The City of Bend is taking action to increase affordable housing. On Wednesday, City Council approved amendments to the Bend Development Code and the Bend Comprehensive Plan that will implement House Bill (HB) 2001. In 2019, the Oregon State Legislature passed HB 2001, which requires cities with more than 25,000 residents to allow the development of “middle housing,” such as duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, cottage cluster developments and townhouses. The new code allows middle housing in all residential areas of Bend, regardless of zoning. The updated code will go into effect in November 5, 2021.