A Central Oregon mountain town where the Cascades define the horizon and downtown stays walkable — with homes that range from refined in-town residences to forest homesites and private acreage across Sisters Country. Sunrise Construction builds custom homes shaped around how you actually want to live, over more than 25 years in the region.
Explore Central Oregon's premier communities and settings through the eyes of a builder who has spent more than 25 years designing and constructing custom homes throughout the region.
A mountain town with room to make the home entirely your own.
Sisters is a small Central Oregon town at the foot of the Cascades, and it's also something larger — a whole area, often called Sisters Country, that reaches from walkable downtown blocks out to forest-edge homesites, rural acreage, and private estates toward Camp Sherman, Black Butte, Cloverdale, and the surrounding countryside. The town keeps its scale and character; the land around it opens up.
People choose Sisters for that balance. They want small-town access to dining, shops, art, and events, and easy reach of forest, rivers, lakes, trails, and mountains — with Bend and Redmond a short drive away. They want western history without a themed, artificial house, and a strong sense of place. And they want the range Sisters offers: an in-town residence, a forested retreat, a working acreage, or a legacy estate.
Because "Sisters" can mean such different settings, choosing the property comes before choosing the design. This guide is written to help you understand those differences — city versus county, in-town versus rural, and what each asks of a home — and how Sunrise builds a home that feels rooted in the property you choose.
A custom home builder serving Sisters, Sisters Country, and Central Oregon.
In Sisters, the home, the mountain views, and the forest are inseparable. Whether a property looks out to the Three Sisters or sits among ponderosa pines, the first design decisions are about how the home holds its outlook and works with the trees and light already there — not about imposing a style on the site.
Privacy and connection can coexist. In town, a home can contribute to a walkable neighborhood while still carving out quiet outdoor rooms; on rural land, acreage and forest create real seclusion. Deciding between in-town living and a larger rural or acreage property is one of the most important choices, because it shapes everything from utilities to the feel of daily life.
Architecture here works best when it respects Sisters without becoming a theme. Mountain modern, contemporary, ranch, lodge, or traditional can all belong — chosen for the client and the property rather than a prescribed "western" look, and built to feel timeless rather than costumed.
Climate and site conditions shape the details. Sun orientation, snow and freeze-thaw, shade and wind, wildfire-aware siting and defensible space, and thoughtful tree preservation all influence how a home is placed and built. So does understanding jurisdiction and utilities early — whether a property is served by the City of Sisters or relies on well and septic in the county.
Get those foundations right and a Sisters home feels rooted: open to the mountains, comfortable through every season, and genuinely of its place.
Sisters sits west of Redmond and northwest of Bend along Highway 20 toward Santiam Pass — with the Three Sisters and the Cascades rising to the west, Black Butte Ranch and Camp Sherman nearby, Suttle Lake and Hoodoo up the pass, and Redmond, its airport, and Smith Rock country to the east.
Approximate orientation · Central Oregon · not to scale
Understanding the town and the land matters as much as understanding the home you'll build. These official city, county, and community resources help you explore Sisters' planning framework, recreation, and culture.
Planning, zoning, building standards, tree requirements, utility information, land-use approvals, and community documents are maintained by the City of Sisters, Deschutes County, private associations, and other responsible agencies — not Sunrise Construction. (Image shows a Sunrise-built home elsewhere in Central Oregon, for illustration.)
"Sisters" covers a lot of ground: walkable in-town lots, established residential neighborhoods, forest-edge properties, rural acreage, equestrian and ranch parcels, golf and resort-adjacent land, private HOA communities, and properties nearer Camp Sherman or Black Butte — some with major Cascade views, some tucked into the trees. Each one builds differently.
The most important early questions are about the property itself: city versus county jurisdiction; zoning and allowed uses; city water and sewer versus well and septic; utility availability; irrigation or water rights where they apply; road and driveway access, snow removal, and fire access; tree-removal limits and wildfire exposure; topography, rock, and view corridors; neighboring development; any Architectural Review or HOA requirements; short-term-rental rules where relevant; and whether shops, barns, guest houses, or ADUs are allowed. Parcel-specific rules should always be verified before design or purchase.
Sunrise will gladly collaborate with them to evaluate a Sisters property — jurisdiction, utilities, access, trees, and views — before you buy.
Sunrise can introduce you to a knowledgeable real estate professional, including our affiliated team at Legacy Realty when it is the right fit.
A short walk of the property before purchase can save significant time and cost — and reveal which version of Sisters truly suits your vision.
A home inside the City of Sisters is built within the city's zoning and development standards. City lots generally connect to municipal water and sewer, and projects work within lot-coverage and setback rules, tree-removal requirements, and the city's outdoor-lighting (dark-sky) review — all shaped by the surrounding neighborhood context.
