City of Bend

What City of Bend does

The City of Bend is a municipal government in central Oregon, chartered in 1905 and serving approximately 100,000 residents with a workforce of roughly 409 employees. It delivers the core suite of local public services — water and sewer utilities, public safety, permitting and land-use approvals, parking enforcement, parks coordination, and general administration — funded through a mix of property taxes, utility charges, fees, and intergovernmental transfers rather than commercial revenue.

The city's operating model increasingly runs on an integrated digital platform stack. The Permit Center handles development and land-use applications; Bend Works, built on the SeeClickFix platform, provides a citizen-facing 311-style channel for service requests; WaterSmart supports utility customer engagement and water-use visibility; and InvoiceCloud handles electronic billing and payments for utilities and other receivables. These systems collectively replace legacy paper and in-person workflows with digital, self-service alternatives for residents, developers, and businesses.

Strategically, the City of Bend is in an expansion phase. Between 2019 and 2024 it executed a $275 million capital improvements program covering water, sewer, and transportation infrastructure, supplemented by a 2020 Transportation General Obligation Bond. It has launched a Pre-Approved ADU Plans Program to accelerate housing supply, and is actively broadening regional coordination through new partnership engagements with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (April 2025), Deschutes County (April 2025), and the Bend Park and Recreation District (scheduled March 2026). Long-range planning also targets 7.9 billion gallons of water conservation by 2040, indicating continued infrastructure-led growth rather than a contraction or turnaround posture.

Name

City of Bend

Legal name

City of Bend

Website

https://bendoregon.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The City of Bend is a municipal government in central Oregon, chartered in 1905, serving roughly 100,000 residents with about 409 employees. It provides water, sewer, public safety, permitting, parking, and administrative services funded by taxes, fees, and utility charges, increasingly delivered through integrated digital platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Sewer & Stormwater Line Cleaning (Jetting, Rooting) (BPALAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Storm Drain & Yard Drain Cleaning & Repair (HSAOABAL)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Utility billing services
• Public safety services
• Building permit services
• Parking management

Headquarters

HQ city

Bend

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Taxes: Property tax revenues collected from residential and commercial properties within city limits
2. Water and Sewer Utility Fees: Monthly billing for water, sewer, and stormwater services to residential and commercial customers
3. Building Permits and Development Fees: Fees for building permits, system development charges (SDCs), planning applications, and inspections
4. Parking Fees and Citations: Revenue from parking meters, hourly parking in garages/lots, monthly permits, and parking violation fines
5. Business Licenses and Registrations: Fees for business registration and special permits
6. Ambulance and EMS Billing: Emergency medical services billing for ambulance transport and EMS response

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The City of Bend is a municipal government entity providing core public services to residents, businesses, and visitors within Bend, Oregon. Its offerings include water and sewer utility services, building permitting and inspections, downtown parking management, police non-emergency reporting, fire and emergency medical services, transportation infrastructure, and community development programs. These services are delivered through a mix of in-person service centers, online portals, mobile applications, and phone support channels.

