If you own a single-family home in Bend, Oregon, you can now build two accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on one lot — not just one. In 2025 the Bend City Council adopted Ordinance 2532, a package of housing-focused changes to the Bend Development Code that doubled the number of ADUs allowed on most residential lots. For homeowners, it's one of the most meaningful zoning changes in years: more rental income, more flexibility for family, and more value packed onto the land you already own.
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What changed: one ADU became two
For years, the City of Bend allowed a single ADU on a lot with a single-family home. With the 2025 code update, the City's official guidance is now clear: "Up to two ADUs are allowed per lot." You can confirm the current standards directly on the City of Bend's ADU Code Requirements page.
The change came out of a multi-year push to ease Bend's housing crunch. After a 2023 stakeholder workshop with developers, employers, and property owners, the City Council moved a set of "missing middle" reforms forward, and the two-ADU allowance was adopted as part of Ordinance 2532 in June 2025. Local outlets covered the vote in detail — see the reporting from Central Oregon Daily, The Bulletin, and OPB.
The new ADU rules at a glance
Here's how the key standards shake out under the updated code. As always, the exact numbers can change as the City refines the code, so treat this as a planning starting point and verify current requirements with the City of Bend before you design.
| Standard | What the new code allows |
|---|---|
| Number of ADUs | Up to two per single-family lot |
| First ADU size | Up to 800 sq ft |
| Second ADU size | Capped smaller — generally up to 500 sq ft |
| Attached or detached | Either — you can mix types |
| Detached setback | ~6 ft from the main house (some exceptions) |
| On-site parking | No minimum required |
| Owner-occupancy | Not required |
The City deliberately set the second unit's size cap lower to keep it a compact, efficient unit rather than a second full-size house. In practice that makes the second ADU a natural fit for a studio or one-bedroom — ideal as a guest suite, a space for aging parents, or a smaller long-term rental.
Why two ADUs is a big deal for Bend homeowners
- Two income streams. A second long-term rental on the same lot can meaningfully accelerate how fast an ADU investment pays for itself.
- Multi-generational flexibility. Keep one unit for family — aging parents or an adult child — and rent the other.
- More value on land you already own. Rather than buying a second property, you're adding density to your existing lot, often in established neighborhoods close to town.
- A second kitchen option, too. The 2025 changes also opened the door to adding a second kitchen within your primary home, which can create an in-law suite without converting the house to a duplex.
Can your lot actually fit two?
Allowing two ADUs and fitting two ADUs are different questions. Whether your property can support a pair comes down to the same factors that govern any ADU build in Bend: lot size and shape, setbacks, height limits, lot-coverage caps, tree preservation, and how easily you can run water, sewer, and electrical to a second unit. Bend's east-side infill lots, established west-side neighborhoods, and larger Tumalo-area parcels each present different opportunities and constraints.
This is where working with a self-performing general contractor early pays off. On our ADU construction page you can see the three ADU paths we build most — garage conversions, attached units, and detached cottages — and a smart two-ADU plan often combines them (for example, a detached primary ADU plus a garage-conversion second unit). If you're weighing budget first, our breakdown of ADU costs and pre-approved plans in Bend walks through real 2026 price ranges and how the City's free pre-approved plan sets can trim both cost and timeline.
Permitting two ADUs in Bend
Each ADU still needs its own permits through the City of Bend, including building plan review and any system development charges (SDCs) for water and sewer. Building two at once — or designing the first so a second can be added later — can streamline the process and reduce duplicated site work. Rockin' K manages the entire permitting process, from engineer coordination to inspections, so the paperwork doesn't land on you. For the City's current forms, fees, and pre-approved plan library, start at the City of Bend ADU Resource Hub.
As a Bend-based general contractor that has built ADUs across Deschutes County since 2016, we'll help you figure out whether one ADU or two makes sense for your lot, your budget, and your goals — and then build them.
Two-ADU FAQ
Yes. Under the 2025 Bend Development Code update (Ordinance 2532), the City of Bend now allows up to two ADUs on a lot with a single-family home. Previously only one ADU was permitted.
The first ADU can be up to 800 square feet. The second is capped smaller — generally up to 500 square feet — to keep it compact. Confirm current size limits with the City of Bend before designing.
No. Either unit can be attached or detached, and you can mix types — for example a detached cottage plus a garage conversion — as long as each meets setbacks and code.
The City of Bend does not require a minimum number of on-site parking spaces for ADUs, and there is no owner-occupancy requirement. Standards like setbacks, height, and lot coverage still apply.
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