About the Southwest Bend
Neighborhood District

Neighborhoods work to improve the livability to their parts of the city. Members gather on a regular basis to discuss and resolve common issues including crime prevention, transportation, pedestrian safety, land use, and the environment. Neighbors also coordinate social events, programs, and projects.

Neighborhood Districts maintain and improve the quality of life in the city, increase citizen participation in local decision making, and form an effective partnership between the city and neighborhood residents. At this time there are 13 Neighborhood Districts that are recognized by the Bend City Council.

Read more about the Neighborhood Districts on the City of Bend website.

Run by volunteers, neighborhood Districts work to keep residents informed about issues important to their neighborhoods and to advocate for residents before city government. ​Neighborhoods are generally made up of people who live, own a business, or work near each other. Neighborhood Districts are organizations formally recognized by the City of Bend as a forum for citizens to address the issues that you care about.

Various privileges and responsibilities come with being officially recognized by the city. One privilege is being the primary source of public input for city bureaus. Bureaus target neighborhoods for input by sending notifications to their board and members, by attending their meetings, and by inviting their membership to serve on advisory committees.

Neighborhoods also automatically receive land use notices about development within their boundaries and can appeal land use decisions at the city level without charge. In return for their privileges, neighborhoods must follow city guidelines and rules, including following open meeting guidelines and maintaining non-discriminatory membership policies.

NAs regularly receive and distribute information from the all of the city and county departments on topics such as land use, transportation safety and connectivity, including bike and pedestrian safety, public transportation, crime prevention, access to parks, schools, shopping, entertainment and restaurants, art in the neighborhood, gathering places that create a sense of community, and above all, strengthening the ties between people and the neighborhood.

Neighborhood District leaders can be involved with land-use changes and city-wide planning issues, they can sponsor events, create coalitions and serve as the hub of neighborhood communications—connecting residents with each other and the broader city.

According to the City of Bend Neighborhood District Handbook, the Bend Development Code states that "the City may terminate its recognition of any neighborhood District that hasn’t held a general membership meeting in the past 18 months." Active Districts receive a small stipend from City Hall for postage and other costs related to communicating with their membership. Consider becoming a member, attend a meeting, join the board, volunteer for a committee, make a donation (we're on a limited budget) and let your voice be heard.

Neighborhood Districts and Homeowner Districts (HOA) are very different types of organizations, though their regions may overlap and they sometimes work together on issues.

Neighborhood Districts are open to anyone who lives within the boundaries, whether renter or homeowner. Often, neighborhoods also have rooms for non-profit or business representatives from the organizations located within their boundaries.

Homeowner Districts are limited to homeowners in the area and usually require dues.

Neighborhoods Districts do not require dues, though sponsorship and voluntary donations help facilitate their work.

Membership in SBND is granted automatically to any person who lives in (including renters) or owns any real property, or any legal entity that operates a place of business or professional office, a government agency or nonprofit institution within the boundaries set forth in the Bylaws.

To become a member of SBND please sign up for our mailing list! We are looking into offering additional membership perks to SBND members in the future so it's a good idea to sign up now for early access!