Product overview

City of Bend operates a comprehensive digital services platform offering multiple interconnected municipal services. The core offerings include the Bend Works service request system (powered by SeeClickFix), an Online Permit Center Portal for building and development permits, Water Services Billing for utilities, Parking Services for downtown parking management, and Online Police Reporting for non-emergency incidents. Additional key products include the Pre-Approved Plans Program offering free ADU designs, the City Council Meetings Platform with live broadcasts, the Weekly Road and Traffic Report with an interactive map, and a Construction Projects Hub documenting infrastructure work. The WaterSmart Portal enables water conservation tracking. The Bike Share Program (partnered with Veo) and Public Records Request Portal round out the service portfolio. These services are delivered through web portals, mobile applications, and integrations with third-party platforms including Passport Parking, HONK, InvoiceCloud, Zoom, and YouTube.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bend Works Online and mobile service request system for residents to report non-emergency community issues such as potholes, damaged street signs, graffiti, and water leaks. Powered by the SeeClickFix platform and accessible via web and iOS/Android apps.
• Water Services Billing Monthly billing and account management system for water, sewer, and stormwater utility services, offering online payments through Invoice Cloud, account access, and conservation programs.
• Parking Services Downtown parking management offering hourly and daily garage/lot parking at $1/hour, monthly parking permits, parking citation payments, and accessible parking accommodations. Integrates with Passport Parking and HONK mobile apps.
• Online Permit Center Portal Digital portal for submitting building permit applications, scheduling inspections, tracking permit status, and accessing development services for residential and commercial projects within Bend.
• Online Police Reporting Web-based system for filing non-emergency police reports including criminal mischief, lost property, hit-and-run, motor vehicle accidents, and theft without requiring in-person officer response.
• Pre-Approved Plans Program Free pre-approved accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and small housing designs including Cascade Cottage, Modern Mill House, Deschutes Bungalow, Mt Bachelor Pad, and The Joel to streamline permitting and reduce construction costs.
• Inspection Requests System Online system within the Permit Center Portal for scheduling, canceling, and viewing results of building safety, engineering, and regulatory compliance inspections.
• City Council Meetings Platform Digital platform providing access to City Council business meetings, work sessions, and executive sessions with live broadcasts via Zoom and YouTube, agendas, archived videos, and public comment participation.
• Weekly Road and Traffic Report Weekly publication with an interactive map showing road closures, detours, and traffic impact information across the city of Bend.
• Construction Projects Hub Interactive map and project database showcasing ongoing and upcoming city construction projects including transportation improvements, sewer projects, and infrastructure upgrades.
• WaterSmart Portal Water conservation software enabling residents to monitor daily water usage, compare consumption with similar households, and receive leak alerts.
• Bike Share Program Shared e-bike program operated in partnership with Veo, providing dockless micro-mobility options throughout the city.
• Public Records Request Portal Online portal powered by JustFOIA for submitting public records requests, tracking request status, and searching archived responses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free pre-approved ADU plans save homeowners permitting time and reduce costs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Bend Park and Recreation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026Joint meetings between City Council and Park District Board to coordinate on shared community priorities including parks, recreation facilities, and open space planning. Addressed issues such as Gilchrist Bridge connectivity.
• Deschutes County Board of CommissionerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2025Regular joint meetings to coordinate on regional issues including wildfire risk reduction, solid waste management, Juniper Ridge TSSA development, and downtown Bend campus planning.
• Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs ReservationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2025Joint Tribal Council meetings addressing shared interests, land use coordination, and governance relationship. Includes Declaration of Sovereignty acknowledgment.
• NeighborImpactsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal community action agency administering the City of Bend Low-Income Assistance Program for water, sewer, stormwater, and transportation fees. Program provides monthly discounts for eligible single-family residential customers.
• SeeClickFixsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform provider powering the Bend Works service request system, enabling residents to report non-emergency issues and track city responses through web and mobile interfaces.
• VeosupportingTechnology or IntegrationBike share provider supplying shared e-bikes for Bend's micro-mobility transportation options.
• Passport ParkingsupportingTechnology or IntegrationMobile parking payment app partner allowing users to pay for downtown parking via smartphone.
• HONK MobilesupportingTechnology or IntegrationMobile parking payment platform integrated with downtown parking facilities for touchless payment options.
• Consolidated Towing Inc.supportingOthersAuthorized towing company for vehicles towed by Bend Police for parking violations. Contact: (541) 389-8080.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• City of Eugene: Oregon municipal government serving a larger population (~175k) with the same core portfolio of water/sewer utilities, permitting, parking, public records, and civic engagement platforms. Comparable in scope and digital service maturity.
• City of Salem: Oregon state capital municipal government of similar service scope (utilities, permitting, parking, public records, public safety) at comparable scale. Operates the same general municipal service stack as the City of Bend.
• City of Beaverton: Mid-sized Oregon municipal government (~100k residents) offering a near-identical bundle of water/sewer utilities, building permits, business licensing, parking, and online civic services. Closest population peer.
• City of Hillsboro: Pacific Northwest municipal government of similar size (~110k) with parallel utilities, permitting, public safety, and digital service offerings. Comparable in both scope and recent capital investment trajectory.
• City of Medford: Southern Oregon municipal government (~85k residents) operating the same combination of water/sewer utility billing, building permits, parking, public records, and online engagement channels.
• City of Corvallis: Oregon college-town municipal government (~60k) with a similar mix of water/sewer/stormwater utilities, development permitting, parking services, and civic engagement platforms.
• City of Springfield: Oregon municipal government (~62k) delivering comparable utilities, permitting, parking, and public safety services with parallel digital self-service portals.
• City of Redmond: Adjacent Central Oregon municipal government with similar water/sewer utilities, permitting, and public works services. Especially relevant given shared regional planning with Deschutes County and Bend.
• City of Tigard: Portland-metro Oregon municipal government (~55k) operating parallel utilities, building permits, business licensing, parking enforcement, and public records platforms.

Broad incumbents

• Deschutes County: Regional government overlaying Bend that co-delivers regional services (solid waste, wildfire risk reduction, road coordination) and partners formally with the City on shared priorities. Functions as a broader-incumbent counterpart covering services that span municipal boundaries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cityofbend
• Facebookfacebook.com/CityofBend

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Bend