A legislative push to address the affordable housing crisis in Oregon has trickled down to Deschutes County where officials and rural residents are considering allowing some homeowners to rent out RVs on their property.

However, the issue must first go through a public hearing with the county’s planning commission, which is taking place Thursday.

Earlier this year, legislators passed Senate Bill 1013, which allows certain rural homeowners within specific land use zones to rent out an RV on their properties. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, but jurisdictions have the option of whether to allow the practice.

At the heart of the legislation is allowing different housing options that could potentially be affordable, said Tanya Saltzman, a senior planner for the county.

“The traditional model, the single-family home, isn’t cutting it for everybody,” she said.

Like recently approved rules that allow accessory dwelling units on rural properties in Deschutes County with some restrictions, RV rentals have fielded concerns related to water availability, decreasing property values and failure to address the local affordability crisis.

Of the seven comments submitted into the public record as of Tuesday, six were opposed to the code changes. The only one in favor sees it as an opportunity to put more roofs over people’s heads.

After the public hearing Thursday, planning commissioners will deliberate and consider certain rules that could be added to the legislation. Those considerations could include a minimum acreage requirement, mandating property owners designate a gravel or concrete parking pad for the RV and if the RV should be fenced or screened from neighboring properties.

If the rules are approved, operating RVs as short-term rentals is not allowed, and homeowners can’t mix and match rental options. That means homeowners can’t rent out a room in their houses while also renting out an RV on their properties, Saltzman said. RVs would also be required to sit at least 10 feet away from other structures, and they’d also have to be owned or leased by whomever is renting.

The public hearing before the planning commission is scheduled to take place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Barnes Sawyer Room at the Deschutes Services Building, 1300 NW Wall St. in Bend.