Conditional use permits (CUP) are for more than just building. Deschutes County along with most counties in Oregon have specific rules and regulations concerning what can and can not be done to or on the land surrounding our waterways.

The reasoning is for this is not only to protect the view along the water with what types of structures are placed on the banks but how the wildlife will respond to such things.

Many river front properties on the rivers in Deschutes County especially in La Pine, Three Rivers South and Bend are on the Big Deschutes. These properties often time have an area of wet lands on them.

Most homeowners and buyers of these properties do not realize just how protected this area of their property is. I recently wrote a contract for a home with a large area of wetlands, my buyer and I did our due diligence and discovered just how restrictive the uses of this land can be.

If part of your property is in wetlands in Deschutes County - can not do anything and I mean anything without a conditional use permit. This week in Three Rivers South (the Bulletin mistakenly calls it Sunriver) a home owner thought he was protecting his land by removing willows on the wetland area of his property. A tree had been hit by lighting during the summer and burst into flames. This homeowner hired a back hoe to come in and remove the willows, he was afraid the same thing would happen (my guess is he wanted to improve his view of the river).

As a REALTOR® in Central Oregon it is my duty to be sure that my clients, know where to find the land use rules and codes. If you are seeking riverfront or riverview property it is best to be sure what your view will be or can be. Do not assume that you can take out vegetation or build on all areas of your land, there are several restrictions that could cause you a head ache later. Deschutes County offers the a website to assist click here to research the codes that may effect you CLICK HERE>>>>>>>.