Executive overview

• Short-term rentals (STRs) are allowed in La Pine, Oregon when operated in compliance with Deschutes County requirements. The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners’ COVID-era STR order (April 2020) only prohibited stays under 30 days in rural, unincorporated areas of the county; the order expressly did not apply to the City of La Pine. That order was temporary and tied to public health emergency provisions. As of now, county-level rules for STRs focus on tax and compliance, not a general prohibition.
• Two distinct regulatory layers apply:
  • City of La Pine (municipal): may require a business license, permits, or local STR rules. The provided sources do not include La Pine city-specific STR rules or application pages. If your property is inside La Pine city limits, contact the city directly for any local licensing or operational requirements.
  • Deschutes County (county-wide): applies tax and reporting obligations to any STR rented for 30 consecutive days or less, whether inside a city or in unincorporated county areas.

How to start a short-term rental business in La Pine’s market

1. Choose property type and confirm jurisdictional location

• Confirm whether your property is inside La Pine city limits or in unincorporated Deschutes County. This determines whether you will interact only with the county (tax/registration) or also with the City of La Pine (local license/permit/guidelines).

2. If inside La Pine city limits: secure any municipal authorizations

• The provided sources do not contain City of La Pine STR rules or application links. Contact the City of La Pine for current requirements (license, registration, zoning, safety checks).
• City of La Pine official site: www.lapineoregon.gov/

3. Register for county-level compliance (Deschutes County Certificate of Authority)

• Any owner renting a property for 30 consecutive days or less must register with the Deschutes County Tax Office to obtain a Deschutes County Certificate of Authority (DCCA #) and account.
• Register each property individually; you may manage multiple properties with one online account.
• There is no fee to obtain a DCCA #.

4. Set up tax collection and reporting

• Deschutes County Transient Room Tax (TRT) rate is 8% of gross rent.
• Register at MUNIRevs and complete filings through the county’s online portal:
  • MUNIRevs login/registration: deschutescounty.munirevs.com
• Choose filing frequency:
  • Monthly filing (default for most owners).
  • Quarterly filing is permitted only when monthly tax due is $50 or less.
• Display the DCCA # inside the STR unit and include it in all advertisements for properties with 6 or fewer individual rental units.

5. Build compliant advertising and operations

• Include DCCA # on all ads (newspapers, magazines, newsletters, flyers, Internet sites).
• Confirm occupancy, parking, noise, and other local rules (city or HOA) where applicable; the county’s tax/registration rules do not replace any zoning, occupancy, or neighborhood standards.

6. Prepare for guest turnover and cleanliness

• Implement professional cleaning protocols and maintenance schedules that reduce complaints. Neighbor relations are important to maintaining good standing even though the county’s enforcement focus is tax/reporting compliance.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

• City of La Pine (if inside city limits)
  • Potential requirements: business license, STR registration, fire/life safety checks, zoning conformance. The provided sources do not list the exact documents; contact the City of La Pine.
• Deschutes County (required for any STR rented 30 days or less)
  • Deschutes County Certificate of Authority (DCCA #) per property.
  • Registration via MUNIRevs; online account setup; per-property activation codes.
  • Ongoing filing: monthly or quarterly TRT returns.
  • Internal recordkeeping: keep all invoices, receipts, and DCCA posting evidence; retain copies of all advertisements showing DCCA #.
  • Advertise with DCCA # on all platforms (Airbnb, VRBO/HomeAway, Evolve, etc.) for properties with ≤6 units.