In-town living rewards thoughtful design: walkable streets and a real downtown at hand, outdoor living carved into more compact properties, and a home that contributes to Sisters' character without imitating a themed "western" look. Construction on developed streets also calls for careful access and coordination with neighbors.
Standards can differ from lot to lot, so the specific requirements for a given in-town property should be confirmed with the City of Sisters. We design with those standards in mind from the start.
Outside city limits, property falls under Deschutes County land-use rules, and building becomes as much about the land as the house. Rural parcels typically rely on wells and septic rather than city utilities, and may involve utility extensions, irrigation where it applies, long driveways and emergency access, and real winter snow and exposure.
Wildfire-aware site planning, existing forest and defensible space, privacy and view preservation, and where a shop, barn, or guest structure might sit — where the parcel permits — all matter here. On acreage, the best results come from planning an entire property, not only the home.
What a rural parcel allows depends on its zoning, existing approvals, water, access, and agency requirements — determined by Deschutes County and other agencies, not by Sunrise. We help evaluate and coordinate it early so the plan reflects the real property.
Views, existing trees, natural light, native materials, and genuine indoor-outdoor connections — so the home belongs to its setting rather than sitting on top of it.
Mountain modern, contemporary, ranch, lodge, traditional, or something entirely individual — chosen for the client and the property, not imposed as a Sunrise signature or a themed "western" look.
Snow and freeze-thaw, shade and wind, wildfire awareness, roof design and drainage, and durable materials — detailed for real seasonal comfort in the Sisters climate.
No single style is right for all of Sisters. The best homes here are the ones designed specifically for their site and their owners — timeless, comfortable, and honest to the place.
For more than 25 years, Sunrise Construction has built distinctive custom homes throughout Central Oregon, with owner Chris Christianson personally involved in every project — and a strong team behind that involvement. That experience spans view lots, forest settings, acreage, and custom estates, the very range Sisters offers.
We bring builder insight early, evaluating a property before design so the plan and budget reflect its real jurisdiction, utilities, and site conditions. We collaborate closely with architects and designers — and can match clients with an architect suited to their style and personality — while Sunrise Interiors, our in-house interior design and selections studio, keeps finishes coordinated with construction from the start. We're also glad to build from plans you already own.
Above all, we build truly custom. There is no Sunrise "signature look" imposed on the land; each home is designed for its owners and its site — and our reputation has been earned one relationship at a time, through the homeowners, architects, and designers who continue to recommend us.
Sisters offers everything from in-town homesites to forest and acreage properties. The work shown here reflects the level of custom planning, craftsmanship, and site-responsive design Sunrise brings to mountain, estate, and rural homes throughout Central Oregon. Because many private homes are not immediately published — and some projects await professional photography — not every residence appears online. Verified Sisters projects can be added as they become available for publication.
Representative Sunrise projects shown for craftsmanship and approach, each labeled by its actual Central Oregon location. These homes are not in Sisters.
Central Oregon is known for abundant sunshine, low humidity, and four distinct seasons — often described as receiving roughly 300 days of sunshine each year. At the foot of the Cascades, Sisters also brings colder winter nights, real snow and freeze-thaw cycles, forest shade and temperature variation, wind exposure on open parcels, and a wildfire-aware approach to siting and materials. It's a place made for year-round recreation. Visit Central Oregon ↗
Few Central Oregon towns pack this much into a small footprint — wilderness and water at the edge of town, a genuine arts and events calendar, and a walkable downtown, with Bend and Redmond a short drive away.
The Three Sisters Wilderness and Deschutes National Forest, Suttle Lake and the Metolius River at Camp Sherman, Hoodoo up the pass, and Peterson Ridge, Whychus Creek, and Pacific Crest Trail access close to town.
Deschutes National Forest Visit ↗ Sisters Trails Alliance Visit ↗ Hoodoo Visit ↗Sisters keeps its traditions — the Sisters Rodeo, the world-famous Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, the Sisters Folk Festival, the Harvest Faire, downtown galleries, and seasonal community events rooted in western heritage.
Sisters Rodeo Visit ↗ Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show Visit ↗ Sisters Folk Festival Visit ↗Local restaurants, coffee, shops and galleries, parks, and community services fill a walkable downtown — with schools nearby and everyday access to Bend, Redmond, and the Redmond airport.
Sisters Country Visit ↗ City of Sisters Visit ↗ Visit Central Oregon Visit ↗Local recommendations are shared as a courtesy; hours, access, and details are maintained by each organization.
No. Sisters is an incorporated city and a broader area often called Sisters Country. It includes in-town neighborhoods, forest-edge homesites, rural and acreage properties, and land nearer places like Camp Sherman and Black Butte. Building rules, utilities, and requirements vary widely depending on where a property sits.
