Moving to Oregon with family...question about living in an RV/camper on land and other small living space options.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

As long as someone else brought this topic up again, here is a small update:

City of Bend is now allowing ADU's. That is only inside the city limits. They are not allowed in the county.

Requirements for an ADU are rather strict regarding size and height. Community development fees are high, but not as high as for the main house; maybe $30,000 for the big house and another $12,000 for the ADU.

Construction costs are high, because the ADU contains the most expensive components of a house, the kitchen and bathroom.

The city of Bend has been allowing such small building lots for so many years that very few newer properties actually have room to build an ADU. But if you can fit one on your lot and if you have the $ for the high cost of building one, then you can legally have one.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Flying over the county properties and taking pictures: In my area, the irrigation districts do fly-overs to measure how much irrigation water you are using. I don't think they would turn you in for zoning violations, but they are definitely flying over and photographing your place.

I can't guarantee that they wouldn't turn a family in for zoning violations.

Nobody brought up Urban Growth Boundary to the OP. You can't just add houses wherever you want outside the Urban Growth Boundary,

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Also adding this: my family is doing a legal lot split inside the city limits of Bend and the cost is about $30,000. So budget engineering costs and government fees when thinking about dividing property.

For a larger property, the costs are much higher because fees are based upon the number of lots and maybe you would be required to install sewers and roads.