Specific regulations and tax obligations

• Short-term occupancy definition
  • “Short-term” is any occupancy or right to occupancy for 30 consecutive calendar days or less.
• Transient Room Tax (TRT)
  • Rate: 8% of total gross rent.
  • Tax base: includes all mandatory charges (nightly rate, cleaning fees, pet fees, parking, administrative fees, recreation fees if not charged as a separate “after tax” fee). Optional charges to the guest are excluded. Refundable security deposits are not taxable.
  • Recreation fees at destination resorts:
    • May be exempt if charged as a separate “after tax” charge not included in the regular nightly rate.
    • If included in the nightly rate, no recreation fee deduction applies.
  • When to file:
    • Monthly filers: file and pay by the 15th of the following month.
    • Quarterly filers: file and pay by April 15 (Jan–Mar), July 15 (Apr–Jun), Oct 15 (Jul–Sep), Jan 15 (Oct–Dec). Only permitted when monthly tax due is $50 or less.
    • Zero-activity filings are required if no rentals occurred in a period.
  • Penalties and interest:
    • If submitted after the last day of the month following due date: 10% penalty on taxable rent.
    • If submitted after the last day of the second month or later: additional 15% (total 25% penalty).
    • Interest: 0.5% per month on the tax due, exclusive of penalties.
  • Certificate posting:
    • DCCA must be posted in a conspicuous place inside the STR unit at all times.
• Historical note (COVID-era): STRs in unincorporated areas of Deschutes County were temporarily prohibited (stays under 30 days) in April 2020 as a public health measure. The order expressly did not apply to La Pine (city), Bend, Redmond, or Sisters. This order is no longer in effect; it was time-limited.

Contact information

• City of La Pine (municipal licensing/permits; if inside city limits)
  • Website: www.lapineoregon.gov/
  • For local permits/licensing, consult the city’s “Apply or Pay” and “Contact” pages or call the city offices directly. The provided sources do not list a city STR phone/email.
• Deschutes County Tax Office (Transient Room Tax, DCCA registration, filing support)
  • Phone: (541) 388-6540
  • Fax: (541) 385-3248
  • Email: roomtax@deschutes.org
  • Online portal: MUNIRevs (registration and filings): deschutescounty.munirevs.com
• MUNIRevs Technical Support (platform issues, account setup, filings)
  • Phone: (888) 751-1911
  • Email: support@munirevs.com
• Deschutes County general contact
  • Phone: (541) 388-6522
  • Email: admin@deschutes.org

Important source pages (links)

• MUNIRevs Deschutes County portal (registration and filing): deschutescounty.munirevs.com
• County Transient Room Tax overview: www.deschutes.org/finance/page/transient-room-tax
• Transient Room Tax FAQ: www.deschutes.org/finance/page/transient-room-tax-frequently-asked-questions
• County Code Chapter 4.08 (TRT): deschutescounty.municipalcodeonline.com/book?type=ordinances#name=CHAPTER_4.08_TRANSIENT_ROOM_TAX
• Oregon Department of Revenue – Lodging/State Transient Room Tax: www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/businesses/pages/lodging.aspx
• City of La Pine official website (municipal authorizations): www.lapineoregon.gov/
• April 8, 2020 County STR update (historical reference): www.deschutes.org/finance/page/deschutes-county-news-update-short-term-rental-restrictions-482020
• County STR info and FAQ page (historical context): www.deschutes.org/bcc/page/short-term-rental-restrictions

Compliance checklist for La Pine investors

• Confirm property is inside City of La Pine or unincorporated county; if city, obtain any municipal STR license/registration and understand local rules.
• Register for a DCCA # for each STR unit (no fee); set up your MUNIRevs account and reporting frequency.
• Implement an 8% TRT collection and filing process, inclusive of all mandatory fees. Keep records for audit.
• Display the DCCA # inside each STR unit and include it in all ads for properties with ≤6 units.
• Monitor MUNIRevs deadlines; file returns even with zero activity; avoid penalties/interest by filing on time.
• If using Airbnb/VRBO/HomeAway/Evolve: understand that they may collect/remit taxes on your behalf, but you must still file the county return to reconcile gross rents and prevent double collection.
• Review and comply with any HOA, neighborhood, or city parking/occupancy/noise rules. The county tax/reporting rules do not replace local land use or nuisance standards.

Note on municipal layering

• City of La Pine may impose additional licensing, safety, zoning, or operational requirements that are not captured here. Because the provided sources do not include La Pine city-specific STR application pages, investors should contact the City of La Pine directly before listing to ensure full municipal compliance.

Disclaimer

• This guide synthesizes information from the provided sources. Regulations can change. Always confirm current requirements with the City of La Pine and Deschutes County before launching or operating a short-term rental.