Property inside the City of Sisters follows city zoning, development standards, and design and lighting review, and generally connects to city water and sewer. Property outside city limits falls under Deschutes County land-use rules and usually relies on wells and septic, with different access, utility, and wildfire considerations.
Property inside a private development may also carry HOA or architectural-review requirements. Which jurisdiction applies is one of the first things to confirm — it shapes nearly everything that follows.
Yes. Sunrise builds custom homes and whole rural properties throughout Central Oregon, including forest and acreage settings around Sisters. On rural land we plan the home together with site work, access, utilities, and any outbuildings so the whole property works as one — subject to the parcel's zoning and approvals.
Ideally, yes. A conversation before you buy can help clarify what a property may support — jurisdiction, buildable area, utilities or well and septic, access, trees, and views — often revealing which properties best fit your plans before you commit.
Yes. We help clients understand a property early — city versus county jurisdiction, utility or well and septic considerations, driveway and fire access, tree-removal limits, topography, and view corridors — coordinating with the appropriate consultants and agencies. Final determinations rest with the City of Sisters, Deschutes County, or the responsible agency.
Within the City of Sisters, development is subject to the city's design and development standards, and private communities may add their own architectural review. County properties follow different rules. We design with the applicable standards in mind from the start, but the review and any approvals are administered by the city, county, or association — not by Sunrise.
The City of Sisters has outdoor-lighting standards intended to limit light pollution, and exterior lighting is reviewed accordingly for in-city projects. Requirements can differ outside city limits. We plan lighting to meet the applicable standards, and the city or county confirms what applies to a specific property.
It depends. Tree removal in the City of Sisters is regulated, and county and HOA properties have their own considerations, including wildfire and defensible-space practices. What can be removed depends on the parcel and jurisdiction, which should be confirmed before design. We design around the trees worth keeping wherever possible.
Sometimes. Outbuildings, guest houses, and accessory dwelling units are governed by city or county land-use rules and any HOA requirements, and they vary by parcel and zoning. Whether one is possible depends on the specific property, which should be confirmed with the applicable jurisdiction before design. We plan them alongside the home when they're allowed.
On many rural Sisters Country parcels, yes — the area has a strong ranch and equestrian character — but allowable animal use depends on the parcel's zoning and size, and it is generally more limited in town. The county's zoning information for a specific property is the authoritative source.
No. Some clients arrive with an architect, interior designer, or finished plans; others are just beginning. If you're assembling your team, we'll recommend architects whose design philosophy, communication style, and personality fit your project.
And through Sunrise Interiors, our in-house interior design and selections studio, finishes, lighting, cabinetry, and budgets are coordinated with construction from the start.
That's perfectly fine. We regularly build homes designed by architects our clients have chosen, and we're just as comfortable joining projects with completed construction documents. Our role is to become a collaborative member of your team, working with your architect, designer, engineers, and trades to move the project from drawings to a beautifully built home.
Yes. Through Sunrise Interiors, our sister interior design and selections studio, clients can coordinate finishes, lighting, tile, flooring, hardware, and furnishings with a team that understands luxury custom homes. Prefer your own designer? We collaborate seamlessly.
Sisters supports a wide range — mountain modern, contemporary, ranch, lodge, and traditional among them. The most successful homes are chosen for the client and the property rather than forced into a themed "western" look; they respond to the views, the trees, and the light, and they feel rooted in their setting.
Real winter snow and freeze-thaw influence roof design, drainage, materials, and access, while wildfire-aware planning shapes siting, materials, and defensible space — especially on forested and open parcels. We design for these conditions from the start so a home is durable, comfortable, and resilient in its setting.
It depends. Jurisdiction and land-use review, design, permits, site and infrastructure work, selections, and overall scope all influence the timeline, and city and county processes differ. We develop realistic schedules early rather than promising a fixed duration.
Yes. In addition to new construction, Sunrise completes whole-home rejuvenations and additions — updating homes, reworking spaces, and adding outdoor living or outbuildings — with the same craftsmanship we bring to new custom homes, subject to the property's approvals.
No. Sunrise builds custom homes and estates throughout Central Oregon — Bend, Redmond, Sisters, Powell Butte, Terrebonne, and the surrounding rural areas. Sisters and Sisters Country are among the many settings where we're glad to build.
Sunrise builds throughout the region — from mountain towns and rural acreage to resort and golf communities. Explore more guides in the series, with additional communities on the way.
Whether you are drawn to an in-town homesite, a forested setting, private acreage, or a property already in your family, bringing Sunrise into the conversation early can help clarify what the land allows, how the home should respond, and which design team best fits the vision.
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