Central Oregon has always lived with wildfire risk. But starting April 1, 2026, that risk is now written into the building code. Deschutes County and the City of Sisters have adopted Section R327 of the Oregon Residential Specialty Code — a set of home-hardening requirements for new residential construction designed to reduce the chance of a home igniting during a wildfire event. The City of Bend is actively moving toward adoption as well. If you are building, buying, or insuring property in Central Oregon, this matters — and it matters right now.

Where R327 Applies Right Now

As of April 1, 2026, R327 is in effect for new residential building permit applications in:

The Bend City Council directed staff to move forward with local adoption at its February 25, 2026 work session. The proposed ordinance was scheduled for the April 1, 2026 City Council meeting. Once adopted, R327 standards will apply to new residential building permit applications submitted on or after the effective date, aligning Bend with the regional approach already in place in Deschutes County and Sisters.

Oregon's Building Codes Division has also been working on statewide wildfire hazard mitigation standards. The state framework establishes the baseline that local jurisdictions like Deschutes County can opt into and implement locally. This is not a temporary measure — it reflects a fundamental shift in how Oregon approaches residential construction in wildfire-prone areas.

What R327 Actually Requires

The core principle of R327 is simple: build it so embers don't ignite it. Research has consistently shown that most homes lost in wildfires are ignited by embers — not by direct flame contact. A home can be ignited by embers landing on a wood deck, in a gutter full of pine needles, or through an unscreened attic vent — even when the fire front is hundreds of feet away. R327 addresses each of these ignition pathways.

What R327 Does NOT Apply To

It is equally important to understand the limits of R327. The code applies only to new construction — it does not require existing homeowners to retrofit their homes. Specifically, R327 does not apply to:

• ✗Existing homes — no retrofit requirements
• ✗Remodels or additions to existing homes
• ✗Small detached accessory structures under 400 square feet
• ✗Commercial buildings (governed by separate codes)
• ✗Apartment buildings and mixed-use structures (Oregon Structural Specialty Code applies)

If you own an existing home in Central Oregon, you are not required to make any changes under R327. However, the voluntary home hardening steps outlined in the code are exactly the kinds of improvements that can make your home more insurable — and potentially more attractive to carriers who are increasingly scrutinizing wildfire exposure before writing or renewing policies.

Defensible Space: The Other Half of the Equation

R327 focuses on the structure itself — the roof, siding, windows, and vents. But home hardening alone is only half of the wildfire resilience picture. Defensible space — the buffer zone of managed vegetation around your home — is equally critical. The City of Bend has indicated it will address defensible space requirements separately, as they involve multiple departments and more local discretion than the building code standards.

The infographic below illustrates the key defensible space practices that every Central Oregon homeowner should implement, regardless of when their home was built:

The key defensible space practices include: keeping grass mowed to under 4 inches, spacing trees at least 10 feet from the house and from each other, removing flammable plants within 5 feet of the home, clearing leaves and debris from gutters and roofs, using non-combustible fencing near the structure, and ensuring your driveway is accessible to first responders with a visible address sign. These steps cost relatively little but can dramatically improve your home's chance of surviving a wildfire.

What This Means for Your Insurance

From an insurance standpoint, R327 and defensible space practices matter more than ever. The wildfire insurance market in Central Oregon has tightened significantly over the past several years. Carriers are scrutinizing wildfire exposure at the property level — looking at roof materials, siding type, proximity to vegetation, and defensible space — before deciding whether to write or renew a policy.

We are already seeing carriers look closely at wildfire mitigation when evaluating properties in Deschutes County, Jefferson County, and Crook County. If you are building a new home, buying an existing home, or simply trying to understand your current coverage options, the steps you take on wildfire mitigation directly affect what is available to you in the insurance market.

What Existing Homeowners Can Do Right Now

Even though R327 does not require existing homeowners to retrofit their homes, taking voluntary steps toward home hardening is one of the most effective things you can do to protect your property and improve your insurance options. Here is a practical starting point:

1. 1

   Assess your roof

   If your roof is aging or made of wood shake, consider replacing it with a Class A or B material — metal roofing, composition shingles, or tile — when it is time for replacement.

2. 2

   Screen your vents

   Install 1/8-inch metal mesh screens on all attic, soffit, and foundation vents. This is one of the most cost-effective improvements you can make.

3. 3

   Clear your gutters and roof

   Remove leaves, pine needles, and debris from gutters and roof surfaces before fire season each year. Debris-filled gutters are a primary ignition point.

4. 4

   Create your Zone 1 defensible space

   Within 5 feet of your home, remove all flammable plants, mulch, and debris. Replace with gravel, pavers, or non-combustible ground cover.

5. 5

   Manage your Zone 2

   From 5 to 30 feet, thin vegetation, space trees at least 10 feet apart, and remove dead material. From 30 to 100 feet, reduce fuel density and remove ladder fuels.

6. 6

   Document your improvements

   Take photos and keep records of any mitigation work you do. This documentation can be valuable when talking to insurance carriers about your property.

Our Take: This Is the New Normal

At Prineville Insurance, we have been helping Central Oregon families and businesses navigate the wildfire insurance landscape for decades. The adoption of R327 is a significant and positive development — it establishes a clear, consistent standard for new construction that will make homes more resilient and the insurance market more stable over time.

For homeowners, builders, and buyers in Central Oregon, the message is clear: wildfire mitigation is no longer optional. It is becoming the baseline expectation — in the building code, in the insurance market, and in the community. The good news is that the steps required are well-defined, achievable, and genuinely effective.

Whether you are building a new home, buying an existing property, or simply trying to understand how wildfire risk affects your current coverage, we are here to help. As an independent agency, we work with multiple carriers and can help you understand how your property's wildfire mitigation measures affect your options and pricing. We serve clients across Bend, Redmond, Sisters, Prineville, and communities throughout Central Oregon.