on the lot.

All MHC participants are required to submit to random urinalysis testing. The use of illegal substances or the abuse of prescription or over-the-counter medications is prohibited.  Decisions about whether or not a participant would be required to abstain from alcohol use is made after a thorough evaluation and is decided on a case-by-case basis. 

If you do not vote on all measures and/or candidates your ballot will still count. Your vote will be counted as an under vote for that specific measure or candidate race.

Deschutes County does recognize service animals and offers a zero fee license for dogs that meet the ADA  requirements. Service dogs are required to be licensed and have a valid rabies vaccination. A service animal, as defined by the ADA, is a dog of any breed or size that is trained to provide a specific task directly related to a person’s disability. They do not include emotional support or comfort dogs. For more information visit https://www.ada.gov/topics/service-animals for definitions of what is, and what is not a service animal.

To register as an absentee voter, you must be currently registered in Deschutes County. If you are not an active registered voter in Deschutes County, please also complete and submit a Voter Registration Card. If we receive an absentee request without an active registration, it will delay processing your request.

Military or Out of Country: Ballots for military voters and voters living outside the United States will be mailed the 45th day before an election. Federal Voting Assistance Program, Voting Help for Uniformed Service Members, Their Families & Citizens Living Outside the U.S. Information and a Federal Post Card Application (Registration and Absentee Ballot Request) are available from the Federal Voting Assistance Program (see Link under Related Information).

We have 4 supply stations in different sections of the county for our adoptees. Each contains safety vests, litter patrol signs for checking out, litter bags, and hazard marker flags.

Consistent and correct condom use every time you have sex is an effective way to prevent becoming infected or spreading HIV.

For persons who inject drugs, using clean syringes and drug equipment for each injection greatly reduces the chances of becoming infected with or spreading HIV or Viral Hepatitis. Confidential syringe exchange services are available at Deschutes County Health. Please refer to the Syringe Exchange Program or call (541) 408-1209 for more information.

You can  update your information by calling 541-388-6637 M-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or email petlicensing@deschutes.org.

Create a profile on the Oregon Home Care Commission registry at https://or-hcc.org.  This is a great website designed to connect potential Employers and PSW’s.  PSW’s can “advertise” themselves by creating a profile; Employers can then search all PSW’s.  Employers can create a “help wanted” ad which PSW’s can then browse and respond to.  To access the registry, PSW’s must have their provider number (meaning they have a current Criminal History Check and Provider Enrollment Agreement).  Please note, the registry is run by Oregon Home Care Commission and is separate from the Deschutes County office.
Tip: When using the registry, enter LESS search criteria to bring up MORE results.
NOTE: If you find a client to work with, the next step is to contact Deschutes County for a new packet of paperwork.  The PSW may NOT begin working until this paperwork is completed, as they must get set up with that new client specifically.  This does not take long as we usually do not have to wait for a new Criminal History Check.

The order applies to all short term rentals in the rural, unincorporated areas of the County, regardless of their proximity to other residences. The primary objective of the order is to reduce non-essential travel to Central Oregon to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

If you make a mistake, you may call your county election office and request a replacement ballot. One will be mailed to you provided the request is received with sufficient time for mailing. Otherwise, you may pick up a replacement ballot in person at your county election office.

Your ballot has been cast as soon as you deposit it in the mailbox or at a drop site. After that, you cannot receive a new ballot to re-vote.

• Welcome Kit:
  • Cellular connected glucometer
  • Lancing device
  • Lancets
  • Glucometer Charger
  • Carrying Case
• Unlimited Testing Supplies (Lancets and Testing Strips)
  • No matter how often you test, there is no cost to you for lancets and testing strips
• Real time “first responder” support by Livongo Certified Diabetes Educators for extreme high and low readings
• Coaching sessions through the DOC Health Team. 

MHC hearings are typically held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 8:15 a.m. Exceptions are made when there are court closures for legal holidays or when staff is unavailable.

• You had taxable business personal property in your possession in Deschutes County on January 1.
• Taxable personal property includes machinery, equipment, furniture, etc. used previously or presently in a business. This includes any property not currently being used, placed in storage, or held for sale.

You have the choice of mailing your ballot or returning it to any county election office or any designated drop site in the state. The hours and locations of drop sites are published by and available from your county election official.

If you are moving to Deschutes County from another County in Oregon you need to license your dog within 30 days of moving within the city limits of  Bend or Redmond.

If you are moving into Deschutes County from another Oregon county, but not within city limits of Bend or Redmond, you can wait until your current dog license expires then get a new license from Deschutes County. The City of Sisters and the City of La Pine are considered County as they do not have their own city services providing animal control.

Please call if you are not sure if you are within city limits.

A property owner may do the framing, plumbing, and mechanical work themselves. A property owner may not install, extend, alter, or repair any LP gas appliance or piping, vent or flue connection related to or in connection with LP gas installations, unless the property owner has received an LP gas installation license from the State Fire Marshal. A property owner may not perform the electrical installation if the ADU is for rent, lease, sale, or exchange.

No.

All ballots are postage-paid. A stamp is not required for voting.

If you are moving to Deschutes County from out of state, you are required to license your dog in Deschutes County within 30 days. Licenses from other states are not recognized in Oregon.

Create a profile on the Oregon Home Care Commission registry at https://or-hcc.org.  This is a great website designed to connect potential Employers and PSW’s.  PSW’s can “advertise” themselves by creating a profile; Employers can then search all PSW’s.  Employers can create a “help wanted” ad which PSW’s can then browse and respond to.  To access the registry, PSW’s must have their provider number (meaning they have a current Criminal History Check and Provider Enrollment Agreement).  Please note, the registry is run by Oregon Home Care Commission and is separate from the Deschutes County office.
Tip: When using the registry, enter LESS search criteria to bring up MORE results.
NOTE: If you find a client to work with, the next step is to contact Deschutes County for a new packet of paperwork.  The PSW may NOT begin working until this paperwork is completed, as they must get set up with that new client specifically.  This does not take long as we usually do not have to wait for a new Criminal History Check.

All County land is divided into zones. Each zone has a different designated use (such as residential, industrial, etc.). Marijuana business is only allowed within specific zones.  To find out what kind of zone you live in, visit: https://dial.deschutes.org/.

Premise Health has recruited a high-quality team of dedicated healthcare professionals to staff and manage the doc. The team includes Physicians Assistants, Health Center Manager, Medical Assistants, Wellness Coordinator and a Pharmacist.

ALL of the following criteria must be met:

• Residents of the State of Oregon.
• Citizens of the United States of America.
• Persons at least 16 years of age.
• Note: If you are 16 years of age, you will not receive a ballot until an election occurs on or after your 18th birthday.

Deschutes County does not offer discounts on multiple dogs for individual licensing. However,  we do offer a kennel license option if you own four or more dogs and meet certain requirements. For more information on the kennel licensing option, please call (541) 388-6637.

No. Only one Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) licensed marijuana production or Oregon Health Authority (OHA) registered medical marijuana grow site is allowed per legal parcel or lot.

The short-term rental order does not prohibit reservations needed for permitted essential travel, including reservations needed for health, safety or employment.  If neighbors have a known violation related to the continued use of short-term rentals to large groups or gatherings, they can call (541) 693-6911 to report the violation. Complaints will be reviewed by the appropriate local law enforcement agency and investigated if necessary.

Deschutes County offers replacement tags for a fee of $5.00. Please contact Dog Licensing at (541) 388-6637.

Reports may be filed quarterly only when the monthly amount of tax due is $50.00 or less. The quarterly reporting periods are based on calendar quarters January-March, April-June, July-September, and October-December.  Reports are due the 15th of the following month; ex, January-March report is due by April 15th.

You may register at any time. However, your voter registration card must be postmarked by the 21st day before the election at which you intend to vote.

The Deschutes County Veterans Service Office does not provide emergency financial assistance. Emergency financial assistance is sometimes available from the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs Oregon Veterans’ Emergency Financial Assistance Program. If you have questions about this, please call our office at 541-585-VETS.

At present, Deschutes County does not anticipate the adoption of any specific pre-approved building plans for ADUs.

No.

Appointments can be made by calling the center or scheduled through the member portal, My Premise Health, available at MyPremiseHealth.com or by using the My Premise Health app. Although the doc is not a walk-in urgent care clinic, the staff will make every effort to accommodate your appointment request.

Deschutes County does not regulate the number of plants that can be grown.  Instead, the County regulates maximum mature plant canopy or the maximum building and its related footprint depending on the zone and parcel size. OLCC regulates the maximum mature plant canopy area dependent on license type and the OHA regulates  maximum number of plants a registered grow site can grow dependent on the number of medical marijuana card holders being grown for.  Consult these agencies for more information.

The Livongo website is designed for more comprehensive sessions that involve accessing a member’s blood glucose logbook, chart, discoveries, health profile, goals and configuration settings (Friends and Family, doctor, coaching alerts, etc.). The mobile app is designed for quick, on­-the-­go sessions and provides access to community curated content, the member’s blood glucose logbook, chart, and discoveries. 

Registered voters that have difficulty signing their name may complete an attestation form which is available upon request. The attestation shall be completed and filed before a voter may use a signature stamp or other indicator of the voter's signature on any election document. A new voter registration card with the signature stamp or other indicator must be completed and filed, too.

Oregon Revised Statute 419C.680 says: (1) No minor shall be in or upon any street, highway, park, alley or other public place between the hours of 12 midnight and 4 a.m. of the following morning, unless:

• Such minor is accompanied by a parent, guardian or other person 18 years of age or over and authorized by the parent;
• Such minor is engaged in a lawful pursuit or activity which requires the presence of the minor in such public places during these hours;
• The minor is legally emancipated

Check with your city of residence or a city you may be visiting as some cities have stricter curfew laws than the State statute.

No.  It is the responsibility of the property owner to provide clear access up to the mailbox for the postal carrier. However, access clearing to mailboxes adjacent to the pavement or roadway edge may occur in clean up and widening work as time allows.

Based on the current provisions in Oregon State Statute (ORS), only detached structures sharing no common wall with the primary dwelling can be utilized as an ADU.

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.